Early in the morning, they gather, united by a single goal. They are the Pali cross country team. Their mission: to run across the country.

Reporting for Tideline, I accompanied the cross country team to one of their practices. I was excited to find out what country they would run to that day. 

But when they turned back after reaching the nearest Starbucks…and the next day…and the day after that, I was shaken to my core by a terrible realization.

Despite its name, Pali’s cross country team has never crossed the country. Or a state. Or even a county.

During practices, they train for “regionals,” which does not involve crossing regions. 

Senior runner Zachary Cohen explained that the team is “building endurance.” For what? Lying to the American public?

This begs the question: What has happened to this country? Fake news is becoming increasingly prevalent. But I never expected the enemy within to be within Pali. We must make America gait again.

“We run really far,” claimed captain Maya Bhasin. “Sometimes even to the beach.” When pressed on whether that beach was in Florida or Santa Monica, she ran away.

Clearly, this required more investigating. The team recently posted a photo captioned, “Made it to the East Coast (of Will Rogers).”

Captain Daila Harnick said, “We don’t cross the country, but we do cross PCH [Pacific Coast Highway], which in some ways, is more impressive.”

I observed the “cross country” team all fall. As the days got shorter, so did their routes. And their shorts. Still, I was no closer to an answer.

If names truly mean nothing, perhaps track should be next. No tracks have been laid. No trains have arrived.

At least we can rely on the basketball team, busy weaving their baskets.