The seniors and varsity members of the Homestead cross country team spent the time leading up to the Homecoming football game on Oct. 10 running a course of ten miles from Germantown High School to Homestead High School.

This tradition of running the ball from the Homecoming opponent’s school has taken place since 1988. Eighteen members of the the Homestead cross country team had the chance to partake in this long-standing tradition. As the run begins, a vehicle follows the runners stopping at every mile in case the runners need a break. This long distance run commences the homecoming game, as they run the football from the opponent’s school to Homestead High School.

Victor Vilar, coach of the girls cross country team, said, “we realize we need to make i[this event] more accessible to the communityl. We’ve talked about streaming it live so people can get excited about following the runners as they are running it. It’s a part of the school festivities, so it would be great to have a crowd cheering the runners on as they carry the football to the stadium,” Coach Vilar said.

Grace Karegeannes, sophomore, said, “The football run is a special thing for seniors because it’s their last year and it’s the only run they can all do together. I feel like underclassmen and juniors shouldn’t be able to run it because it’s a senior tradition, and it wouldn’t be the same if other grade levels ran it,” Karegeannes said.

“The run is a great way to bond as a team, and it’s a great Homecoming tradition,” Olivia Gonzalez, senior, said.