“Cross country is a sport that challenges your mind and body,” says Katie Kammer, a Junior runner.  Cross country, one of the most popular sports at NDP, supports a team of approximately 85 runners.  Though it is a huge team, it is an individual sport, depending on the endurance and strength of each runner.  Practices are tiring, requiring energy for runs ranging from 3.1 miles to 7.5 miles.  The hardest  practices are intervals, where the runners run 1000 meters or less. During meets, runners compete against each other in a 5K, which is 3.1 miles.  “Summer Lagombi is the fastest runner.  She had the fastest time freshmen year,” Katie Kammer informs me.  With Summer leading the team, cross country looks like it’s going to carry home a winning season.  “We look really good. We’ve got a lot of new freshmen. And as a team we look stronger than last year. But… we’ll have to fight to get into the top three,” Katie Kammer admits, but with an optimistic tone. Though races depend on the individual, the team prepares as a whole.  To prepare for a meet, a runner will get lots of rest and eat a good breakfast the day of the meet.  They must also drink plenty of water and, of course, attend the pasta party!  Cross country functions like a giant family with a strong support system and, of course, good Italian food.  Charged up on carbs and fueled with water, NDP’s cross country runners are ready to blaze past their competition!