As the 2024 cross-country season approaches, there is a buzz of excitement and anticipation amongst the students, parents, and fans of Anzar High School. Coach Monica Jo Gilmore, who has been coaching cross country for 23 years, is confident that both the girls' and boys' teams will make an impact this season.
In this preview article, we spoke to Coach Gilmore about the top returning players, new additions to the team, team chemistry, challenges faced, and the team's goals for the season. Last season, the girls' team had the impressive achievement of earning a 2nd place finish in the Santa Lucia Division and sending one of their runners, Isabella Briceno-Nicholson, to the CCS Championships. This season, Briceno-Nicholson is the top returning runner as an incoming sophomore.
She won multiple league races and was the Santa Lucia Division champion, earning all-league honors. Coach Gilmore describes her as having "great potential," and what makes her even more special is that she is the coach's daughter. Briceno-Nicholson's experience in running from a young age has given her the knowledge and skill to be a top runner on the team. On the boys' team, the focus is on improving standings in the Cypress Division and developing a strong pack.
Coach Gilmore sees incoming freshman Henry Murphy as a potential top runner. She coached him in middle school and described him as a good student, very coachable, eager to set and achieve goals, and with a great attitude. Coach Gilmore predicts that Murphy will make an immediate positive impact on the team.
When it comes to team captains, Coach Gilmore looks for athletes who can lead by example and possess qualities such as responsibility, honesty, dedication, hard work, positivity, and respect. For the boys' team, the captain role is up for grabs, and incoming junior Arlo Burke-Raymond is in contention. He has been one of the most consistent athletes since last Fall, and Coach Gilmore believes he has caught the vision of what the team can accomplish.
On the girls' team, incoming senior Angelina Tran and sophomore Isabella Briceno-Nicholson are expected to continue to lead the team. Tran is described as hardworking, positive, and a great example to the girls, while Briceno-Nicholson has knowledge of running and takes on leadership roles at practices and races.
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