Holy Cross College will send 37 athletes to the 2026 Coca-Cola Games this week, aiming to build on last year’s medals with disciplined preparation and a focused mindset.
Holy Cross College is heading into the 2026 Coca-Cola Games with a clear message for its athletes: prepare well, stay disciplined, and focus on execution rather than putting heavy pressure on results.
This week’s competition will see 37 athletes represent Holy Cross College, with Coca-Cola Games Coordinator Anamaria Raibeci confirming the team includes 20 females and 17 males. They will compete across a range of track and field events from Thursday to Saturday at HFC Bank Stadium.
Raibeci said the school’s approach is built around preparation and routine—building the kind of discipline that helps athletes show up ready on race day. Instead of fixating on medals as the first priority, the emphasis is on doing the work leading up to the meet and then performing when it matters.
Even with that focus on mindset, Raibeci believes the group has the potential to challenge more established schools in their respective events.. For many teams, the Coca-Cola Games is often where reputations are tested and where preparation habits show up in times, distances, and finishes that can shift expectations in a single day.
Last year’s results give Holy Cross something to build on.. In the boys’ division, the school won one bronze medal, while the girls added two silvers.. Raibeci’s confidence this time is rooted in that same foundation—using previous competition experience as fuel while tightening what athletes control: their mindset and how they execute when they step onto the track.
The real pressure at meets like this is not only physical.. Athletes also have to manage nerves, changing conditions, and the intensity of racing in front of a larger crowd than they might be used to.. That’s where the coordinator’s message about execution becomes practical—staying calm, committing to race plans, and responding to what the competition brings rather than reacting emotionally.
There is also a wider sense of community behind the team.. Old scholars and supporters of Holy Cross College are being encouraged to rally behind the athletes as they take part in one of the biggest sporting stages in the country.. For schools, that kind of backing can lift morale, but it can also reinforce a sense of responsibility—helping athletes feel they carry more than just personal expectations.
Looking ahead to Thursday, the key question for Holy Cross may come down to consistency across events: whether athletes can turn training discipline into repeatable performance through heats, finals, and any moments where races swing.. If the athletes keep their focus on the basics—start strong, maintain form, and finish with intent—Raibeci’s goal of improving from last year’s competition becomes more attainable, not just hopeful.