Through all their rigorous and consistent training. the Boys Cross Country team is off to a great start. This year. the team has a new coach, Courtney Invernizzi. As a Malden High School alumna, Invernizzi is reacquainting herself with the school and its environment, considering it is her first time working with MHS.
Invernizzi has always had a passion for running ever since she started running in high school. She stated that she is “proud of the kids and really glad that [they] are putting in so much work, [they] are really respectful and [she is] just really glad to be their coach.” Invernizzi feels that the there is always “a positive vibe and [they] are a great family type unit and [they] help the newcomers push themselves.”
Junior Kyle O’Brien is in his third year on the Boys Cross Country team. O’Brien stated that, “[he] just feels that everyone has to step up and work harder each and every day and push each other to the limits to have a successful season for the team and individually.” His personal record for the 5K is 19:44 and every season he keeps improving that. During the early season last year, his PR, or personal record, was 20:40. O’Brien chose this sport because his friends introduced it to him and he really enjoyed it.
Senior Ameen Anwar is in his second year on the team. Anwar stated “[His] favorite thing about cross country is that it’s a sport where anyone can feel welcome and succeed as long as [they] try [their] best and eat, sleep, and hydrate.” He first started with outdoor track, and cross country began the following season, thus he continued to pursue long-distance running. His PR for the 5K is 18:25 for this year and while last year it was 19:25.
Sophomore Omar Asusy is beginning his second year on the team. Last year, Asusy was on the JV team but persistent training helped him secure a spot on the varsity team. Asusy was introduced into this sport by former cross country coach David Londino during his freshman year while he was getting a tour of MHS. Asusy has made outstanding progress in the last year of cross country by going from JV to varsity in under one season.
The team looks forward to having a great year of keeping up all of their good work and accomplishments.
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