Diamonds on the soles of their shoes: girls’ XC soaring to victory

The ARHS girls’ cross country team has built one of the Valley’s most successful programs, winning four consecutive Western Mass championships (2022-2025) and eyeing a fifth straight title. With 29 Western Mass titles in its program history, the Canes have established a tradition of excellence that extends beyond the finish line.

Their undefeated dual-meet record and top-two finishes at weekend invitationals this season reflect a program built on more than speed: leadership, recovery, accountability, and a strong sense of community.

The team is so dominant because of their bond, practice, recovery, and leadership from team captains and coaches, Elena Betke-Brunswick and Ron Jacobs.

One of the senior captains, Libby Smith, has run cross country since seventh grade and enjoys being outside with her teammates. The team didn’t always have captains, but that changed this year. “The coaches dictated it, but all of the seniors would run [for captain], and then the rest of the team would vote on which of the seniors they wanted to be captain,” Smith said. The team has four captains: seniors Quynh Ly, Anoushka Sen, Eleanor Rasche, and Smith.

The captains organize their leadership around what the team calls the “cultural triangle,” which consists of three principles: curiosity, inclusivity, and high performance.

“My goal as a captain is to make sure that all of those points are being upheld in our community,” Smith said. “I really want to make sure that people are talking to people they don’t always talk to and feeling like this is a really good space, but I also want everyone to have fun.”

The captains reinforce those principles through a weekly leadership council, where they meet with the coaches to discuss how well the team is living up to its goals. Their responsibilities also extend to practice, where they lead dynamic stretches and help organize runners into workout groups.

To perform at a high level, they prepare to feel strong and ready for practice, with Smith handing her teammates snacks and drinks from her car. Or they meditate at the tree to clear their heads before a more intense workout.

The team embraces curiosity by trying new things, whether that means lifting weights, running with different teammates, or pushing their limits to see how fast they can go.

For inclusivity, the team culture of bonding is consistently upheld during practice. The runners sit in a circle and give shoutouts and kudos to one another. “We go around and talk about whether we saw anyone doing something amazing, either in the race or throughout the day. It’s a way to lift each other and recognize improvements we’re proud of,” Smith said.

If a runner is having an off day, their teammates will do their best to motivate them. “You can remind them to trust their training and the process, that they can do hard things, and that they’ll feel good after accomplishing something difficult,” said Smith. “Their team loves and supports them, too.”

Smith also said the group listens to their bodies. “If someone is genuinely having a bad day, I’ll offer to walk back with them,” she said. “If you’re having a bad day, you’re not walking home alone.”

During big invitationals, the Canes compete in separate races for freshmen and sophomores, JV, and varsity. Despite the different race times and warm-up schedules, the team continues to cheer loudly for one another, showing that its support extends beyond individual races.

Before every race, the runners form a circle and huddle. According to Smith, they sing Paul Simon’s “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes” with some lyrics changed to fit the team. They then do a whisper-to-scream cheer: “We’re coming on with a full head of steam, strong in our hearts, extreme. We’re from Amherst, we’re living the dream. Amherst, Amherst, team, team, team.”

Then off to the starting line with energy. These pre-race traditions demonstrate the unity that helps define the Canes’ team culture.

During dual meets, the Canes frequently blow out their opponents. What is their mentality heading into those meets? Smith described it as “a workout instead of going all-out. We try to do a structured workout that uses the hills and terrain of the course to our advantage.”

One of the coaches explains the workout in depth, with splits, times, and where people are in the workout. “But we still treat it like any other meet. We cheer, exchange locker-buddy gifts, and do all the warmups we would normally do.” Smith said.

Big weekend invitationals bring more anxiety and excitement, but it’s fun. According to Smith, “when you have a bigger group of people running, it’s easier to work off other runners in your race, pass people, and have a good opportunity to set a personal record.” The pressure to uphold the program’s reputation adds another challenge. Overall, they run scrappy and take care of business, with a positive mindset, but also leave time to recover throughout the week before the next invitational.

In preparation for weekend meets, the Canes follow a structured training schedule. The team completes a workout on Tuesday, a long run on Wednesday, and easy runs on Thursday and Friday.

For dual meets, some varsity runners sometimes do what they call “double threshold.” They’ll run a workout at 6 a.m. that morning and then run another workout during the meet.

At the time of the interview, it was right before the 2026 MSTCA Bob Glennon Twilight Invitational. The Invitational is in Falmouth, MA, on Cape Cod, and is a late-night, cold race.

How do the Canes prepare for such a late-night meet? “We definitely try to keep our sleep schedule the same. It’s easy to think you can stay up late and sleep in because you’re not leaving until later in the day, but we still prioritize sleep,” said Smith. “Running later in the day is different for your digestive system and your body. We try to eat the same way we would on any other day. Then, about three hours before the race, we start preparing and carb-loading.”

Even after the race where they took second place, they still did a cooldown. With the Western Mass and Division II state championships approaching, the Canes face their season’s most important tests. Another Western Mass title would extend their championship streak to five consecutive years, while the Division II state championship could bring a tougher challenge against some of the state’s strongest programs.

The Canes are projected to win Western Mass, with Northampton as their primary title threat. The Division II state championship, however, will be a closer contest. Their biggest competition is Whitinsville Christian, a school based in Northbridge, Mass. Whitinsville Christian has the state’s fastest runner, Emily Flagg.

But the Canes are thrilled by the opportunity. “It’s an honor to breathe the same air as her,” said Smith.