NCR XC #4 Cashmere Hosting @ Walla Walla Point Park 3/20/21
RACE COURSE: Walla Walla Point Park, Wenatchee - Cashmere ballfield variation. 5k. Excellent running weather and footing. Mid-50’s and short grass on firm ground.
HS GIRLS: 5k. 25 Finishers.
This one was out quick across the board. We did great sticking to our race plan of not giving in to temptation too early and running our own races smartly. As your coaches we appreciate this more than you can ever know! All three of you looked confident and strong and you did LBHS proud.
Liv: 22:28, 13th place - 7:14 pace overall.
I know that one felt rusty, but wow there is so much here I like as a coach! You were patient, you followed the game plan, you worked hard in the second half, and you held your nerves to a low roar throughout. So much success -- and really all we asked for in this first return to cross country racing since Fall 2019. It is awesome that your foot didn’t hurt -- let us remain grateful that this was a short-lived injury - and you certainly remembered how to race. You showed your senior maturity today and I really do believe the next one will feel better and by the next one after that, you’ll be feeling like Liv.
Lena: 23:39, 15th place - 7:37 pace overall.
This one is worthy of a super wow. Almost 50 seconds faster than your last race. You are right back to 2019 XC racing form and you look like it is more fun and easier (while still being hard, I know!) than ever. Terrific job finding someone to run with and really racing them. You are carrying your arms with a lot of strength and power and you are running tall and with confidence. You held off that side stitch and now know you can! Awesome job and fun to have you around for the bus and social time, too!
Sandra: 27:21, 22nd place - 8:48 pace overall.
So close to a PR! This one got out fast but you adjusted well and ran your race. As always your steady pace worked in your favor as you reeled in the runners ahead throughout the race. I know you were nervous and not feeling great before the race, but as soon as that gun went off you got right into the racing mode and never looked back. Once again you had a big finish kick and you made an excellent passing move up the hill to the finish. On Wednesday let’s work on pushing that middle mile just a little bit more and I think you can break 27 minutes!
Leki, Keeley, Ayeanna, Payten...
In cross country, there is nothing worse than feeling like your body is hurting enough that you can’t race. Thank you, all four of you, for sticking with it and still being an important part of the team. Ayeanna and Leki, you did the right thing to take care of your bodies and hopefully that helps you feel ready to return next week. Keeley and Payten your presence (and help with mile splits) was a big difference-maker for the team vibe. You made it festive and fun and just better. Thank you!
So close to a PR! This one got out fast but you adjusted well and ran your race. As always your steady pace worked in your favor as you reeled in the runners ahead throughout the race. I know you were nervous and not feeling great before the race, but as soon as that gun went off you got right into the racing mode and never looked back. Once again you had a big finish kick and you made an excellent passing move up the hill to the finish. On Wednesday let’s work on pushing that middle mile just a little bit more and I think you can break 27 minutes!
Leki, Keeley, Ayeanna, Payten...
In cross country, there is nothing worse than feeling like your body is hurting enough that you can’t race. Thank you, all four of you, for sticking with it and still being an important part of the team. Ayeanna and Leki, you did the right thing to take care of your bodies and hopefully that helps you feel ready to return next week. Keeley and Payten your presence (and help with mile splits) was a big difference-maker for the team vibe. You made it festive and fun and just better. Thank you!
HS BOYS: 5k. 49 Finishers.
Very excited to see you all turn a corner on the season and to feel strong and racing people right on through to the end of that race. We looked SO much more peppy and spry than last week and I expect that feeling to only improve in the next two contests ahead.
Aksel: 18:34, 8th place. First mile 5:43 - 5:59 pace overall.
You ran terrific and smart again in moving up and passing people all the way through the race! 5:43 is a quick first mile, but you still moved up and chased people through the pack. A few missing runners from the race but you definitely out-performed your seed time/place and moved up quite a few notches against a strong field of runners. Fun watching you cruise out there and excited to see you match up with some League competition again this week.
Isaiah: 18:59, 11th place. 1st mile 5:43 - 6:07 pace overall.
So much better out there! A great plan with the ear plugs and you were focused, smooth and fast in that first 2 miles. You found your flow early, used your arms to set a great early rhythm, and put yourself right into the race in an excellent spot. AND you dished out some late race toughness in that final stretch up the hill. Did you pass the Cashmere runner back in a sprint finish? I was too far away to see it, but a great race over all and a fun finish that I am sorry to have missed.
Jackson: 21:27, 28th place. 1st mile 6:03 - 6:55 pace overall.
Personally, I’m pretty sure that something got a little messed up here and they forgot to subtract a minute from your start time. Your effort out there and your consistency after a 6:03 first mile looked a LOT more like 20:27 than it did a similar time to last week’s race. I did not get an official finish time so I can’t totally confirm it, but I’m considering that a season best and 50 sec. or so improvement on the season. You will have LOTS more people to race on Wednesday and it will be really clear where you are and what you need to drive through that final mile.
Kyler: 22:14, 32st place. 1st mile 6:59 - 7:09 pace overall.
Another week and another PR. You are finding a better and better balance between mile number one and the rest of the way. Awesome work in racing those two boys from Cascade and in pulling away from them in the final mile. You are using your arms to drive the pace forward really well and three weeks of dropping time is an impressive streak!
Madison: 28:28, 47th place - 9:05 pace overall.
Awesome job Madison! Of course it still hurts a bit and I wish we had more that we could do for your ankle, but you are racing XC and definitely working through the harder parts of it. A few more middle race surges and a little more awareness of where to go on your final sprint and you definitely have a shot to break the 9min per mile average at next week’s race. It’s another 2-lap course at Manson, so we’ll be sure to give you an exact spot in which to start a kick on the final stretch!
Tristan, Will and & Jayden: Wednesday we’ll run with a complete team for the first time all season. Can’t wait to have you all on the line!