LYNN – Perhaps overshadowed by the glitz and glamour of autumn?s more popular high school sporting events (i.e., football, soccer and field hockey) lies a craft that requires as much strength and dedication as any: cross country running.On Wednesday, rivals English and Classical got together to showcase just how much goes into this sport. English secured an 18-39 victory on the Lynn Woods 3.1-mile course, but one would never know that there was a loser.?Rivals” may not best describe the meet?s competitors, as one of the sport?s truly beautiful aspects is the level of respect displayed by both teams. To illustrate this, just take a look at yesterday?s finish line, which Bulldogs runner Tyler Comer crossed first in 18:45.Coming down the stretch, Comer was willed on by not just his own coach, John Walsh, but Classical?s Chris Hayward and a contingency of Rams who helped keep the times.?I know there is a rivalry storyline that comes along with English and Classical, but we don?t have any hostility towards one another in this sport,” explained Comer. “We all compete hard and at the end of the day it?s just a fun competition.”Walsh added to the sentiment.?I think both teams really get excited to compete against each other, coming from the same city and all,” he explained. “A lot of the kids know each other and the sportsmanship that is shown is great. Everyone pulls for one another, no matter the uniform.”Walsh added: “The kids run six days a week, it?s a lonely sport in a lot of ways, meaning they have to discipline themselves.?There are certainly not a lot of accolades for what they do. I don?t think that people who aren?t in the running circle give them enough respect for their physical and mental strength.”Comer said the preparation for competitions really begins from the moment a runner wakes up in the morning and continues throughout the day.?We pretty much prepare all day,” Comer said. “Getting in a good breakfast is obviously important and not missing a meal throughout the day.?Before the meet starts there is a lot of stretching and warming up involved.”Coming in behind Comer were Bulldogs teammates Emmanuel Ezemba (19:22), Ri Yan (20:10), and Adam Bryson (20:28), respectively.English improves to 3-3 on the season.Classical?s Eric Maccore (21:18) placed fifth, with teammates Johan Santana (21:21) and Eli Bakas (21:26) finishing sixth and seventh, and fellow Rams Cody Sutherland (22:06) finishing ninth and Anthony Ong finishing 12th (23:20).The Rams? top female performers were Monica Meas, who ran a 25:25, and Amina Babic, who followed suit with a 25:40.?Those first four boys are all freshmen or sophomores,” Classical coach Chris Hayward said. “They?re going to be good. (The boys have) worked extremely hard, as have the girls.?Their times have come way down since the beginning of the year.”Classical is 1-5 on the season.