Cross Country

Following last season’s individual and team appearances at the CCS finals, Burlingame’s cross country team returns an even keel of experience and youth. Juniors Elise Spenner, Ava Gonzalez, and senior Minnoli Raghavan placed 39th, 43rd, and 49th at that final and will now anchor what looks to be another formidable girls’ team. Although senior Ellie Neuman, one of the fastest finishers last year, is out for the season with a torn hip abductor, freshman standout Stella Newman will help ease that loss. Along with juniors Cora Haggarty and Lauren Gonzalez, the Panthers have no shortage of depth. Expect to hear different names throughout the year, and for the girls’ team to dash towards back-to-back section finals appearances. 

Sophomore Lucas Keeley, junior Evan Kim and senior Jackson Spenner headline the boys’ team. Keeley and Kim were the two individual runners Burlingame sent to the CCS finals last year, finishing 37th and 49th  in the Division III field, and while Spenner didn’t run in PAL finals, he’s competed well in practice thus far. With Keeley’s youth and impressive kick, he will likely only improve his times throughout the season. The Panthers are missing key runner and senior Romer Rosales-Hasek, who is indefinitely out with a shin injury. However, it’s not far-fetched to say that the boys’ team could make the CCS team finals, if all the dominoes fall. The program has tactfully been practicing two times a week at Hallmark Park in Belmont, the location of the PAL and CCS meets. Familiarity with the course is sure to prove fruitful come postseason.