As Fall Term gets underway and the Falcons begin their labors anew, the Peddie Cross Country team – or PXC – is soaring back to the track. Traditionally a fall sport for Peddie, PXC used to consist of the Varsity group (otherwise known as the Linces/Mountain Goats), and the Junior Varsity group (Novatx). This year, a new foundational group known as the Screaming Sheep has been created for aspiring runners.
A Peddie student can easily spot a PXC runner any day from 3:45 to 5:15 p.m. – possibly longer for the Linces/Mountain Goats – on the track, in the gym, around the soccer field or the tennis courts, or even in the pool on Wednesdays. PXC offers rich experiences, enhancing bodily strength and improving one’s mentality. With abundant opportunities to push past one’s limits and an encouraging group of teammates and coaches to cheer you on, PXC supports your journey throughout the fall to become a better runner than you were before.
“I run with the Screaming Sheep right now,” said Audrey Liu ’28, a new member of PXC starting this year. “I love the gym and the strength training we have every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I also like doing relays when we’re on the track because it’s fun to compete with your teammates and improve your running skills. After joining cross country, I think my stamina has really increased, and I’m really happy that practices are making me stronger day-by-day.”
Likewise, Liu is making the most of her training and has already immersed herself fully into the team. She loves the energy and the supportive atmosphere of each practice and competition. “My favorite memory was when we were cheering at the invitational races. It was really fun just to show up there and scream and cheer for our team. PXC is a really strong and nice team. I think other people should join cross country if they are interested in running or if they just want to improve on their strength, since strength and stamina are important for other sports as well.”
Likewise, PXC has one of the most welcoming environments across all athletic teams at Peddie. Although cross country is technically an individual sport, every member understands the experience of pushing oneself to their absolute limit. All of the runners, therefore, encourage one another and provide newer members with support and feedback. “I’m currently training with the Linces/Mountain Goats,” said Andrew Kim ’29, a new freshman runner who joined Varsity a couple of weeks ago. “What I like most about the team is the general atmosphere we have in training. Everyone is supportive and happy to see others performing well. My favorite moment in PXC is when the other Peddie runners came out to the race path to support the freshmen runners in the Thompson 2-Miler.” Like Kim said, just because your race may be over, that doesn’t mean your responsibilities are complete. You take a sip of water, shake out your legs in the shade for a few moments, and go back to the finish line to cheer on the rest of your teammates.
PXC creates great memories and challenges you daily, regardless of whether you are new or experienced. Charis Chien ’27, a junior runner who has been running in PXC for multiple years, said the same. “I am part of the Linces/Mountain Goats,” Chien said. “I think cross country is a great sport because you get to train with so many different people depending on the day. One of my favorite memories from this season was running our first official race at Thompson Park. It had been nearly two years since I had last run a cross country race, as I had been injured for almost my whole sophomore year. On the bus ride there, I started to feel emotional thinking of my first ever cross country race and how the juniors and seniors cheered for each other and me during the final race of the day.”
It is not an exaggeration to say that PXC embodies the very essence of Peddie’s spirit. “It’s a sport that really tests how far you are willing to go, and I have enjoyed being able to see my progress throughout the years,” Chien said as she looked ahead to this new season of PXC. You finish your labors to begin them anew each time you show up to PXC training. PXC encourages growth by teaching its members countless valuable lessons, like being happy for other people, looking out for those in need of help, working hard to shave that one second off a personal record, and challenging oneself to run one more lap. And who knows? Next year, you could be running that lap too.
