Twilight Invitational
Location: Marysville, WA, Cedar Crest Golf Course
Date: 10.5.19
Girls Overall: Sweet racing! You all kept your heads about you at the start of two very crowded races and you let that first mile just happen. I saw every single one of you work that long uphill AND crest over the top, just like we talked about on the bus. And, that long down at about 2.5miles was just a beautiful sight to behold. You were cruising—and on the whole we gained ground on other teams in that last mile. Great job supporting each other and really running as a team! Girls finished 4th as a team in the Varsity Race — just one point out of 3rd — in a super competitive field. All of you (JV and Varsity) have made a statement now that you are here to defend your 1B/2B title.
JUNIOR VARSITY GIRLS — Junior/Senior Race - 182 finishers
Payten - 59th place, 23:25. 1st mile 7:21
Wow! Just wow. From the first 400 meters you just looked strong and determined. You chose to put yourself in a good spot (84th at the mile) and then you never wavered. Excellent uphill running — you caught 19 people in that section of the race and then you were flying down the long downhill. You caught 4 more people in the last mile. Super amazing—hope you ride the good feeling right into next week’s race.
Aeyanna - 75th place, 23:49. 1st mile 7:33
So many good things to say about this race. We could start with the fact that you started out in 106th place and finished in 75th. Or we could highlight that you ran about 1 minute and 15 seconds faster than last year on this course. Or we could note that you looked so confident throughout the whole thing — your form never broke, you never looked flustered, and you were running tall and strong the whole time. Savor this one—and know there is more to come!
So many good things to say about this race. We could start with the fact that you started out in 106th place and finished in 75th. Or we could highlight that you ran about 1 minute and 15 seconds faster than last year on this course. Or we could note that you looked so confident throughout the whole thing — your form never broke, you never looked flustered, and you were running tall and strong the whole time. Savor this one—and know there is more to come!
Annika - 78th place, 23:52. 1st mile 7:20
First 5K of the season under your belt and it was a totally solid one. In fact, a better one than you might have been thinking. You started off in 82nd and then dropped a few placed in that middle section, but then you came roaring back and moved up 7 places in the last mile. That says something about your mental fortitude and your strong fitness. Keep those thoughts in your head this week and know that the second 5K is always better than the first! Plus, you were a costume race superstar - thanks for sharing your costumes and helping the team bond!
Lydia - 156th place, 28:03. 1st mile 8:31
Another huge milestone. First, a PR (personal record) for 5K, dropping 35 seconds over your time at Wenatchee! And, all the more impressive that you managed that while also overcoming some panicked breathing after the 2 mile. I hope you are feeling so confident in your abilities — you can handle anything! Plus, Tiffany was a huge hit and it looked like you enjoyed your taste of cross-country running culture in the fun run. So glad you embraced all of it!
VARSITY GIRLS - 161 finishers. 4th place team
Gretta - 6th place. 19:42. 1st mile: 6:05
Getting better every week! That’s what we’ve been aiming for and you are right on track. It is so much fun watching you confidently navigate a big field. At one point in the first half mile you were in a pack in like 10th, but you were patient and found your groove and then raced the people around you. Brilliant last mile with an awesome downhill run that saved us points as a team! We’ve still got a month — just imagine how fast you are going to be!
Liv - 25th place. 20:38. 1st mile: 6:24
This race was HUGE for you in so many ways. You had a jaw-dropping kick. You ran the uphill with strength and NEVER looked tired. And, perhaps most importantly, you gave yourself the chance to just enjoy this one. I’m sure you were nervous, but you kept it under control. You put on your game face and you just rocked it. Be Liv, for sure.
Jori - 26th place. 20:40. 1st mile: 6:19
You are one tough cookie. I know that last mile or so didn’t feel like the usual peppy Jori, but boy oh boy do you know how to hang in there and fight. You just never give up and that is what makes you such a tough runner. I love that you wanted to try getting out faster — and I am not ready to abandon that race strategy yet. We’ll make adjustments and we’ll find the right recipe for you, don’t you worry. And, in the meantime, take a huge slice of confidence knowing that even when you don’t feel your best, you are so so so good. (For the record, your time this year would have had you in 14th place in last year’s race — so this was just a much faster field this year!).
Keeley - 36th place. 21:16. 1st mile 6:32
Another significant PR for the season — almost 30 seconds faster than last year (which was your best race of the year last year). And, light years different in how strong, focused, and confident you looked. You said you wanted to really focus in on the 1.5 to 2.5 mile and you sure did. Your legs were looking strong and solid through the super long hill and you did open it up on the long down. You never had a moment of doubt or hesitation - and only Marist and Oaks Christian had a 4th runner ahead of you. That’s huge. Remember that next week and as we enter the end of the season.
Stella - 46th place. 21:31. 1st mile 6:46
Your last mile is just amazing — as always. You had a great pack to race and you really raced them. You were in 60th place at the 2 mile—such a great closer catching 14 people! You improved your 5K PR by about 25 seconds over last week and you once again really raced. That was a big field and you handled the pressure of it with ease. Next week is a big field, too, and we can experiment with going out just a bit faster, since we know you’ve got all the stamina you need to finish strong.
Lena - 102nd place. 23:11. 1st mile: 7:10
A really good confidence builder. You looked in control the whole time—and you went out about 9 seconds faster than last week, so that is a great sign. You have definitely established that you have the endurance for 5K and now we just need to ramp up the boldness. You’re looking so strong and so solid that we can take a few more risks in the middle of the race and you’ll be able to still hold on for a speedy finish. Low 22’s are definitely in reach!
Lindsay — 131st place. 24:20. 1st mile: 7:09
Let’s focus on everything that was good: 1) you had a great two weeks of training — I’ve never seen you looking peppier, 2) you were relaxed and having fun before the race, 3) you got out well (about 10 seconds faster than Wenatchee) and you looked so strong in that first mile, 4) you ran the long extended uphill with confidence and focus, and 5) you found perspective after the race when that last 1/2 of a mile just didn’t work. I’m proud of you for all of those things and I KNOW that you have the race you want inside you just waiting for the right moment to bust out. Keep believing and shake this last 1/2 mile off.
Kierra — Once again you showed you are a great teammate. It was great to see you out there cheering on fellow mountain lions and it sure looked like you all had a ton of fun in that costume race. And, congrats for all the progress made this week — you’re gonna get there.
BOYS GENERAL: The first and last races of the day this weekend and you all came to play! I will admit that after the Freshman/Sophomore races crushed it, I was pretty excited to see what the varsity group could bring to the table. SO many excellent races, and in really EVERY instance a positive change in passing runners from the first mile to the finish. You all got out well, moved through the pack when necessary and competed from start to finish. As I said on the bus, results from this race vaulted us about 6 total spots on the state “hypothetical meet scoring” to a solid 6th place ranking based on current season-best 5k times. Just an indicator, and we will get the chance soon enough to see teams like Brewster and Manson in person, but great racing and positive progress all around. Some work to do still, but another fun (and fast) race on the horizon next weekend. Then we take those final steps towards qualifying for out 10th state meet in a row!
BOYS JV: Freshman/Sophomore Race 352 runners! Just four runners so no team score.
Jackson - 146th place. 20:05, 6:27 first mile, 6:37 second mile, 6:28 avg. pace
Such a great race Jackson! You won’t drop 1:07 every week, but with a pretty conservative start at Twilight you still have time to give. You also passed almost 60 people in two miles (206 > 180 > 146) so AWESOME job in recognizing that you could move up even though this is a pretty crazy race with lots of unknowns. Keep going with the flow, working hard in practice, and a sub-20 5k is shortly in the offing.
Kieren - 202nd place. 20:59, 6:35 first mile, 6:57 second mile, 6:45 avg. pace
Worlds apart from Wenatchee and its much more fun to see you feeling good. Strong from the start and just powering yeeting the entire way. Endurance is starting to settle in and you have good speed that has reared its head (and shown off a little in recent 200m repeats). Can’t wait to see what you will do in another week or two, but for now the 1min 5k PR and the 1:30 PR over this same course is a great place to start. Keep standing tall on those uphills and keep the lung open for air and the arms driving you up the hill! Also moved up 24 places in final two miles! (226 > 218 > 202)
Eli - 239th place. 21:41, 6:41 first mile, 7:07 second mile, 6:59 avg. pace
We know that your back is still a little off, but you found will to beat last year’s time – if only by a second. A little flatter course next weekend, and by that measure maybe a little less jarring then the down hills and softer grass at Twilight. Keep standing tall and use that upper body strength in your arms to drive you through the course. Light on the balls of your feet and try not to reach too far out and ahead with your stride. Keep it simple. Keep it quick. Excited to see you back into the low 21s and high 20s soon enough! (242 > 239 > 239)
Kellen - 244th place. 21:58, 6:59 first mile, 7:07 second mile, 7:04 avg. pace
Goals set. Goals accomplished. Congrats on your first-ever HS 5k XC race – and now we get to set the bar again with new information J PS you pretty much blew your “sub-24” goal time (and your 8min first mile) out of the water! Great form throughout and as you’ve shown in practice of late you are stronger this year than you even know. Really not far at all back of Eli and Kieren, so the goal for next weekend’s crazy HIW race will be to keep them in view and the race again with poise and guts through the middle part of the race. Congrats again and keep up the good work. (280 > 258 > 244)
BOYS VARSITY: 1B-2A Race 162 runners. 28 teams. 13th place 351 points
Travis - 41st place. 17:15, 5:26 first mile, 5:41 second mile, 5:33 avg (61 > 46 >41)
A tough decision to race and we are so glad that you did! Congrats on the new PR, and also on the steady progression through the race, plus 15 places between mile 1 > 2 and a very strong looking final half. You are strong, and you surged really well up that backside hill before the two mile. Step back through the race/warmup and try and recreate as much as possible in the weeks ahead. Inhaler 30min out (check), a few 30 sec. speeds before the start (check) – that kind of thing. It worked well that routine should be generally speaking under your control. Congrats as well on helping to pull the best of things from this young crew of runners. You and Ian and getting more and more comfortable in the captain’s roll and it's helping everyone along the way.
Ian - 51st place. 17:28, 5:25 first mile, 5:46 second mile, 5:37 avg
Solid racing again – even when you weren’t quite feeling your best. You did push at the mile – and then hold steady from the 2mi into the finish and dropping nearly 30 sec. in a week is pretty great (plus 20 seconds faster than freshman year – but man the entire field was faster this year!) Remember here too, in that head-to-head of sharing the middle part of the race with Travis, that you also put in 2.5 mi of additional TEMPO work this week (Thursday) that will serve you well when we do back off in the later part of the season. After a year away you can afford to layer things on and adapt a little more slowly – with a potentially bigger upside at the end. Nice work as well in keeping the group together for warmups etc. on a busy day. The boys will need more of that on a crazy day this Sat. but it should be tons of fun. (59 > 51 >51)
Graham - 85th place. 17:57, 5:40 first mile, 5:55 second mile, 5:47 avg
Back at it again and some impressive racing in this second 5k outing of the year. 104th > 97th > 85th at the finish. Plus an average pace within 7 seconds of your first mile and not too much of a drop in the second mile with the big up hill! Really hoping that we can get you and Isaiah to link up in the middle of a race at some point, but for right now you keep doing what you’re doing. You go out a little harder, but you are also tough through the middle and you give him a good “goal” teammate to shoot for in the middle part of the race. Another fun races ahead this weekend and you will have PLENTY of company out there to spur on those competitive racing instincts.
Isaiah - 89th place. 18:00, 5:47 first mile, 5:51 second mile, 5:48 avg
So glad to see you engaged and racing the entire way! THIS is the kind of runner we know that you can be. It’s awesome for us as a team to have you and Graham so close – and to see this group of 9th grade boys seizing the moment and stepping up big time to make us as competitive as we are. Also, you were AMAZINGLY consistent in your over all pace vs splits. Especially on a hilly course like this it probably means you could have dropped another 10 seconds somewhere in that first 1.5mi without any real change in effort. Still, you charged that uphill before the 2mi looking really strong and 18:00 flat in your second race of the season is really excellent! PS you dropped 25 spots in your second mile. SWEETNESS! (127 > 97 > 89)
So glad to see you engaged and racing the entire way! THIS is the kind of runner we know that you can be. It’s awesome for us as a team to have you and Graham so close – and to see this group of 9th grade boys seizing the moment and stepping up big time to make us as competitive as we are. Also, you were AMAZINGLY consistent in your over all pace vs splits. Especially on a hilly course like this it probably means you could have dropped another 10 seconds somewhere in that first 1.5mi without any real change in effort. Still, you charged that uphill before the 2mi looking really strong and 18:00 flat in your second race of the season is really excellent! PS you dropped 25 spots in your second mile. SWEETNESS! (127 > 97 > 89)
Carter - 112th place. 18:26, 5:46 first mile, 6:03 second mile, 5:56 avg
Another great race Carter – and you are showing week-to-week that you know how to throw yourself into it and race. From what you’ve shown so far you can hurt with the best of them, and as a 5th man for this newly scrappy Liberty Bell squad your efforts are terrifically impactful to our current mid-season success. Congrats on the sub-6min performance, but also be sure to get some advice on that heel pain later this week. You can afford to bike a bit for sure to let things settle. Also be sure that you are rolling those calves, quads etc. to release the tightness all around. (124 > 114 > 112)
Tristan - 146th place. 19:22, 6:10 first mile, 6:21 second mile, 6:14 avg
A second 5k and another fine race start to finish. I mean wow! Patient. Strong. And tough, smart racing beyond your years. 165th at mile one to 146th at the finish. You also fought incredibly hard in that final stretch and your kick to the line spurred Oliver on such that BOTH of you were passing people and carrying great momentum into the finish. Congrats on a new PR and another fun race on the docket for Saturday!
Oliver - 148th place. 19:23, 6:00 first mile, 6:31 second mile, 6:14 avg
20:46 on this course last year – so 1:23 faster on Saturday! - and just 5 seconds from your overall 5k PR. So glad you spoke up and had some thoughtful insights to this week’s race plan. You were a terrific help to Tristan as well and the controlled approach early benefited you both. Also, such a great final push to the finish. You dug deep, started that kick early and kept pressing all the way into the finish. I’m pretty sure you passed those 5 people in your final mile all in the last 700m. This is so great to team points and gusty racing later in the season. Looking forward to celebrating a new PR for you next week at Hole in the Wall! (156 > 153 > 148)