ROYAL CITY – For the Knights cross country team, it’s about more than getting to the finish line. Head Coach Ben Orth said it's about becoming your best self.  

“It's a competition amongst other teams, but the challenge is to be the best version of ourselves as we can be, and that's just the beauty of what cross country really is,” he said. “Every kid has to realize that challenge and be consistent, be disciplined, and put in the work and feed their bodies with good nutrition and get good sleep and all those things that help us make those incremental improvements.” 

Last year, the girls team qualified for state and finished 12th. They return most of their runners from last season. Orth said they are working on building their base running as they head into the new season.  

The boys did not qualify as a team but sent two runners, Orth said. Their top runner Carlos Barajas, returns this season to support a younger boys team. He said the lineup will be heavy on the upperclassmen front, but a few of them have limited running experience.  

Orth said with other sports programs at Royal having success, getting consistent turnout each year presents its own challenges.  

“You have got to put in work. You have got to move your body. You’ve got to be willing to go through the hard workouts. We try to make it as fun as possible. We try to take the running seriously, but the team camaraderie and team relationships also just make that a big part of our program,” Orth said.  

As their season kicks off, Orth said Rebecca Carlson and Valeria Rodriguez have stepped up and set the tone for the girls team. Other girls runners to look out for are Caylee Guerrero, Akleigh Hebdon, Yanise Rincon and Sarah Freeman who has made it to state the last couple of years, he said.  

On the boys team, Barajas jumped out as a leader. Orth is focused on trying to get the other runners to catch up to him. Jorge Hernandez, Fabrizio Ramirez, Kevin Mendoza and Antonio Narciso will be strong competitors as well.  

With the Knights being represented at state each year, Orth said family dynamics is important to maintaining a winning culture. 

“We're all going to put in the hard work. One of the things I do appreciate about all of our coaches is that everybody runs every day, coaches included, and some of us are not as fast as the kids, and that's fine, but we're all together. I just really try to emphasize that family atmosphere, and that's really important,” Orth said.  

Throughout the summer, the Knights held summer workouts two or three times a week. Orth said turnout fluctuates with student athletes getting busy with other summer activities but overall, the team has been preparing for this season.  

“We're trying to race hard and fast and put together a good varsity lineup, but we're also trying to encourage those kids who are beginner runners who are just trying to figure out how to push themselves mile after mile,” Orth said.  

The Knights have their first meet on Sept. 6 for the Ellensburg Invitational Relays starting at 10 a.m. 

Carlos Hernandez, left, Antonio Narciso, middle, and Juan Mendoza, right leads the Knights on a run around their campus during practice. Head Coach Ben Orth said his boys team is on the younger side than the girls team.

Knights girls cross country jogs through the school parking lot during their practice. Head Coach Ben Orth said building team chemistry cultivates a winning culture year-to-year. From left: Marisol Gonzalez, purple, Alma Cortez, pink, Evelin Resendis, black, Guadalupe Ortiz, red, Yanise Rincon, brown, Sarah Freeman, pink, Akleigh Hebdon, white, Rebecca Carlson, blue, Alina Valentin, gray, Valeria Rodriguez, black.

Clayton Garnick, behind, Moises Castro, front, and Angel Trujillo, right, pace themselves on a run during their practice. Head Coach Ben Orth said the team has held several summer workouts to help the team be prepared for the fall season.