Poly Girls Cross Country Caps an Exceptional Season with Strength and Heart

On the morning of this year’s CIF Cross Country Prelims, Poly’s Girls Varsity team loaded into a van and headed toward Mt. San Antonio College. The course is legendary for its steep climbs and rugged terrain, the kind of place where runners must prove themselves if they hope to advance. But the week’s steady downpour had transformed the dirt trails into unsafe ground. Instead of tackling the famed hills, the girls raced a rain-soaked concrete course that demanded a different kind of grit. They rose to the moment, racing through puddles and wind to post new personal records on a day defined by persistence.

That spirit carried them through an extraordinary season marked by breakthrough moments and a sense of unity that shaped every workout and race. The Panthers came within reach of the league title and advanced to CIF Prelims, where every runner set a personal record—an achievement that reflected months of discipline and trust in each other.

Sophomore standout Kylie C. ’28 pushed the bar even higher. She qualified for CIF Finals and delivered another remarkable performance, shaving off 50 seconds from her time and breaking the 19-minute mark. She outran every Chadwick School competitor who had finished ahead of her at league finals and closed to within six seconds of Flintridge Prep’s league champion. Her performance helped lift Poly to its final ranking of thirty-fifth in the state for Division Five.

Coach Hernandez previously served as assistant coach for seven years, taking over the program after Rick Caragher announced his retirement from coaching after 37 years. He led the team alongside Assistant Coaches Elsie Dang, Will Mason, Amber Bocquin, and Alexander Jimenez. Layering on the team’s previous growth, Coach Hernandez reflected, “Our success speaks to the new coaching philosophy of our 80/20 training method, meaning we train at 80 percent conversational pace and 20 percent threshold pace,” he explained. “It has given us the results we wanted, and we hope to continue improving and maybe one day be a powerhouse team with podium recognition.” 

At CIF Prelims, the payoff from this approach was clear. Sophomore Kalea P. ’28 reflected on her race with a mixture of pride and awe. “Physically, it didn't feel as tiring as I thought, which shows the progress we've made over the season,” she said. She also spoke to the team’s character. “I just want to commend all the hard work that our team has done. It's probably the most well-bonded team I've ever been on.”

Kylie echoed that feeling of momentum. The rain, she said, worked in her favor. “I get overheated in races, so it was actually beneficial.” Even a brief wrong turn caused by course markings couldn’t shake her rhythm. She finished with her eyes already on the horizon. “We could definitely make it further. We're super close this year, so next year looks promising.”

Poly recorded the 15th fastest time across all four heats. There was some disappointment at missing the next round, but Coach Hernandez framed it within a longer arc. “We’re developing our freshmen and sophomores to build a strong, continuous team every year. This season proves the strategy is working, as our younger athletes are really buying into the idea that hard work translates to better results.”

That growth was visible in runners like junior Eden S. ’27, whose improvement was striking. “It was a really fun season. My first race as a freshman was at thirty minutes—now I’m down to twenty-five,” she shared. She credited the team’s supportive nature and looks forward to her senior year and the possibility of welcoming new teammates into the program.

Much of the team’s strength came not only from race-day grit but from the quiet moments that shaped their shared identity. Team meetings blended strategy with space for emotional and motivational support. Coach Hernandez emphasized the importance of sixth and seventh runners, reminding everyone that close races depend on depth and unity. The athletes swapped playlists, traded encouragement, eased each other’s nerves, and filled long training days with humor and camaraderie.

The season’s theme, “The Fish Won’t Jump in the Boat,” became a guiding mantra—calling on athletes to trust their preparation and keep pushing when the race turned hard. The girls embraced metaphors like the “pain cave,” reminding themselves that adversity is part of the climb. Coaches stressed that mental endurance mattered just as much as physical strength, and the team responded by attacking workouts and meeting unexpected challenges with determination.

As the season came to a close, Poly celebrated not only the team’s competitive achievements but the character they showed along the way. With a young roster and a determined coaching staff, the future is bright. Most of all, the athletes learned what it means to show sportsmanship, support one another, and meet difficulty with resilience.

After CIF Prelims, runners, coaches, parents, and supporters gathered for a shared meal at Guisados, swapping stories and looking ahead to what comes next. The season had demanded grit and heart—and the team closed it the same way they had run it: together.