Finding Their Stride: Linden Cross Country Builds Momentum

New runners, personal bests and a growing team bond set the pace as championship meets approach.

LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NJ (Sept. 22) — Jeremiah Osei is new to cross country. He is already helping set the pace for Linden.

The junior has covered 2 miles in 13 minutes, 19.70 seconds in his first season, emerging as a leader in a program that has grown in participation, confidence and commitment since summer training began.

He has company. Freshmen are making early contributions, returning runners are improving their times, and the boys and girls squads are building toward October’s championship meets with a shared focus: getting better together.

Boys Find Their Pace

Sophomore captain Jamison Alvarado has helped establish the standard for the boys over the 5-kilometer distance, approximately 3.1 miles. His recent personal best of 20:09.00 reflects the progress taking shape through daily workouts and competition.

Osei’s emergence adds another contributor, while a promising freshman class is gaining experience.

Tyler Filsaime has clocked 14:06.71 over 3,200 meters, with classmate Francis Young pushing close behind. Their development gives the boys a growing group of runners who can challenge one another in practice and carry that effort into races.

Girls Build Depth

Junior Alison Almonte has led the girls throughout the season, posting a 5K time of 23:38.17.

Behind her, sophomores Victoria Veiera, Laila Kanga and Adrianna Fernandez are closing the gap and challenging one another near the front of the team. That competition within the squad is helping build depth as the season progresses.

First-year runner Victoria Cavezza has also joined the effort, recording a time of 22:26.02 over 3,200 meters in her debut season.

For Linden’s newcomers, each workout and race offers a chance to learn how to manage the distance, sustain an effort and build confidence.

Progress Beyond the Stopwatch

The times provide one measure of Linden’s development. The runners’ relationships provide another.

Since the summer, teammates have encouraged one another through difficult workouts, held each other accountable and celebrated improvements. Athletes learning the sport are doing so alongside runners taking on leadership responsibilities, creating opportunities to contribute at different experience levels.

Those habits give the district’s ROAR pillars of Resilience and Relationships a practical expression: sticking with demanding work and helping a teammate do the same. They also connect athletics to Linden’s mission of developing essential skills through collaboration and growth.

October Tests Ahead

Linden will carry that progress into the Union Conference Meet on Oct. 13, followed by the Union County Meet on Oct. 22 and the NJSIAA sectional championships on Oct. 31.

At sectionals, both squads will seek to advance to the NJSIAA group championships.