Cross Country Program Surges Forward with Historic Depth and Personal Bests

Something special is happening on the trails this fall at Greenhills. The boys and girls cross country teams are not just posting fast times, they’re setting a new standard for the program. With veteran leadership, promising newcomers, and a culture of support and hard work, both teams are enjoying their most successful seasons in years.

“We just keep getting better,” said Assistant Coach Jarrett Bussell. “This is easily the strongest boys team I’ve seen in my time here. And the girls are deeper and faster than they were last year.”

That depth is no accident. It’s the product of years of building a culture where every runner pushes the next.

“Iron sharpens iron,” Bussell said. “It’s contagious—in the best way. Everyone’s working hard, and they’re feeding off each other’s energy and effort.”

On the boys side, the results speak for themselves. Senior Nico Aagesen and junior Naveen Kulkarni recently broke 17 minutes for the first time, a major milestone in high school cross country. And freshman Henry Cooper has emerged as one to watch.

With so much depth, making the varsity squad this season has become a challenge. That’s a far cry from where the program was just a few years ago.

“Four years ago, many of our fringe varsity runners would’ve been our number one runner,” Bussell said. “Now, they are pushing hard just to crack the varsity lineup. That’s how much these athletes have elevated their own program over the past couple of seasons.”

The girls program is thriving, too. Despite battling injuries, the team has continued to drop times across the board. Seniors Harper Cash, Emme Ravikumar, and Janaan Rehman are leading the charge, clocking personal records and anchoring a young, deep roster, while junior Libby Schuster continues to demonstrate her top-tier ability every opportunity she gets.

“They’ve done really well all year,” Bussell said of the senior girls. “They’ve all worked hard and seen a big drop in their times, and they’ve all been great leaders who are making it fun to work hard together.”

That sense of joy, Bussell said, is at the heart of the program. The team holds itself to high standards in terms of effort, commitment, and participation, but just as important is the kind of culture they’re building together. It’s a culture rooted in support, respect, and shared purpose.

“Of course we want to compete and get faster,” Bussell said. “But we also want to have fun and make memories. That’s a big part of it, too.”

That philosophy starts early. At the middle school level, the focus isn’t on times or rankings, it’s on sparking a love for the sport. Bussell credits the middle school coaches for creating such a positive entry point and helping fuel the depth the high school program now enjoys.

With the Catholic High School League (CHSL) championship up next and the MHSAA Regionals soon after, Greenhills is in a strong position. The boys are hoping their depth and consistency will carry them past strong teams from Shrine and Gabriel Richard. The girls face a tougher field in both remaining contests, but Bussell believes they have the fight and the times to challenge for top finishes, and hopefully a trip to the state meet.

“We definitely have the potential to make it as a team, and we’ll have individuals who qualify,” he said. “But we’re not done yet. There’s still more in the tank.”

Two races remain for most athletes, including this Friday’s CHSL championship and next week’s regional. For the JV squad, these final meets are one more opportunity to chase down personal records and finish the season on a high.

Across both teams, from seniors to freshmen, varsity to JV, the message is clear: this is more than a standout season, it’s a sign that Greenhills cross country is thriving together.