2009 was another classic year for the girls’ cross country team. For the program, it was a sixth straight season of winning Wasaren League and Section II titles and a fourth consecutive year highlighted by a New York State Public High School Athletic Association State Championship.

For those not involved with the GCS running program, it is nearly impossible to comprehend the level of commitment behind the success. Head coach Steve Patrick and assistant coach Dena Lane oversee the girls through the school and Witches Track Club seasons of cross country, indoor and outdoor track, while Fastlane Summer Camp coach Bob Lane provides an intensive program during the only non-school running season. Altogether, this represents thousands of hours of expert coaching per year. Coach Patrick notes that the most important, other structural element in “the system” is the enthusiastic support of parents. There are very few “days off” in a year and parents are an integral part of supporting and reinforcing this standard. A few sniffles or a hair appointment are not excuses for missing practice on this team.

Looking past the leadership of coaches and the support of parents, the real heroes of this story, of course, are the runners. They are the ones logging up to fifty miles of running per week, in the heat of summer, the cold rains of the fall and spring and the frigid temperatures of winter. They have accepted responsibility for personal excellence in a sport in which success and failure are readily exposed and measured: the stopwatch does not lie. Once again, this year’s runners embraced personal and team goals so lofty that they might have seemed absurd, were it not for the fact that most of them were accomplished. Greenwich is a Class D school and the “low end” goal was to rank among the top ten of all New York State teams, including Class AA schools, with enrollments more than eight times that of GCS. The Witches achieved this top-ten status, running as the Witches Track Club in the Nike Cross Nationals New York Regional meet. The very high-end goal was to qualify for the Nike Cross Nationals, in Oregon, but this was not to be. Perhaps the best consolation was that during the season, at the New Balance Ocean State XC Invitational, in Warwick Rhode Island, GCS was the runner-up, by seconds, to the team that took 15^th at the Nike National Cross Championships. Next season is far away, but it is worth noting that the Witches would have won this year’s State Championship without its two graduating seniors.

Roxanne Henningson (senior) will graduate 1^st in her class and is a member of the National Honor Society. She completed the season as the top ranked Class D runner in New York State and will accept an NCAA Division I athletic scholarship to attend the University of Richmond. Roxy enjoys travel and recalls a favorite family trip, when she was in the 8^th grade, aboard a cruise ship that sailed among the Florida Keys and Eastern Mexico.

Brittney Lane (senior) ran a personal record 18:03.75 this season at the fabled Spa Park cross-country course in Saratoga Springs and finished third at the State Championships. She is currently pursuing athletic scholarship opportunities from NCAA Division I programs, including Sacred Heart University, Iona College and Manhattan College. Brittney is a member of the National Honor Society and her favorite subject is English. She enjoys shopping and gymnastics and may someday pursue a career in acting.

Betsy Edinger (junior) battled back from flu symptoms in mid-season to place 4^th at the Sectional Meet and had her best cross-country season. She is the 7^th ranked Class D runner in New York State. Betsy is also a member of the National Honor Society and ranks 4^th in her class, with a 96.71 average. She is an Irish step dancer and has traveled to England, Ireland, Scotland and most of the continental United States.

Cady Kuzmich (junior) placed 2nd at the Sectional Meet and 4th at the State Championships. She is a member of the National Honor Society and ranks 5th in her class, with a 96 average. Her favorite subject is English and she plays the trumpet in the school band. Her recent travels include France and the Dominican Republic. She is a part time swimming pool lifeguard and enjoys attending concerts

Madeline Montague (freshman) was the most improved returning runner on the team. She placed 5^th at the Sectional Meet and 7^th at the State Championships. She ranks 10^th in her class, with a 96.1 average and her favorite subject is Global Studies. When she is not running or doing schoolwork, she enjoys alternative music.

Candace Haskell (freshman) had a solid, second season on the varsity team and finished 8^th at both the Wasaren League and Sectional  meets. She plays on a club ice hockey team in the winter season and has a 95.46 average in school.

Sarah Lapham (8^th grade) saved her best performance for last, placing 9^th at the State Championships. Last year she was the Wasaren League modified champion and this season, she has emerged to follow closely behind her star teammates. Sarah’s 95.1 1^st quarter average is an indication that when she enters high school, she will also join the high academic ranks of her teammates. In her free time, Sarah enjoys reading