The Meeting of the Marauders 2019

Carmichael, CA
Hosted by Jesuit (SJ)

Meet Information

As part of our series leading up to the 2019 Cross Country season, Mile Split is bringing you more than just race results and interviews with race winners. This year we are sharing some of the other stores that make cross country such a compelling sport. From Summer camps, to pieces on training, to traditions like intra-squad meets to kick off the season.

Jesuit High School in Carmichael, California has a legendary program which has been led for years by Head Coach Walt Lange. Under his tutelage the Marauders have won 26 Sac Joaquin Section championships. The program is built on consistency and their intra-squad meet, the Meeting of the Marauders. More than just a seeding race, the coaches use the event to educate the parents on what being a part of a cross country team is all about and what the expectations are for their son's.

As they have done for years, following an alumni race, every healthy runner in the program lines up and heads out on the 2.71 mile course through Ancil Hoffman Park along the American River. Winning the race was defending 3,200 State Champion Matt Strangio, who ran the second fastest time in course history with a brisk time of 13:36. The top 5 finishers also ran the second fastest time in history, which was just off the time of the 2015 team whose only losses were to Great Oak and Dana Hills who finished first and third at NXN hat year.

While events like this can take on a casual feeling, much like Summer Camps that have become the norm for top programs, they serve an important purpose of building camaraderie, establishing a support network and showing family and friends what an exciting sport Cross Country is.