Germantown Academy's Goldstein wins fourth straight Inter-Ac x-c title
By persevering we shall see the fruits is the Germantown Academy motto. According to GA cross-country coach Judy Krouse, senior Abbe Goldstein exemplifies that motto in every aspect.
By persevering we shall see the fruits is the Germantown Academy motto. According to GA cross-country coach Judy Krouse, senior Abbe Goldstein exemplifies that motto in every aspect.
This season, Goldstein took home first place overall in the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association (PAISAA) championship and the Inter-Ac League championship, both of which were held at Belmont Plateau. It was the fourth straight year that Goldstein won the Inter-Ac League championship.
Baldwin's Julia Pudlin also won four consecutive Inter-Ac varsity cross-country championships, from 1997 to 2000.
In attempts to help Goldstein grow as a runner, Krouse said she adopted special circumstances for her. For the last two years, Goldstein has practiced with the GA boys' cross-country team, the way she would during the track and field season. The captain still leads warm-ups and stretches for her female teammates and checks in with them after practice.
"Practicing with the guys just allows me to be pushed more in practice," said Goldstein. "They're great training partners."
Both Inter-Ac and the PAISAA championship were meets in which Goldstein's team took home the first-place title. It was the first Inter-Ac title for Patriots since 2013.
"It's been really fun to see the team being successful," said Goldstein. "It's a motivator for me to know there's a goal bigger than myself. Cross-country really is a team sport."
Goldstein has been recognized nationally for her accomplishments, running in the Millrose Games, the New Balance Grand Prix, the Penn Relays, and the Footlocker Northeast Regional competition last fall.
Goldstein recently committed to run at Harvard University, a program for which Krouse thinks she will fit in perfectly.
Goldstein, one of two captains for the team, is the only senior in the top five varsity runners, and her success and morale has inspired the other members of the top five, two juniors and two freshmen. She also shares a special bond with one other member of the freshman - her younger sister, Issy.
"One of the biggest smiles I saw on Abbe's face this year was a meet earlier this season where Issy finished second," said Krouse. "When Abbe turned around and saw Issy was coming in next, she was so happy. It spoke volumes to me about who they are as sisters and teammates."
Most recently, Goldstein helped organize a team costume for the GA Halloween parade, dressing the team up as trophies for different sports as a way to boost morale for the athletic program.
"I think they were as happy with that as they were the rest of the successes this season," Krouse said of Goldstein's classmates. "People at GA were saying it was one of the best costumes they had ever seen."