The cross country team travelled to Peak View Elementary School on Oct. 4, 2017, for the ninth annual Burtner Classic. It’s the first time the team has raced there this season, as they have just three regular season meets remaining. The JV boys and girls both ran together in a combined race, followed by the varsity girls and varsity boys, who ran separate races. Senior Isaiah King led the Streaks, placing tenth in the varsity race, while senior Evan Jost was close behind in 12th.

Jost felt good about his race, and he kept his pre-race preparation for it plain and simple.

“[The race was] pretty good, [my strategy was] jog the whole thing,” Jost said.

The Peak View course provides a mix of up and down hills, including “The Wall,” which is the name of the short, yet steep hill that is within the first 800 meters of the race. It can provide a tough challenge for the runners, but Jost however, got through it without spending too much energy.

“[The Wall] was pretty good because I didn’t really run up it that hard so it didn’t really tire me out at all,” Jost said.

As a senior, this was the last time Jost will have competed in the Burtner Classic, and he’s thankful for the great memories at the course.

“We’ve been racing there since sixth-grade, so I’m definitely going to miss it,” Jost said.

Junior Abby Campillo finished 13th in the girls varsity race, and was fourth highest for the Streaks.

“[The race] was fun. I like the course and the weather was really nice,” Campillo said.

For Campillo, she was prepared for the parts of downhill in race to push hard.

“I just wanted to run fast down the hills, and then have fun on the rest,” Campillo said.

Junior Jonathan Warner placed ninth in the boys JV race, and was fourth highest for Harrisonburg. Since he placed in top 10, he was given a free pair of socks as an award for his hard work.

“[The race was] fantastic. I’ve worked all season for this and I finally have what I want. I won the socks,” Warner said.

This Saturday, the Streaks travel to Bull Run Regional Park in Manassas, for the yearly “Glory Days” meet, which is one of the biggest meets in the state. Jost feels determined to have a strong run in his final Glory Days meet.

“It’s the most important meet of the season because it’s the one where 500 kids are going to be in it and I’ve got to beat them all. That means I have to run sub 15,” Jost said.

Following Glory Days on Oct. 7, the Streaks will travel to Broadway on Oct. 11,  and then will run their final regular season race in the Albemarle Invitational at Panorama Farms on Oct. 14.