Location: Ski Hill, Leavenworth, WA
Date: 10.6.18
Distance: 1.4mi MS (probably a bit short) with start line up the hill from last year. 2.8 mi HS Course: A challenging, hilly course on double-track trails through the woods. Three steep hills at the start/middle/finish, some rolling downs, and two times a longer climb in the wood. NOT a fast or easy course but a great mid-season primer for faster, flatter racing later on. Gorgeous fall afternoon. Cooler at the start of the day but mid 60’s and sunny later on.
MS BOYS
68 total finishers. No team scores posted.
Carter: 8:51, 11th place
Way to lead the charge for Mtn. Lions. You went out strong and were able to keep it going the whole way. Tough on the ups and opening up on the downs just like we talked about. This is probably your strongest race of the year. It definitely looks like the hills agree with you. You are peaking at just the right time as we start to focus on the League meet in two weeks. Perfect.
Will: 8:59, 13th place
You are starting to consistently race well and taking your spot as one of our top runners. This race was no exception. You have embraced the challenge in practices, pushing to go faster, asking for an extra repetition. This attitude embraces the “growth mindset” we are looking for. As we move forward towards the end of the season, I’m confident that your race results will reflect all of your hard work.
Graham: 9:04, 17th place
Way to hang tough and stay connected. It was great to see you dig down and fight up the last hill. Our top group of runners are forming a tight pack. It is great to have some internal competition to push us all a little further, make us a little faster. I’m looking forward to seeing you get back on some of the flatter courses and put up some super fast times. Way to go.
Aksel: 9:10, 19th place
Every race you keep demonstrating improvement. You ran solidly throughout the hilly course and finished strong on the uphill, picking up extra places. You are running with confidence and have your eyes set squarely on joining up with our lead pack. We will work on connecting you with some of those 8th graders as we start to look towards the League Championship meet.
Tristan: 9:25, 26th place
Way to go out and run your race. You found a good spot in the pack early on and were able to hold that place throughout. A great balanced effort. I think that the miles that we have put in through the season are starting to pay off. Keep focusing on technique in practice, good arm drive, good leg turnover and that form will help your racing efforts improve.
Kyler: 9:31, 29th place
I think that some of that strides and form work is starting to pay off. You looked super solid finishing up that steep hill. Great arm drive, up on your toes, powerful shortened stride.You picked up a few places in that last 200 with plenty left in the tank. Nice work. Let’s look at what it would feel like to go out a little harder in our last couple of races.
Landry: 9:32, 30th place
Welcome to Mtn Lion XC. Awesome first race. With the hilly Leavenworth Course, you got tossed right into the fire and responded beautifully. I loved the way you tucked in behind Kyler and followed him throughout the race. Whenever he passed someone, you were right behind and picked off the same guy. Super smart racing strategy. This first performance clearly show that good lies ahead.
Jackson: 9:39, 35th place
Not your top race of the year but you showed good grit to hang in there when your patented finishing kick didn’t materialize late in the race. Some days are going to be like that. Lets talk and come up with good strategy for getting you fresh for our last couple of meets. I look forward to seeing you finish super strong on some the flatter courses that lie ahead.
Sawyer: 10:28, 47th place
Way to hang tough with your bum leg and all. You tried to roll with it early but made a good decision to slow down when your thigh didn’t respond. That was some serious grit you displayed to make it all the way round that hilly course. That kind of attitude combined some fresh legs will be hard to beat down the road. We will work hard to get you feeling good so you can finish up the season with some blazing performances.
Kellen: 10:35, 50th place
You keep getting stronger each meet. You were solid coming up the hills on the backside and smooth and relaxed rolling through the downhills. Even getting through the steep finishing section, you looked composed and comfortable. Negotiating a challenging course like this in this manner bodes well for some fast times on the flat courses that lie ahead. Good work.
Isaiah: Thanks for taking the time to come down and support your teammates. It is part of what makes a really good team. Look forward to seeing you back on the race course this week.
MS GIRLS
50 total finishers. No team scores posted.
Stella: 9:13, 2nd place
What a strong finish! You looked so determined at the bottom of the big hill and you just powered up it. You were driving your elbows really well and you just ate up the hill. Nice job staying connected to the Liberty Bell pack throughout the race and then picking your moment to go for it.
Leki: 9:15, 3rd place
What a great job tackling a really hard course. You tucked right in the pack of your teammates and were so gutsy the whole way. Excellent arm drive on the uphill at the finish and really nice job opening up your stride on that long downhill after the mile.
Dashe: 9:18, 4th place
It is so much fun to watch you race. You are so focused and yet calm and some how it also feels like there is a grin going on inside you the whole time. You like running fast and it shows! And, it is even more fun to run fast with teammates! Excellent job keeping the Liberty Bell pack on pace throughout the race.
Ayla: 9:20, 5th place
You were the definition of perseverance today. You got out at a great pace and stuck like glue to your teammates. I suspect that your “nemesis” that cold/cough zapped some energy from you and left you feeling dizzy there at the end. You looked much better after a chance to recover. Please know you will not always feel like that at the end of a race!
Linnaea: 11:05, 25th place
You had some definite focus going into the last uphill and you certainly changed gears! It looked to me like you raced every step of the way okay — no hesitation and no saving something for later. Your confidence is growing every week and you are running with purpose now. Keep it up!
Ila : 11:05, 26th place
You did a terrific job today working all the ups and downs of this trail course. You kept your arms moving well and your legs, then, followed. You looked relaxed and comfortable in the first half mile and that set you up for a strong middle section of the race. Nice job driving your knees on the finish push up the hill.
Nina: 11:56, 35th place
You really turned on the motor for the last half mile. When I saw you come out of the wooded trail into the final flat section before the last hill, you were already picking up your tempo and looking so strong and determined. You ran an awesome last hill to the finish!
Grace: 12:25, 42nd place
You looked fluid, fast, and comfortable for the whole first half. I know your breathing started to feel off after that but you stayed with it and that’s so impressive. I am absolutely confident that you will figure out what you need to do when to help your lungs and then you will run a whole race the way you looked and felt that first 1000 meters.
Lily: 12:26, 43rd place
I know you are looking forward to a race where your shins and legs don’t hurt. Please stick with this sport because I am sure that time will come. And, when it does, you are going to love racing! Because, the fact that you put yourself into each race as much as you do while your shins hurt, only tells me that when things feel good, you will be unstoppable! Great job navigating the hills. Next week we have some flatter, more shin-friendly courses.
Addie: Thanks so much for being there! You make a huge difference!
Penny: Looking forward to seeing you race this coming week again!
HS BOYS
Before this race we talked about running the hills and a more keen awareness of the teams from our league — Manson and Tonasket in particular. And with only seven of twelve boys toeing the line, you all took those pre-race thoughts to heart and executed. Strong uphill running from all, and everyone seemed connected to the race and to be going after notable uniforms at critical junctures. Manson raced their regular group of seven varsity runners, and Tonasket seemed to be missing their usual 5th. We held our own and proved that we can run with these teams for sure in come coming weeks of racing.
VARSITY BOYS
174 finishers. Team: 17th out of 24 - just 18 pts. back of Tonasket.
Travis: 16:53, 41st place, 1st mile 5:54 - 6:02 pace
Early on in the mid-50’s and moving up throughout. Pace and time are pretty much irrelevant today, but you ran strong on the uphills and put together another consistent race that will translate into great 5k performances in the weeks ahead. And given the role of matching up with the second runner from Manson and Tonasket you were more than up to the task. Ahead of Tonasket’s Israel Gomez by 6 sec/4 places and ahead of Manson’s 2nd by 10 sec/12 places, this is just the kind of performance that we will need at season’s end. Great work!
Bodhi: 17:43, 79th place, 1st mile 6:04 - 6:20 pace
Consistent again, and you and Lazo did a great job of keeping track of each other in a crowded, narrow and hilly course. We need to keep pushing that first mile pace a little to put this part of our team in a little closer contact with numbers 3-5 of Manson and Tonasket just a little bit earlier. If we practice it now it will be easier when it matters at the end of the season. After this week, a little more rest will also get those legs feeling speedier and stronger late in the race. You are a force to be reckoned with Mr. Kuzyk. Believe it and keep throwing down!
Lazo: 17:54, 90th place, 1st mile 6:06 - 6:24 pace
Almost 40 seconds and 30 places better than in 2017. A nice race for sure and at 17:54 you were just in striking distance of Manson’s 4th and 5th in 17:49 and 17:50. Tough to see those guys early I’m sure, but you were aware of them enough later on and that was great practice for our Championship efforts at Leagues and Districts. Getting you and Simon and Bellamy right into this mix will be key for sure and it was great to see it coming even closer again today.
Bellamy: 18:03, 135th place, 1st mile 6:13 - 6:27 pace
Smooth again and as a 4th man today - potential 5th or 6th man when we get everyone back - you are in a position to be a real difference maker for this team. You showed some nice awareness of Manson’s runners out there late in the race, and you were ahead of their 6th man and just 13 seconds behind their 4th and 5th. On a more open course with better sightlines and less of a crowd, you and Lazo and Simon will be racing with these guys for spots to state for sure. You were also ahead of Tonasket’s 4th guy today (and their usual 5th). Great racing Bellamy and more good things to come.
Cooper: 18:26, 113th place, 1st mile 6:23 - 6:35 pace
These races are starting to look more consistent and steady, and that is a good thing for sure. Just 23 seconds back of Bellamy today and just 5 seconds back of Manson’s regular #7 runner. You did a great job of hanging just off the pace set by Lazo and Bodhi, but you also didn’t loose focus or contact with other runners at any point on the course. Some really great strength on the uphills as well — where you made up major ground on many runners after mile two.
JV BOYS
210 finishers.
David: 19:34, 52nd place. 1st mile 6:46 - 6:59 pace
Nearly the same first mile and overall pace as last week — on a MUCH more uphill first mile and over all hillier and slower course. Most runners gained 10-15 seconds on their average pace from Twilight… and you gained 3. Take that as a very positive sign of things to come. another longer race and another chance to adapt to the longer distance. You looked fluid and smooth with lots of pep still in your stride on that downhill into the little bump at the start of the second lap. Keep
Eli: 20:17, 80th place. 1st mile 6:59 - 7:15 pace
Pace and mile splits are of smalll concern this week, but knowing that you were 20 places and nearly one minute ahead of Tonasket’s 1st JV runner is money in the bank! And the same is true for Manson first JV as well. Hard work in the hills this week, but another strong effort that will have you dropping serious time in another two weeks at Leagues!
Emerson, Simon, Owen, Andrew and Kieren: Looking forward to having you back in action this week!
HS GIRLS
We were a smaller team than we have been in a while, with SAT’s, illness, injury, and a musical performance all keeping some of our teammates away from the starting line. But, we were all there together in spirit and it was, as always, so cool to see how you support each other in so many ways. You made up for the missing teammates with some extra glitter — and it worked! Nice racing all around on definitely the hardest course we’ll face this year! This was a big field — 227 finishers — and once again you proved that small school teams can have big hearts and fast legs! Remember - times do NOT matter on this 2.8 mile, super hilly course!
Novie: 17:27, 1st place. 6:01 first mile - 6:14 pace
Congrats on the third year of a dominating win on this course. You totally found your rhythm and your drive on the uphills was nothing short of impressive. You were 11 seconds faster than last year on this course and you just looked totally focused and into it. Great job being patient in the first half mile and then doing the hard work thereafter.
Greta: 19:03, 8th place. 6:27 first mile - 6:48 pace
Sweet race! You probably enjoyed having a small group to run with and you just looked like you were ready to rock and roll from the beginning! You are definitely an excellent hill climber — we knew that from Cutthroat—but I was super impressed with you ability to transition to the flats and maintain momentum and not let up on the gas pedal. Excellent!
Ella: 19:18, 10th place. 6:33 first mile - 6:54 pace
You are one tough racer. I know that one didn’t feel great, but it was nonetheless 12 seconds faster than last year and such a good indicator of things to come! You showed pretty incredible mental toughness to just stay right with the race in that second lap. You were just 2 seconds away from Cashmere’s top runner — and she’s a 5:28 miler in track. Nice!
Jori: 19:49, 17th place. 6:46 first mile - 7:05 pace
You are a total force to be reckoned with in the second half of races. Wow — your last mile was totally impressive and you moved up a ton, helping your team out all the way. You were ahead of Okanogan’s top runner by quite a bit — and she’s a very very experienced and fast runner. Every week you look more determined and more confident. Watch out for the end of October/early November!
Ava: 20:26, 27th place. 6:51 first mile - 7:18 pace
Remember how you felt after this one — because you ran great and you were pleased with the effort (as you should be!). You just looked ready to go from the first few steps. Yes, the first mile was relatively fast, but you maintained your composure and you kept racing the race in front of you. You were ahead of Quincy’s #2 runner — who is a 5:25 miler. That should make you smile!
Lena: 21:52, 59th place. 7:38 first mile - 7:49 pace
You ran such a smart race! Excellent job being patient and running a truly awesome second lap. You ran with great form on the uphills and it didn’t look like they bothered you at all! Excellent work, too, really racing the people around you. You kept contact and you ended up with a huge course PR (more than 2 minutes better than last year!).
Lindsay: 22:46, 79th place. 7:37 first mile - 8:08 pace
I just need to say that you are such an impressive athlete. I know this race did not feel the way you wanted it to and the second lap wasn’t as fast as you hoped. But, you do a remarkable job finding the positives and you never never give up. That will serve you so well in the long run. I’d like to experiment with going out a bit more conservatively this week and see if you can run the second half faster than the first, which might feel really good to your legs and your mind!
Annika: 23:04, 89th place. 7:53 first mile - 8:14 pace
You ran such a steady and solid race — especially for your first time on this really tough course. You held your position in the race throughout the hard middle miles and you looked so strong. Excellent finish, too, on the uphill!
Payten: 23:57, 114th place. 8:07 first mile - 8:33 pace
You handled those hills like they were just an every-Saturday trail. All your time in the mountains pays off on courses like this. If you were nervous about the race or intimidated by the large field, you certainly didn’t show it, keeping your composure the whole time and actually even looking every once in a while like the ups and downs were fun. Excellent racing out there and great job closing it out strong on the last up.
Willa: 24:27, 130th place. 8:08 first mile - 8:44 pace
You were completely flying in the last stretch before the final uphill. Wow! Just think back to the start of the season and if you had seen that uphill and we had told you that you would not only run up it 3 times but race up, you might have not believed us. But, look a what you can do! It’s pretty amazing and we hope you continue to find the joy in the hard work! Every week just keeps getting better!
Eva: DNF. Let’s be sure to get that foot feeling good because we miss you out there. Please keep us posted.
Liv, Mahali, and Lilia: Thanks for being there to take mile splits and cheer on everyone! We know it is hard to watch others race when you want to be out there, but your presence matters and the team vibe is awesome with you!
Kierra, Aeyanna, and Anja: We look forward to seeing you all take the line next week feeling fast and ready to go!
Icel: We are certain you rocked those SAT subject tests just like you have been the cross country trails this year!
Keeley: Great job representing runners in the classical music world!
Gretta S: We miss you and definitely used extra glitter for you this week!
HS GIRLS
We were a smaller team than we have been in a while, with SAT’s, illness, injury, and a musical performance all keeping some of our teammates away from the starting line. But, we were all there together in spirit and it was, as always, so cool to see how you support each other in so many ways. You made up for the missing teammates with some extra glitter — and it worked! Nice racing all around on definitely the hardest course we’ll face this year! This was a big field — 227 finishers — and once again you proved that small school teams can have big hearts and fast legs! Remember - times do NOT matter on this 2.8 mile, super hilly course!
Novie: 17:27, 1st place. 6:01 first mile - 6:14 pace
Congrats on the third year of a dominating win on this course. You totally found your rhythm and your drive on the uphills was nothing short of impressive. You were 11 seconds faster than last year on this course and you just looked totally focused and into it. Great job being patient in the first half mile and then doing the hard work thereafter.
Greta: 19:03, 8th place. 6:27 first mile - 6:48 pace
Sweet race! You probably enjoyed having a small group to run with and you just looked like you were ready to rock and roll from the beginning! You are definitely an excellent hill climber — we knew that from Cutthroat—but I was super impressed with you ability to transition to the flats and maintain momentum and not let up on the gas pedal. Excellent!
Ella: 19:18, 10th place. 6:33 first mile - 6:54 pace
You are one tough racer. I know that one didn’t feel great, but it was nonetheless 12 seconds faster than last year and such a good indicator of things to come! You showed pretty incredible mental toughness to just stay right with the race in that second lap. You were just 2 seconds away from Cashmere’s top runner — and she’s a 5:28 miler in track. Nice!
Jori: 19:49, 17th place. 6:46 first mile - 7:05 pace
You are a total force to be reckoned with in the second half of races. Wow — your last mile was totally impressive and you moved up a ton, helping your team out all the way. You were ahead of Okanogan’s top runner by quite a bit — and she’s a very very experienced and fast runner. Every week you look more determined and more confident. Watch out for the end of October/early November!
Ava: 20:26, 27th place. 6:51 first mile - 7:18 pace
Remember how you felt after this one — because you ran great and you were pleased with the effort (as you should be!). You just looked ready to go from the first few steps. Yes, the first mile was relatively fast, but you maintained your composure and you kept racing the race in front of you. You were ahead of Quincy’s #2 runner — who is a 5:25 miler. That should make you smile!
Lena: 21:52, 59th place. 7:38 first mile - 7:49 pace
You ran such a smart race! Excellent job being patient and running a truly awesome second lap. You ran with great form on the uphills and it didn’t look like they bothered you at all! Excellent work, too, really racing the people around you. You kept contact and you ended up with a huge course PR (more than 2 minutes better than last year!).
Lindsay: 22:46, 79th place. 7:37 first mile - 8:08 pace
I just need to say that you are such an impressive athlete. I know this race did not feel the way you wanted it to and the second lap wasn’t as fast as you hoped. But, you do a remarkable job finding the positives and you never never give up. That will serve you so well in the long run. I’d like to experiment with going out a bit more conservatively this week and see if you can run the second half faster than the first, which might feel really good to your legs and your mind!
Annika: 23:04, 89th place. 7:53 first mile - 8:14 pace
You ran such a steady and solid race — especially for your first time on this really tough course. You held your position in the race throughout the hard middle miles and you looked so strong. Excellent finish, too, on the uphill!
Payten: 23:57, 114th place. 8:07 first mile - 8:33 pace
You handled those hills like they were just an every-Saturday trail. All your time in the mountains pays off on courses like this. If you were nervous about the race or intimidated by the large field, you certainly didn’t show it, keeping your composure the whole time and actually even looking every once in a while like the ups and downs were fun. Excellent racing out there and great job closing it out strong on the last up.
Willa: 24:27, 130th place. 8:08 first mile - 8:44 pace
You were completely flying in the last stretch before the final uphill. Wow! Just think back to the start of the season and if you had seen that uphill and we had told you that you would not only run up it 3 times but race up, you might have not believed us. But, look a what you can do! It’s pretty amazing and we hope you continue to find the joy in the hard work! Every week just keeps getting better!
Eva: DNF. Let’s be sure to get that foot feeling good because we miss you out there. Please keep us posted.
Liv, Mahali, and Lilia: Thanks for being there to take mile splits and cheer on everyone! We know it is hard to watch others race when you want to be out there, but your presence matters and the team vibe is awesome with you!
Kierra, Aeyanna, and Anja: We look forward to seeing you all take the line next week feeling fast and ready to go!
Icel: We are certain you rocked those SAT subject tests just like you have been the cross country trails this year!
Keeley: Great job representing runners in the classical music world!
Gretta S: We miss you and definitely used extra glitter for you this week!