Battle for the 509 - 10/4/2025

Course Length – 5k

 

General Notes – This is a very flat course, moving from grass to hard-packed dirt, with some gravel thrown in there for good measure. It was pretty quiet out on the horse track, but the main section was loud and full of spectators.. The weather during the races was in the low 60s, with sun throughout the day. There were lots of schools there from all over eastern Washington, including our league and others. Overall, it was great to see everyone work together and find success!

  

In the Novice Boys race, there were 152 competitors. 

In the Novice Girls race, there were 227 competitors. LBHS was 17th out of 21 scoring teams.

In the JV Girls race, there were 107 competitors.

In the JV Boys race, there were 294 competitors.

In the Varsity Girls race, there were 211 competitors. LBHS was 11th out of 27 scoring teams.

In the Varsity Boys race, there were 219 competitors. LBHS was 8th out of 29 scoring teams.

Cassius – One mile: 7:18. Two Mile: 14:12. Finish: 21:28, 88th place. Average: 6:55.

Great running Cassius! Starting out with Luke set you up for a negative split 5k, which is not easy to do. Yet you found a way to drop 25 seconds on your second mile, then another 20 seconds at the end, all while moving up 123 places in the last two miles. Plus you tacked on a 2-minute PR to boot. I think a slightly faster start might benefit you next time around, and I know you'll be breaking 21:00 in no time!

Luke – One mile: 7:17. Two Mile: 14:02. Finish: 21:01, 58th place. Average: 6:47.

Wow! That was an impressive 5k Luke! Not only did you negative split the entire race, each mile was about 30 seconds faster than the previous. Plus, you moved up 145 places from the 1-mile to the finish, and bagged a PR in your second 5k this year. That's really something! It was great to see you and Cassius running together at the start, and I bet the two of you could go out a bit quicker next time around, since we know you can hang on. Keep it up!

Sisu – One mile: 7:18. Two Mile: 14:37. Finish: 22:33, 81st place. Average: 7:16.

Another 5k, another PR but this time by over a minute!! That was incredible, Sisu! You ran with your teammates and stayed patient in the first mile, which helped you continue to hold that pace for the rest of the race. Your average race pace was 2 seconds faster than your first mile which shows how smart you ran this race. Don’t forget to relax your shoulders and drive your arms, especially as you get tired. Let’s keep the PR streak going! 

Madie – One mile: 8:32. Two Mile: 17:16. Finish: 25:58, 62nd place. Average: 8:23.

Yay Madie! What a great race! By staying calm in that first mile with Sutherland - it was awesome seeing you two work together - you were able to keep passing people and move up throughout the whole race! You passed over 30 people! That also helped you in your last mile, which was your fastest. I know you didn’t feel like you had the oomph at the very end, but that will come as we work on speed and more in the coming weeks. And - congrats on a big PR!

Bhavana – One mile: 9:44. Two Mile: 20:04. Finish: 30:30, 193rd place. Average: 9:50.

A big PR! Yeah! Great job You cut off about 3 minutes from last week’s 5k and captured a lifetime PR also! Your last mile was a little faster than your first mile, which means you paced really well. You showed strength, determination and that you are really getting the hang of these 5ks. You hung in there through that tough 2nd mile and stayed engaged, competing and not letting people pass you. Excellent work! 

Yasmin – One mile: 9:04. Two Mile: 18:29. Finish: 29:12, 168th place. Average: 9:25.

Congrats on your first 5k of the season! You did awesome! It was a very big race and the first mile got out a little fast but you stayed tough and competed. Keep it up. Let’s work on running your race for that first part and it will help you feel even more competitive and confident for the later parts of the race. Fantastic job!

Alida – One mile: 7:17. Two Mile: 14:33. Finish: 22:28, 76th place. Average: 7:15.

What a great first 5k of the season, Alida! You ran a very smart race that you should be proud of. The biggest thing I noticed was you did a great job running your own race and not letting other people affect how you raced - you looked calm and in control the whole race. You maintained an even pace throughout the entire race, passing people, and moving up 41 places from the 1-mile to the finish. That’s amazing! Let’s keep this momentum going into the rest of the season! 

Kylie – One mile: 9:13. Two Mile: 19:04. Finish: 28:52, 160th place. Average: 9:19.

Seven whole minutes, to the dot. That is how much faster you raced your second ever 5k. Fantastic job Kylie. You were engaged throughout the race and stayed steady throughout. Even though your ankle was maybe not the happiest, you still did it. You were tough and showed so much strength! You are doing a great job recovering from the injury and tackling the racing and high school workouts. Nice job!

Elsa – One mile: 7:18. Two Mile: 14:51. Finish: 23:17, 97th place. Average: 7:31.

Great PR Elsa! You had a hard day and STILL PR’d by 20 seconds. That’s incredible and shows what a strong runner you are. All of your hard work is paying off with some early season PRs. Even with your calf pain, you managed to hold your place the last mile - great job competing through the pain. Hopefully, your calf was just a one-time thing but just in case let’s make sure to take care of it this week. Looking ahead, let’s try to work on the mental side of racing so your races feel like just another workout. Keep it up!

 

Ingrid – One mile: 7:00. Two Mile: 14:07. Finish: 21:44, 50th place. Average: 7:01.

What a great race, Ingrid! A successful redemption race. Being patient in the first mile paid off getting you within 2 seconds of your PR. So close! You slowed down just a little bit in the second mile so next race let’s focus on really pushing through the middle of the race. Did you know you passed 47 people from the 1-mile to the finish? Wow! That proves holding a consistent pace is a great race tactic - you are able to catch all the people who went out too fast. Your hard work is paying off. Great job!

Crispin – One mile: 6:36. Two Mile: 13:22. Finish: 20:09, 176th place. Average: 6:30.

Great job Crispin! You went out at a quick pace, and then you held on through the second mile, only to really pick it up for the last 1.1, coming in at an average that was faster than your first mile! Along the way, you moved up 33 places, which is excellent. You showed a lot of poise in the race, staying calm even as the crowd went out too fast. Plus you tacked on a nice PR. Overall, that's a great day!

Zoie – One mile: 7:44. Two Mile: 15:32. Finish: 23:48, 57th place. Average: 7:41.

Perfect pacing Zoie! I know it felt weird going out at the back of the pack but it really paid off as you moved up 33 places from the 1-mile to the finish. Patience pays off and with each race you are figuring out how to pace the 5k. Running with teammates is a lot of fun and helps you stay on pace during big races. Keep running with Tova and Ava, I think you three make a great pack. You mentioned you should have pushed more in the second mile - that’s a great takeaway. Let’s try to remember that for the next race! Keep up the hard work! 

Liam – One mile: 6:27. Two Mile: 12:59. Finish: 19:34, 140th place. Average: 6:19.

Way to go Liam! For starters, you went out at a reasonable pace, then you held it through the second mile, and then you absolutely dropped the hammer to close out the race. That was a super savvy run! In case you didn't know, you moved up 59 places from the 1-mile to the finish. I can see that, indeed, the hour of wolves and shattered shields was not this day! Also, for reference, you had a faster finish here than you did at Twilight last year, and you didn't have Orlo this time around. You're going to break 19:00 in no time!

River – One mile: 5:53. Two Mile: 11:55. Finish: 18:18, 49th place. Average: 5:54.

Great pacing River! You went out in 5:53, you averaged 5:54, and you moved up 52 places from the 1-mile to the finish. I know this week wasn't quite as fast as last week, however they were completely different races, and you showed that with your teammates you can move through the field even if you're getting boxed in. Plus, you didn't have any hills to crush this time, which I know is a forte of yours. You're well on your way to breaking 18:00!

Holden – One mile: 5:53. Two Mile: 11:52. Finish: 17:58, 28th place. Average: 5:48.

Great race Holden! I'm sure it feels good to get that first one out of the way, and you did it with such confidence and poise. I know this is probably slower than you wanted to run, however you put together an excellent race from start to finish. Going out with River and Soren gave you teammates to work with as you moved up 72 places from the 1-mile to the finish. That's a lot of people you passed! Your first two miles were very consistent, and then you really picked it up at the end. With some more consistency, we can start to push the pace in the next few meets!

Sam K – One mile: 6:15. Two Mile: 12:50. Finish: 19:46, 155th place. Average: 6:23.

Way to work Sam! You got out fairly fast, and your second mile was definitely a bit slower. However, you managed to dig deep and push through the finish, and passed a number of people along the way. In fact, you moved up 16 places from the 1-mile to the finish, which is hard to do when you've already moved pretty far up from the start. I think running with Liam might be a good strategy for the next time around, so that the two of you can work together and move through the field. Keep it up!

Orlo – One mile: 6:11. Two Mile: 12:23. Finish: 18:41, 72nd place. Average: 6:02.

What a run Orlo! Going out a bit slower seemed to really help, since you were able to maintain your pace through the second mile. Then, as always, you kicked things up a notch for the last mile, definitely making Revere, Dawes, and Prescott proud. Plus, you moved up a whopping 89 places from the 1-mile to the finish, and set a shiny new PR along the way! I hope you're feeling confident about your running, because you absolutely should be, and you'll be running low 18:00's in no time!

Sutherland – One mile: 8:32. Two Mile: 17:16. Finish: 25:42, 52nd place. Average: 8:17.

Wow! Amazing racing Sutherland! You stayed calm, cool and collected in a very big race. By racing your race, and keeping that first mile under control with Madie, you were able to run your fastest mile last! That is really awesome, and shows you are strong and capable of crushing the high school race distance. And you passed about 40 people by the finish line! That means you were moving up throughout the whole race. Really well done! 

Soren – One mile: 5:53. Two Mile: 11:55. Finish: 18:06, 36th place. Average: 5:50.

Nice running Soren! The slightly slower start didn't seem to hold you back that much, since you were able to maintain the pace very well in the second mile then really pick it up for the finish. As always, running with a teammate makes the middle mile feel much easier (and this time you had two teammates). Just so you know, you managed to move up 65 places from the 1-mile to the finish. That's a lot! You'll be breaking 18:00 in no time!

Ava – One mile: 7:43. Two Mile: 15:44. Finish: 24:23, 76th place. Average: 7:52.

Well done Ava! I’m not sure if you succeeded at your goal of running too slow for the first mile. But, you still did a great job of staying patient and running a conservative first mile. Nice job! You lost contact with Tova and Zoie in the second mile but you stayed calm, running your race, and continuing to work your way up the field. Your fitness is coming back and I’m excited to see how the rest of your season progresses!  

Lena – One mile: 6:31. Two Mile: 13:20. Finish: 20:35, 17th place. Average: 6:38.

Nice racing Lena! Great PR - almost 90 seconds faster than last week! Going out a bit slower than last week seemed to really help, since you were able to maintain your pace and looked strong the whole race. Anytime you found yourself in no man’s land during the race you did a great job of reeling and connecting with the people ahead of you. You are a strong competitor and with more racing experience the sky is the limit! One thing to remember is to keep driving your knees, especially as you get tired. Keep up the effort and focus! 

Nina – One mile: 7:17. Two Mile: 14:32. Finish: 22:08, 62nd place. Average: 7:08.

Awesome race Nina! You are having a great sophomore season! The last two races you have looked like a completely different runner - running strong and with confidence the whole race. You ran a successful negative split race where you absolutely took off the last mile, moving up 25 places and even passing someone on the line. I really like how much you are thinking through your races with all of your race prep - it really paid off for this race. Keep it up!

Tova – One mile: 7:43. Two Mile: 15:31. Finish: 24:03, 64th place. Average: 7:45.

Wow - great race Tova! It looked like you enjoyed this race a lot more than Connell - running a minute and 24 seconds faster. It was very cool to see you, Zoie, and Ava all running in a pack early in the race. What was even cooler was when you signalled to Zoie to catch back up when she started to drop back in the second mile. Great teamwork! You did a great job maintaining an even pace the whole race then sprinting and racing all the way through the line. Great job! 

Sam P – One mile: 8:25. Two Mile: 17:01. Finish: 25:58, 289th place. Average: 8:23.

Congratulations on your first 5k Sam! You did a great job with your pacing, going out in 8:25 and averaging 8:23. You were able to maintain pretty well in the second mile, which set you up for a great finish. You also managed to keep moving up throughout the race, even though you were running by yourself a lot of the time. This is a good place to start and build on!

Calvin – One mile: 10:40. Two Mile: 21:21. Finish: 32:36, 139th place. Average: 10:31.

Way to go Calvin! As you mentioned, you found a way to keep pushing even when it got difficult, and your pacing shows that. Your first two miles were only 1 second apart, and your final mile was really fast, all of which got you very close to your PR. And you kept moving up, despite running by yourself a lot of the way. You are miles ahead of where you were last year, and more hard work will take you wherever you want to go!

Connell Invite 9/27/2025

Course Length – 5k

 

General Notes – This is a course where part of the race is on flat grass and most is rolling hills on a dirt road. Things can get fairly secluded out on the long stretches through the shrub steppe. There is a notable hill from the 2 to the 2.5 mile mark, which climbs up significantly before dropping down to the finish. The weather during the races was in the high 70s, with the sun throughout the day and the smoke gradually improving. We saw a lot of schools that we don't get to see much, particularly from south-central Washington. It was great to see everyone go and work hard in our first 5k of the season!!

  

In the 1B/2B Varsity Boys race, there were 72 competitors. LBHS was 5th out of 10 scoring teams.

In the 1B/2B Varsity Girls race, there were 27 competitors. 

In the JV Boys race, there were 101 competitors.

In the JV Girls race, there were 32 competitors. LBHS was 1st out of 3 scoring teams.

Orlo – One mile: 5:57. Two Mile: 12:26. Finish: 19:35, 24th place. Average: 6:19.

Great job Orlo! You went out right where you wanted to be at the mile, and you had a strong finish, even though you feel like you could have pushed harder on the hill. That's ok! Where you can improve is by focusing on the second mile to bring that split closer to 6:00. That's also going to help you feel more involved in the race, which will set you up for an even better finish.

Soren – One mile: 5:28. Two Mile: 11:21. Finish: 18:12, 11th place. Average: 5:52.

Nice running Soren! Staying with River seemed to benefit both of you, as you were able to maintain the pace through the second mile even with the fast start. Also, it kept you pushing hard up the hill and down into the finish, passing people left and right. What's really great to see is that you were only 10 seconds behind your time from state last year, which means you're in a great spot. Keep working hard and you'll have a big PR next weekend!

Kylie – One mile: 10:00. Two Mile: 21:23. Finish: 35:52, 29th place. Average: 11:34.

Kylie, congratulations on your first 5k! I know your ankle has been bothering you but I’m glad it's starting to get better. As it continues to heal and you are able to complete more workouts, each race will feel better. You went out pretty fast so let’s focus on finding your pace early in the race. I think a slightly more conservative first mile will really help you in the second half of the race. Keep up the good work! 

Lena – One mile: 6:21. Two Mile: 13:32. Finish: 22:00, 3rd place. Average: 7:06.

Congrats on your first 5k Lena! That was a tough race and tough conditions. You went out pretty fast, and you definitely slowed down through the second and third miles. That's ok! It can be challenging to figure out your pace in the longer races, which is why we have a few chances to practice. A more conservative start will pay off big time down the stretch, as you'll feel really good when others are feeling really bad - keep that in mind and keep working hard!

Elsa – One mile: 6:55. Two Mile: 14:55. Finish: 24:20, 5th place. Average: 7:51.

Nice job Elsa! As you anticipated you got out pretty fast in the first mile and found yourself leading the field. Next week, let’s aim for around 7:10-7:20 for the first mile. I think this pace will set you up to feel better in the back half of the race. It can be scary to find yourself leading a race and I think it freaked you out a bit. When unexpected things like that happen, remember to take a deep breath and focus on running your race. You are fit and ready to run a great race so let’s shake this one off and refocus going into 509. Cooler weather and races are on their way (hopefully)!

Nina – One mile: 7:06. Two Mile: 14:30. Finish: 23:07, 1st place. Average: 7:27.

Wow Nina! You ran with such confidence and power which was a lot of fun to watch. Even under the tough conditions you ran faster than your first 5k at Wenatchee last year which is a much faster course. That’s awesome! I think going out slightly more conservative in the first mile (~7:10-7:15) will help you stay consistent and have more energy in the second and third miles. Keep running like that and your times will keep dropping. Great work! 

Tova  – One mile: 7:30. Two Mile: 15:45. Finish: 25:27, 7th place. Average: 8:13.

Congrats on your first 5k Tova! It was a tough day with tough conditions. I don’t think this race showed exactly where your fitness is - that’s ok sometimes those races happen. I think your first mile was actually right on pace for where you want to be and on a different day you will be able to hold that pace. Running with Ava also seemed like a good strategy as it helped you both keep pushing through the race all the way up the big hill. Shake this race off and keep working hard! 

Sisu – One mile: 7:02. Two Mile: 14:40. Finish: 23:38, 2nd place. Average: 7:37.

Way to go Sisu! Continuing your 5k PR streak from last season! Like almost everyone on the team your first mile was pretty fast and you definitely slowed down over the next two miles. That’s ok though! We are still figuring out our pacing this early in the season. Remember to keep your shoulders relaxed and drive your arms - this will help you run efficiently in the later stages of the race. You are definitely ahead of where you were at this point last year so keep up the hard work! Great race! 

Liam  – One mile: 6:19. Two Mile: 13:06. Finish: 20:52, 43rd place. Average: 6:44.

Great work Liam! First off, your first 5k this year was faster than last year, even though it came in sub-optimal conditions. That's awesome! Second, you were feeling a bit sore, and that likely made the long hill all that more difficult, but you found a way to push through. As we settle into the season, we'll spend time finding the right pace for you to go out. With some consistency and patience, I think you'll be blowing past the 19:00 mark in no time!

Aidan – One mile: 5:17. Two Mile: 11:03. Finish: 17:26, 4th place. Average: 5:37.

Congrats on your first 5k Aidan! It's a very different race, and yet you found a way to string together three solid miles, especially the final one going up and over the hill. With the 5k, a slightly more conservative first mile can really pay off down the road as you feel good in the middle sections of the race and can move through the field. Plus, you have such a strong finish that you'll blaze past anyone going up hills. All of that will come with more experience with the race!

Maren – One mile: 7:05. Two Mile: 14:42. Finish: 22:52, 6th place. Average: 7:23.

Excellent race Maren! Even though Saturday was run under much tougher conditions, you were almost equivalent with your first 5k last year at Wenatchee (a faster course by quite a bit). That's great! You're such a tough runner, and your pacing is ideal. I think continuing to go out in that 7:00 area (especially with a teammate or two) will benefit you as we bring down the second and third mile times. Keep up the good work!

Sutherland – One mile: 8:17. Two Mile: 16:50. Finish: 26:57, 11th place. Average: 8:42.

Great first 5k Sutherland! This was a tough course for your first 5k and you handled it like a pro. You looked strong and in control throughout the race. To top it off you had one of the best finishing kicks of the day! You slowed down a bit over the second and third miles but that’s ok! We are still figuring out pacing especially at this new distance. A more conservative start will help you hold the same pace over the whole race - keep that in mind for the next race. Great work! 

Crispin – One mile: 6:37. Two Mile: 13:50. Finish: 21:38, 52nd place. Average: 6:59.

Way to go Crispin! You handled the varsity race with poise, which isn't easy to do in your first one ever. You went out a little fast, and definitely slowed down in the second mile. Then you found a way to speed up on the hardest mile of the course. That's not easy to do! Even with all that you still weren't that far off from your Wenatchee time last year, which is a much faster course. Keep chuggin!

Luke – One mile: 6:58. Two Mile: 14:40. Finish: 23:40, 59th place. Average: 7:38.

Nice race Luke! That was a great first 5k of the season. It was a tough course and you didn’t have your pacing buddy, Crispin, but you looked strong the whole race. I think that was a good pace for your opening mile and on an easier course you will be able to hold that pace for the rest of the race. Great job staying tough and powering up the big climb in the last mile. Keep up the good work! 

Ava – One mile: 7:30. Two Mile: 15:45. Finish: 25:37, 8th place. Average: 8:16.

Great job Ava! It’s been a weird start to your season with being sick and missing the first week of practice but I’m glad you are starting to feel better. Each week you are looking more like your normal running self. You looked strong running with Tova for the first 2+ miles. Running with teammates always helps during tough races. Not sure what happened on the final climb with your body going cold but hopefully it’s just a sign of how hard you were pushing your body. We will keep an eye on that this week. Keep up the hard work and I have no doubt your times will start dropping! 

Cassius  – One mile: 7:02. Two Mile: 14:48. Finish: 23:27, 55th place. Average: 7:34.

Great first 5k Cassius! A 5k is a very different race than 2-miles but you handled it very well. Plus, this course was especially tough for your first 5k. You went out pretty fast, and you definitely slowed down in the last two miles. That’s ok though! It’s tough to find your pace in the longer races when you don’t have experience. I bet with each 5k you will get more comfortable with pacing. And wow you had a killer finishing kick! You were driving your arms and pushed all the way through the line. Keep truckin’!

Alice – One mile: 7:05. Two Mile: 14:42. Finish: 22:48, 5th place. Average: 7:21.

Congrats on your first 5k Alice! Running with Maren seemed to be a productive strategy, as you two got out at an excellent pace and pushed hard through the tough sections of the course. What is really exciting to think about is how you two can maintain your speed through the second mile, which will really help your overall time. Running with a teammate makes the slog so much more bearable. Keep it up!

Bhavana – One mile: 9:37. Two Mile: 20:40. Finish: 33:27, 28th place. Average: 10:47.

Nice job Bhavana! This was a tough race but in typical Bhavana style you looked calm and in control the whole time. You did a great job pushing yourself even when you found yourself in no man’s land. You slowed down in the second half of the race but that’s ok. We are still getting used to the 5k distance this year and the last mile had that tough climb. Great race - keep up the good work! 

Ingrid – One mile: 6:43. Two Mile: 14:42. Finish: 23:32, 9th place. Average: 7:35.

Way to stick with it Ingrid! That one is out of the way, and I think it's safe to say that was a fluke. Sometimes things crop up, and getting them over with is all you need to do. However, there were some great things in that race! You went out at a good pace for the first mile, and I think that's exactly where you want to be. Next weekend you'll have a chance to show what you can do!

Madison – One mile: 8:22. Two Mile: 17:20. Finish: 27:43, 14th place. Average: 8:56.

Well done Madie! Your first two miles are basically the same as your first 5k last year (Twilight) which is awesome since this was arguably a much harder course. I think that final climb got to you a little bit but you found another gear at the top and pushed through the finish. I’m glad it seems your knees aren’t bothering you as much this year. With some more races this season, I bet you will see a new PR in no time. Keep it up!

River  – One mile: 5:28. Two Mile: 11:21. Finish: 18:13, 12th place. Average: 5:53.

Congrats on the new PR River! You went out at a slightly faster pace with Soren, but the two of you were able to work together and hold on through the second mile. Then when you got to the hill you powered up and over, speeding through the finish. Plus, you were 13 seconds faster than where you ended last season, which is awesome! Keep running with Soren, and your times will drop more and more.

Zoie – One mile: 7:27. Two Mile: 15:20. Finish: 24:02, 4th place. Average: 7:45.

Great race Zoie! And congrats on your first 5k! You ran a smart and well executed race. You were worried about going out too fast and even though you slowed down a bit in the second mile, I think your first mile is right where you want to be. Then when you got to the final mile you powered up and over the hill, reeling in Elsa, and cruising through the finish. Keep it up!