For the Fall 2022 Season, Friends Select Girls’ Cross Country only had two athletes – not even enough to qualify as a Friends League team. This year, the team has four times as many runners. What happened?

Clare Padula ‘25, the Girls’ Cross Country Captain, was half of the team last season. “It was frustrating to be a small team because it meant that we could never place in a race,” said Clare. To compete as a Cross Country team in the Friends League, you need at least 4 runners. “It [felt] like there was no point competing.” In one meet against Germantown Friends School, the opposing team didn’t even treat the meet like a race. “They knew that they would automatically win because Sophia [Le ‘25] and I weren’t technically a team.”

Before this season, Clare and her only teammate, Sophia, worked to recruit their friends and classmates. Daphne Klose ‘25, was one of those friends. “Clare is very passionate about the sport,” said Daphne. So far, Daphne has thoroughly enjoyed her time on the team. “​​It’s just a fun group of people.”

Clare also expressed her enthusiasm about the new freshmen runners. One of those runners is Mira Brodie ‘27. “I ran cross country for all four years of middle school,” Mira shared. “I’m definitely excited for the rest of the season.”

Clare is feeling good about this season, and hopeful about the future of Girls’ Cross Country. “It makes me excited to know that after I and the other girls in my grade graduate, there will still be a team.”