Walnut, Calif. — With the 2025 cross country season on the horizon, the Mt. SAC Men's Cross Country Team is building momentum behind a blend of seasoned returners and energetic newcomers, guided by Head Coach Jenna Bird.
Coming off a second-place finish at last year's 3C2A State Championship — following back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023 — the Mounties enter the season with their sights set on reclaiming the top spot.
"We have some solid returners who did really well at the state meet last year, so I think they bring some maturity to the team," said Coach Bird. "Their experience in both cross country and track is invaluable — they understand what it takes to compete at a high level and bring a confidence and composure that really helps set the tone for the rest of the group."
Leading the charge is team captain Conner Sybrandy, a standout both on and off the course. "Conner's been doing an awesome job of bringing in the new kids with the returners to try and blend those groups together," Bird noted. "He's really stepped up into his leadership role."
While the team's experienced members provide a strong foundation, Coach Bird is just as energized by the fire and determination shown by this year's newcomers. "We've got some new guys who bring a really fiery energy — it's fun to see that dynamic with the group this year," she said. "They're hungry, competitive, and tough. Honestly, they're just dogs — in the best way. They'll push through anything, and most of the time we're the ones telling them to dial it back. It's a gritty group, and that toughness is something I'm really excited about."
The program's goals are clear: bring home hardware from conference, regionals, and ultimately state. "Our goal is to go to the state championships and get away with a trophy — hopefully get a trophy at regionals and do well at conference," said Bird. "But really, I want to see the group come together. We have a strong group of men returning, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how they gel with the new guys and grow together as a unit."
That progress is already showing in their training with the team having completed two time trials so far. Impressively, three of the men secured spots in the program's all-time top 10 during these trials. "Our training sessions focus not only on building team camaraderie and encouraging the athletes to run together as a unit, but also on refining technique and improving efficiency," Coach Bird explained. "We want to make sure we're addressing all aspects of their performance so we can get the best out of every athlete."
With less than two weeks until competition begins, anticipation is building. "I'm really excited to see how they come out and compete. A lot of the returning guys have really stepped up from where they were as freshmen — and I'm curious to see how that experience carries over to the younger athletes," said Coach Bird.
The Mounties will open the 2025 season on Saturday, August 30 at the Mark Covert Classic, hosted by Cal State Fullerton at Carbon Canyon Regional Park in Brea, CA.
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