Hayward Summer Practice

Photographer Todd Tokubo met the Hayward High School Cross Country team - home of the Farmers!

Hayward High School is the home of multiple invitationals in the Bay Area each fall, and for many years, the on-campus 3-mile course has been home of the CIF North Coast Section Cross Country Meet of Champions.  

Hayward's Assistant Coach Jhann Alvarez (also a XC and Track runner at nearby Chabot College) was running some of his team through an easy run around the course - around the Mendez loop, up the hill and through campus.  He noted that they are looking to adjust the course this season, especially in the areas that had difficulty holding up during the NCS Final last year.

During the summer season, how often does the team practice?

During the summer, we practice together on campus Monday through Friday and ask our students to run on their own on Saturday, usually a long run. 

What are some special summer activities?

We meet up off campus during the summer sometimes. The students organize some of their meetings on Saturdays or after-practice hangouts. We also organize team runs off campus and go to trails around Hayward.

How do you build team culture?

We always make sure everyone warms up together as a group, and it is always lead by a student. Same with our cool-down stretches. 

Holding each other accountable, especially during the core workouts, we do every day. I’ve had students ask me about runners who miss practice and make sure their running is going ok. Many of them are concerned about having a strong team and making sure we are all on track. 

As coaches, we try to make sure that every athlete is seen and understood. Keeping track of where everyone is at with their running, making sure they are getting the training they need, and understanding the purpose of the workouts. 

What are some events that the team is looking forward to in the fall season?

Most of our current senior boys got to experience what it was like winning our league champs 2 years ago. They, along with the rest of our varsity team, are looking forward to making that happen again. 

As a whole, we hope to continue to grow the team and improve upon what we did last year.