If you were heading south on the freeway this past weekend, you might’ve caught a glimpse — or even felt the rush — of blue ACA energy speeding toward Hayward High. On Saturday, September 25, forty-seven of our Cross Country athletes made the 32-mile trek to compete in the annual Haystack-Turn Up Invitational, and they brought with them an unstoppable mix of focus, heart, and school pride.

Varsity Brilliance

The varsity races were pure electricity. Harry Zimmerman charged through the crowded men’s field to claim an impressive 5th place finish, leaving everything he had on the trail. Close behind, teammates Dane, David, Theo, Jason, Dashel, and Alexander ran with determination and teamwork, powering the Varsity Dons to a strong 6th place overall.

On the women’s side, the Lady Dons proved they were just as fierce. Nevis Murphy battled the windy, muddy course with grace and grit, earning a 9th place finish. Olivia Kempt kept the energy high, while Olivia Jensen, Alexandra Happ, and Charlotte Keyser delivered strong, spirited performances to round out a stellar varsity showing.

Junior Varsity Dominance

The JV Lady Dons were led by Julia Kunz, with Rubbie Peters, Feye Pang, and Natalie Pecci close behind, each pushing through with determination and team spirit.

In the men’s JV race, Cassey Metzer absolutely stole the show — sweeping the field for a first-place finish. Teammates Shiraz, Makoto, Neal, Dylan, Kalder, Calder, and Marshal all finished within medal range.

Frosh/Soph Boys Powerhouse take Second Place 

The Frosh/Soph race was packed with ACA pride — 19 blue-and-white jerseys hitting the trail with purpose. Sebastian led the charge, finishing 10th overall, followed closely by Jasper, Grayson, Lachlan, Aidan, and Rodrigo. Meanwhile, Logan, Gus, Brock, Liam, and Emmet worked together in tight formation, steadily overtaking opponents one by one. Oscar, Dario, and Henry Zhao rounded out a powerful team finish, proving that ACA’s young runners are already a force to be reckoned with.