(From left to right, Michael Crorkin '18, Aidan Donahue '18, Jerardo Perez '18, Raphael Oettl '18, and Brian McIntyre '18)
Faces of Xavier: Record-Setting Freshman Runners
The freshman cross-country team is in the closing stretch of a very successful season. Each and every team member has posted long hours at practice and meets, and each runner has seen great improvements in his ability since the beginning of the season. The freshmen runners have posted dominant times en route to winning the Jim-Scott Two-Mile Challenge and coming in second in the citywide New York City Mayor’s Cup. This past weekend, the freshmen ran in the storied Fordham Prep Frosh Relays, and for the first time since 1997—three years before any of the freshmen were born—the five-man A-Team won the race in thrilling fashion. In doing so, they set a new course record by beating the former Xavier record by 30 seconds, previously set by the formidable Class of 2015 when they were freshmen three years ago. We had the opportunity to sit down with the five members of the A-Team, Michael Crorkin '18, Aidan Donahue '18, Jerardo Perez '18, Brian McIntyre '18, and Raphael Oettl '18, to discuss their thoughts on running, the cross-country season, and the unique challenges facing a student athlete.
Why did you decide to join cross-country this season?
Raphael Oettl: I started running competitively in seventh grade for a youth team called the Chelsea Grayhounds. I really enjoyed it then, and I knew that it was something that I wanted to continue in high school.
What are your expectations for the rest of the season?
Brian McIntyre: I want to improve and succeed, both individually and as a team. We’re one of the best teams in the CHSAA, and if we continue to work hard, we have a good shot at taking first place at our Sectional and Intersectional championships.
Many people see running as an individual sport, and in many ways it is. What does running for a team mean to you?
Aidan Donahue: To me, it means family. I didn’t really know anybody at Xavier or on the team beforehand, and we've grown closer to each other every day. Even though we race individually, we need everybody to put their work in to do well as a team. A quote by legendary runner Steve Prefontaine, "You get all this magnetic energy, people focusing on one thing at the same time," does a good job of describing what we do together.
Is there any way that you have grown or changed throughout the season?
Michael Crorkin: I definitely think that I’ve become much more determined. The races are long and tiring, and our competition gets better and better each week. I know I’ve become more hungry. I’m pulled by the drive to compete and do well, and I’m definitely stronger mentally than I was at the beginning of the season. This determination has helped me in my classes and in everything I do.
Being a true student athlete, how have you balanced your time between classes and cross-country so far?
Jerardo Perez: I’ve realized how demanding it is to be a student athlete. I leave for practice right after school, and I don’t get home until 6:30 or 7:00 PM every night. It’s challenging, but balancing school and cross-country has helped me manage my time better. The coaches tell us that school and our grades always come before track, and they’ve done a great job to make sure that we’re doing succeeding at practice, meets, and most importantly at school.
Once again, congratulations to the A-Team for their record-setting victory, and best of luck to the entire team as it heads into championship season!