By Alex Tarowsky ’14, Staff Writer

Most people at Newark Academy know the cross-country teams for their smooth legs or their funny posts in the Red Army Facebook page. Everybody has seen the team’s music video: a tribute to the Spice Girls (complete with cross dressing) made during the preseason camp in Brewster. However, there is one thing that everyone seems to be forgetting about the cross-country teams: they are very fast and very competitive. The men’s team is currently undefeated at 8-0. They won the Newark Academy Cross-Country Invitational for the first time in the meet’s 36 year history on September 8th. The women’s team is 4-2 and also did very well at the invitational, finishing in third, and beating a well-respected program in arch-rival Pingry in the process.

Newark Academy has had talented runners in the past, but this year, the men’s and women’s teams are doing well not only as individuals, but as an entire team. Is it possible that the silliness they are known for is a major contributor to the immense success? Senior captain Chris Roser thinks so. “This year we actually race like a team” he told me. “It makes racing a lot easier, and ultimately more fun. It really helps remind us why cross country is a team sport.” In essence, the runners are having so much fun this year that team chemistry is through the roof, and this camaraderie and togetherness has been converted into results on the track.

Both the men’s and women’s teams have their own unique ways of creating team unity. The girls all wear ribbons in their hair during every meet, and senior Rebecca Tolpin says that the tactic “has really energized and encouraged all of us and improved our performances in meets.” The men have implemented a “running soulmate” strategy in which all of the runners found a partner of similar ability to train with and push during practice.

This year’s teams both may very well be the best that Newark Academy has ever had. Not only are they fun to hang out with, but their graceful strides are also something to admire as they float around the Academy’s campus. The cross country teams are both amongst the best in Essex County, which is one of the most competitive counties in the entire state, including powerhouse teams such as Millburn and Livingston. If you are ever available, try to show some support as the teams attempt to make Newark Academy history by not only being one of the funniest teams in school history, but also by being the first cross-county teams to win the county tournament.