Six cross country runners will complete at regionals this Monday after placing at the district meet on Oct. 13. The regional meet will be held Oct. 22 in Lubbock.

“At district, a lot of runners rose to the occasion,” cross country coach Chris Capeau said. “When it was time to be tough, we were really tough. For regionals, we’re in the toughest region in the state in my eyes, so again, we’ll be up against a challenge.”

Seniors Aaliya Fazel, Mia Regan, Jayce Turner and Myles Richter, junior Ross McKee and  sophomore Keaton Morrison will be advancing to region.

“This is my fourth time going to region,” Fazel said. “I’ve gone to state every year so far, so I’m hoping to do it again this year. I think that since it’s my fourth year there, I’m prepared. I know the course and my competition pretty well.”

The runners have goals and pressures put on them to succeed in the upcoming race. Despite the team’s desire to place in regionals and advance to state, Capeau said he is proud of the collective and individual accomplishments up to this point.

“We’re playing a bigger game than just that race,” Capeau said. “We’re playing a game of who these young adults are becoming in the world, and I couldn’t be more proud of who they’re becoming.”

Fazel said she is excited about the upcoming race and has set a personal goal for herself in order to make her senior year memorable.

“Individually, I want to make it to the top ten,” Fazel said. “I haven’t done that yet, and I think during my senior year, I can do it.”

Runners competing in region have to navigate a difficult course, and those who place in the top four will make it to state.

“It’s a pretty hilly course, probably the hilliest one we see all year, and it’s super dry,” Fazel said. “I hear it’s going to be cold this year, but I really like the course and the hills, so I think it’s going to be good.”

Throughout the season, Capeau has motivated the cross country team and continuously has believed in the runners and their abilities to succeed.

“I do my best to tell them things I honestly believe,” Capeau said. “I want to remind them of the greatness that I’ve seen in them and that they’ve known they’ve done. It’s like, ‘you’ve done this so many times. You know who you are. You know how to do this. You go run like you’re supposed to run.’”

Both Capeau and Fazel have confidence about the upcoming meet.

“We have a team that really does love each other, and I can see the difference in them from other teams I’ve been a part of,” Capeau said. “It’s a superpower in a way to know that your teammates care that much about you. People do incredible things when they feel that.”