Varsity Boys Cross-Country Sets the Pace

All of it added up to a phenomenal start to the 2023 season for the varsity boys cross-country team. 

The Panthers kicked off the fall with a pair of impressive performances. They took second at both the Fairchester Athletic Association (FAA) meet at Sherwood Island State Park on September 20 and at the Canterbury Invitational on September 23.

Based on the early returns, it's shaping up to be a special year for the tightknit Panthers squad. 

"When I think about the rest of the Masters cross-country team, I see each of my teammates like a family member," said Leo Schilling ’24, who credited former coach Luciano Fiore with his development as a runner. "I think that the rest of the team can agree that we all try to support each other during our difficult moments in the training process, and we like to hype each other when we complete a daunting task — on the OCA (Old Croton Aqueduct), on hills, in the gym, on the track, and at races. I think that starting preseason training in full swing and staying consistent in our training schedule, tied together with the constant support for our teammates, helped make the dreamwork happen."

Schilling was the top Masters performer at the FAA meet, placing fifth overall with a time of 17:42. 

"The approach I had was to set a pace that was beyond my comfort zone, but a pace that was equally sustainable at the same time," Schilling said. "I knew that I was running too fast during the first mile, so I decided to slow down and proceed at a more sustainable pace throughout the second mile. In the last mile, I would say that I 'pushed it with thy might,' as I cared more about the finishing result than my internal pain and fatigue." 

Tozai Kawabata ’25 finished right behind Schilling with a time of 17:43.5. 

"I had previously run on the course, so I had kind of known what I was getting into," Kawabata said. "I kept my first mile very moderate, tagging along my training partner Leo Schilling, and proceeded near him during the hills in the second mile. At the end, we both really opened up in the final straightaway, which consists of a trail. It is something that is part of our daily training regimen." 

Jamie Milward ’26 (14th, 18:31.4), Owen Bull ’26 (16th, 18:42.5) and Liam Chappelear ’27 (19th, 19:13.1) rounded out Masters' top five at the event, which Hopkins narrowly won. 

The Panthers' depth throughout the lineup was the ultimate difference in the team's strong showing, according to Kawabata. 

"It was how evenly distributed our top five runners were," said Kawabata, who credits his strong times to a strict training regiment over the summer. "Last year, our top two runners would get us high in the rankings, but from there the other three would diverge from that path. But this year we have had amazing consistency and an even distribution of runners, which is a testament to all the training everyone put in during the summer." 

At Canterbury, the Panthers took second out of 11 teams in the Division 2 bracket. 

Looking ahead, Masters will aim to stay on track as it prepares for the second FAA meet on October 4 at Sherwood Island. 

"I am very ambitious and am not going to remain satisfied," Kawabata said. "While getting number two is a big accomplishment for our School's cross-country team, we are looking for that top spot and we have to know other teams are on the hunt, too. So the work has to continue." 

The Panthers, of course, are no strangers to hard work.