Somers Cross Country Push to a Big Red Finish

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On September 19, Somers Cross Country held the annual Big Red Invitational. A glorious fall day with perfect running weather, Gabriel Cacsire didn’t shy away from expressing the cold hard cross country facts. “It stinks, no one wants to run ten miles on a Saturday,” the senior assured. But the upside for the runner is what really goes the distance.

“I’ve really grown so much mentally and so many life lessons I’ve applied,” said the third place finisher.

Uphill battles for one, any course like the Somers field gives him the opportunity to overcome. “I’m always passing people on the uphill,” he said.  “That’s one of the strongest parts about me.”

Of course, the unexpected must also be met head on - even if the anomaly requires a side step. “I chopped up my steps going down the first hill and just tried to go around the mud puddles,” said Cacsire.

Back up, he - like any runner - can hit low points in a race that give pause and question the whole meaning for the chase. “That’s what I sighed up,” the Tusker addressed the process of always pushing through.

Alone for the stretch run to third, Cacsire relishes not having company at the end. “It makes me feel free,” said the All-State runner.

Aidan See got the same treatment when crossing the finish line first.  No one around,” said the senior, “It’s nice to relax mentally.”

The runner certainly earned it, according to Coach Lacko. “Aidan just takes control of races,” said Lacko. “He knows the courses and knows when to make his move,”

On this day, though, he and the Somers runners had an extra push from their coach. “We had plans to run the course a minute faster,” revealed the coach.

In practice Tuesday, he had the boys run the first mile easy and then go all out the rest of the way. So preparation left race day and a tweak. “Let’s just do what we did on Tuesday, but now go faster for the first mile,” he told them.

See had his doubts. “I thought it was a little crazy,” said the Tusker.

The results said otherwise. “He almost did it,” said Lacko of the 47 second improvement.

Second overall as a team, the right buttons were pushed, and little was lost on the scoreboard - despite being down three of their top seven runners. “Everyone PR’d,” Lacko informed.

On the girls’ side, first place read the scoresheet for the team. On the other hand, third place for Kaya Duzynski wasn’t the outcome the junior was looking for. 

She did have a legitimate hindrance, though. “I didn’t have a lot of energy at the end, because I was sick all week,” said the Somers standout.

Not the smartest move she admitted, another factor took precedence. “I wanted to run with my team” she clarified.

Carolina Morocho included, the junior was a bright rosy red after her fourth place finish. “I’m really proud,” she said.

Mud to contend with too, Morocho had bigger concerns. “The east hill,” said the elephant, “That really gets you.”

Even so, the runner had a fall back at her side. “Me and Parker (Page), we usually run together. So the thought was, ‘this is Big Red, we want to do well as a team,” said Morocho. “That kept me pushing up that hill.”

The same goes for the finish line, but neck and neck wasn’t about who would win out. “It’s more like, I’m proud of her. If she finishes before me, we stick together. We use each other to go faster,” said Morocho.

Page agreed and the acceleration isn’t just about being side by side. “I just feel lucky that I have an amazing teammate to run with” she extolled. 

Page also leaned elsewhere to gear up. “I like having hills in the race because it makes me push myself,” the junior concluded the day.

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