Downey cross country on the upswing

DOWNEY - The Downey High School girls' cross country team has been working hard this summer in preparation for their fall season.The Lady Vikings started their Summer Camp on July 9 and have worked regularly from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The Downey High School cross country summer program was not limited to runners: it was open to all who were looking for basic exercise, conditioning for other sports, health and wellness and included 6th, 7th and 8th graders as well as incoming freshmen and current high school students. Interestingly, many Downey residents have probably seen cross country runners on Cecilia Street getting their road work done early in the morning on their way to work or to the grocery store. The Lady Vikings return several key runners from last season. Lisa Vasquez, Karen Silva and Jocelyn Orozco all return more fit and with a year more experience under their belts. The Lady Vikings' key losses to graduation were Nisreen Rizk and Alissa Weisenburger. The Lady Vikings finished second in league last season to cross-town rival Warren. Coach Overgaauw maintains that the summer running program has improved several younger runners. Overgaauw also stated that the addition of a few transfer students has added some competitive depth as well. The Lady Vikings certainly see Warren as the team to beat but also see quality athletes from Gahr and Paramount. Coach Overgauuw is looking forward to the season because the Downey girls' cross country program "has grown and improved immensely over the past few years and our girls are excited about the season this year." In addition to watching the hard work that cross country puts in, Coach Overgaauw can get a solid preview for the upcoming track season as well.

********** Published: August 23, 2012 - Volume 11 - Issue 19