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Junior Nicole Pentenero runs at her first regionals on Nov. 7th.

Despite a rocky season amidst the COVID-19 pandemic the school’s varsity cross country team participated in their 4A district race on October 30th at St.Thomas University in Miami Gardens. This race determined whether they would continue on to regionals on November 7th.

The team placed first in their district led by junior Ana Carolina Romeu who ran a 21:25 minute 5k and placed 6th overall. This is the first time she has run districts since she joined the team freshman year.

“I was excited but also very nervous to be competing in districts for the first time,” Romeu said.

The weather at St. Thomas University that day was less than favorable for the runners.

“The weather was hot and humid and the course was muddy, but the team made the best of it,” Romeu said.

Throughout this year’s season, races have added a number of rules to control the spread of COVID-19 virus. Despite this, the race did allow spectators. Two very special spectators came to cheer on the team.

“We were also really happy that Sister Carmen and Sister Marie were able to come and support us,” Romeu said.

Despite the unstable weather, the bobcats came in first and went on to the November 7th regional meet.

“While I didn’t get a new personal record like I had hoped I would, I am very proud of the team as a whole because we placed first at the meet and advanced to regionals,” Romeu said.

The team’s regional meet, in North Port, Florida started at 8:00 am on Saturday November 5th. Seven of the runners competed against schools such as, St. Thomas Aquinas and Sarasota High School. They placed fourth overall, allowing them to advance to the state championship on November 14th.

The team was led by sophomore Paola Garcia who placed 13th with a 20:05 5k time. She was followed by freshman Andrea Comas-Sanchez who placed 20th with a time of 20:43. It was Comas’ first time running regionals for a high school team.

“Running regionals for the first time was very nerve racking but also exciting. I didn’t know what to expect or how it was going to be but it was also fun,” Comas said.

By placing fourth in North Port they will go on to the state championships at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee this coming Saturday. This is an important race for the team, since they placed 3rd in their division at the 2019 state championship.

“I am extremely nervous for states next week because it’s such an important race and I’ve never ran states with Lourdes before,” Comas said, “I just want to go to states and do the best that I can.”

Click Here to access meet results and view the state championship live.