Cross Country has enjoyed a steady stream of success. Runners, including student-athletes and coaches, work together in the summer and fall to build a lifelong love of running and fitness. The program emphasizes “carrying water” for teammates – figuratively and literally to the start and finish lines – and balances it all with a commitment to fierce, fair competition. The Falcons’ mantra “Start Steady, Finish Strong” speaks not only to how they control races, but how they commit to each season and each runner’s career.

Recent highlights have been plentiful, with the peak of Falcon prowess for the boys coming during the 2021 FHSAA State Championship in Tallahassee. That November, four SSES harriers ran to top-100 individual placements and the squad finished a school-best 12th in the 32-team field. The top state finish for the girls’ squad came in 2017, when the Falcons placed 14th. All told, boys or girls have advanced to the region meet every year since 2011. One or more Falcons have represented Saint Stephen’s at the state finals in 10 of the past 14 seasons. The finest combined season came in 2016, when boys and girls teams both collected district titles and finished among the top 20 at the state meet.

Two record-holders stand out in the history of the program. Lauren Csubak, class of 2014, set the bar with sub-20-minute performances in the 5k and led our girls to their first team appearance at the FHSAA championship in 2012. Shortly thereafter, her brother Andrew, class of 2017, led the way with sub-17-minute races. Both Andrew (University of Tampa) and Lauren (St. Leo University) continued competing at the collegiate level.