Big Season for Needham Girls Cross Country in Many Ways

November 22, 2024
• The Rockets took home several titles, but also made a big difference in the community.

The 2024 Fall Season has been one for the ages at Needham High School and the Girls Cross Country team has been a big part of why. The Rockets followed up a pair of titles at the Division 1-A Championships with another at the All-States. But their biggest achievement is off the course, as they raised over $20,000 for Dana Farber Cancer Institute’s Jimmy Fund.

The team raised the money through their “Spike Cancer” fundraiser, which was organized by Senior Taylor Partridge and alum Sam Villa. They were inspired by their coach, Chris Van Cott, who is a Dana Farber patient and now in remission.

The achievement was amplified by their success on the courses this fall, with Junior Greta Hammer winning the Division 1-A race, as well as the All-State race, setting a course record with a time of 18:02.48. The team won the D 1-A title and finished 5th at All-States.

Team photo courtesy of: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute & The Jimmy Fund