OGDEN — Saint Joseph Catholic High School boys’ and girls’ cross country teams are the 2007-2008 1A State Champions. Lisa Reed, girls head cross country coach said the girls cross country team won the state title in 2002 and 2003. The girls came in second place in 2001. Reed and Javier Chavez both coach the boys’ and girls’ cross country teams. Chavez was out of town at the time of the interview with the Intermountain Catholic. The boys won the state title seven times in the last nine years in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2005. They came in second place in 2004 and 2006. "The running tradition started with the graduating class of 2004 at Saint Joseph Elementary School, which was the first class who had an eighth grade," said Reed. "Chavez helped coach at the grade school at that time. "We start conditioning in the first part of July and run about three days a week," said Reed. "Then we start running five days a week during August. When school starts, we run three days a week at 5:45 a.m., and the other two days we run after school. The students would rather run in the morning and have the afternoon to do their homework. We have used this strategy for at least 10 years." Reed said the students bring breakfast, shower, and it teaches them to budget their time. In the winter, it is a little harder to get up so early. "Our first meet will be Aug. 30, this year," said Reed. "All the 1A high schools do not have cross country teams, so we go to the cross country invitationals at all the 2A-5A schools until the regional tournament. Then at the regional and state tournament, we just compete against other 1A teams. "We attend big Saturday meets where there are hundreds of students from every school in the state," said Reed. "We do not keep track of anything until the regional and state tournaments. This gives the students an opportunity to better themselves and practice. Cross country is really a team event."
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