After placing first in the SCVAL championships, the girls varsity cross-country team has had little time to celebrate as they anticipate their next race in the Central Coast Section (CCS) Division II finals this Saturday at 12:40 p.m.

Although the team goes into all races trying their best and aiming to win, this race is even more important and dear to the Lady Vikes because it is the last obstacle on the road to the state championships. The teams placing in the top three positions for each of the five divisions at CCS will advance to States, and Paly, Los Gatos, Aptos and Mitty are all in close competition for the coveted spots.

The Paly coaches, team captains, and team members alike are all optimistically hoping to do well on the Nov. 12 qualifying meet at the challenging Crystal Springs course in Belmont in order to advance to States, which has been their goal since the beginning of the year.

"It’s definitely realistic to go to States… we’re neck and neck with Mitty for third, and could definitely make it if everyone has a good race on Saturday," team captain senior Elle Burstein said.

The girls are also anxious for States because it will be the last chance for the seniors on the team to see their high school team make it all the way. Cross-country girls coach Paul Jones attributes much of the team’s success to the experience and age of the team. However, the juniors also feel the pressure to do well this year because the departure of several key seniors will affect next year’s team chemistry and abilities.

"I think next year we’re not going to be anywhere near as good because we’re going to lose many valuable seniors, so this would be the year to make it as a team," team captain junior Renata Cummins said.

Cummins is no stranger to the state meet, qualifying for the meet both her freshman and sophomore years, and scoring 75th and 53rd place respectively out of roughly 180 runners.

"States is really different from CCS because in CCS you’re in the front of the race, and at states there are [seemingly] a hundred people in front of you," Cummins said. "Though it’s still really cool to run with such good people."

Cummins’s goal this year is to make a huge improvement and score in the top 30 places, and judging from her times at the same course earlier this year, this goal seems attainable. While Cummins will not need a breakthrough race at CCS in order to qualify for States individually, she still feels pressure to do well in order to better the chances of the team making it as a whole. She claims that while qualifying for States individually is still great, qualifying as a team would be "so much more fun."

The team companionship felt amongst the runners is a large driving force in their success this year as a team.

"[The varsity girls team has] been running together for a really long time since there weren’t that many seniors last year, so we’ve really bonded, and have started having really good workouts this year. I think this helped a lot in our meets," team captain senior Megan Grant said.

If the girls run well on Saturday and make it to States, Jones has strong faith that the team will also do well in the state meet.

"I think we have a very strong possibility for top 10 [in the state meet]," Jones said. "But after that… who knows?"