The Revere High School Men’s Cross Country team started the season with a few injuries, but they hope to improve their physical condition and stamina throughout the season.

During the regular season the boys run on different courses for a distance of five kilometers. The team runs eight meets in the regular season, including the district meet. The team prepares for this by running as much as possible before the season starts. The team practices at Howe Meadow in the Metroparks, Monday through Friday, with a meet on Saturday and a rest day on Sunday.

Mark Purdy, head coach of the Men’s Cross Country team, believes the boys have the potential to be as good or better than last year. Coach Purdy has been coaching cross country at Revere High School for two years including this year, and has been a four year track coach, mainly working with long distance runners. Coach Purdy explained why he enjoys coaching cross country.

“I’ve enjoyed running for many years, I enjoy working with young people, and I enjoy contributing to the community in which I live,” Purdy said.

Purdy also explained how the start of the season has gone for the team.

“[We have] had some good individual results, but overall as a team, [we have] finished lower than I expected. That can be partially explained by a couple of injuries, plus some runners who are not yet in top shape. We should get much better as the season progresses.” Purdy said.

Senior Joel Niemi, a four year Varsity runner on the cross country team, shared his excitement for his senior year. Niemi explained his injury and how it affected his season.

“I had a stress fracture on my foot. I actually had the same exact stress fracture last year, but on the opposite foot after my fourth race last year, but this year it was before my first race, and I caught it early because it felt the same, so [I will return],” Niemi said.

Injuries, so far, have been the main obstacle for the cross country team. Niemi’s personal goal this season was to go to states but due to injury he does not know the feasibility of this goal. Niemi explained how the team prevents injuries.

“We do [a lot] of stretching before and after every race, and then also core workout. Having a strong core really prevents a lot of injuries,” Niemi said. “All the years before [you are] always looking up to the seniors, and finally you are the leaders of the team, and everybody else looks up to you,” Niemi said.

Thomas Ulinski is another senior on the cross country team. This is Ulinski’s first year running cross country, and he desires to beat Copley this season. Ulinski explained which race he most anticipates and how the season has personally gone for him so far. His personal goal for the season is to run a time under nineteen minutes.

“I am looking forward to the Dayton course. I have [gotten a personal record] and this is my first year running Varsity, so [I feel] pretty good,” Ulinski said.

The seniors on the team this year are Joel Niemi, Thomas Ulinski, David Deleon, Akos Jasper, Jack Jester, Sonny Kim, Noah Miller-Dakota Chris Morris, Colin Nelson, and Sarp Sezer. The men’s cross country team runs at Dayton on Saturday, October 1st.