The SCH boys cross country season serves several purposes. It is designed to prepare serious distance runners for the indoor and outdoor track seasons by building a solid base of distance and strength. This base work enables students to compete at the state and national levels in cross country and track. It is SCH’s hope that cross-country training will instill a lifelong love of and participation in distance running.

The team participates in the Inter-Ac League Championship, the Independent Schools State Championship, and the Footlocker Regional. Over the years, numerous runners have earned All-Inter-Ac, Pennsylvania Independent State Prep honors, All-Pennsylvania State honors, and All-American accolades.

Cross country also enables team members who participate in non-track sports in the winter and spring seasons to get into better conditions for their particular sport. A focus on mental toughness and discipline, learned from the rigors of cross country training and racing, can carry over into other sports. Team bonding is also a goal of the cross country season.

Head coach Paul Hines has coached cross country and track and field at SCH since 1981. He was named PAISAA XC Coach of the Year in 2013 and has directed the Inter-Ac and PAISAA championships for the past 13 years. An accomplished runner, he has run 49 marathons and won numerous awards, including being named to the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, City Chapter.