Liberty Bell XC: 2022

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

State Meet! @ Pasco, WA - 11/5/22

RACE COURSE: 5k. Sun Willows Golf Course. A rolling golf course terrain with firm fairway footing and tons of good atmosphere and State Meet vibes. The quieter, opening mile is followed by a second and third-mile loop and a downhill finish. Mid 40’s and breezy but NOT the gale force winds from the Friday walk-through. Upper 40’s to low 50’s for both girls and boys. The winds kicked it up a notch higher even for the later races. Not a great PR day due to wind, but still an overall reasonable day for running.

VARSITY GIRLS: 76 Finishers. Fourth place team with 100 points! PJP2 1st: 47, Garfield-Palouse 2nd: 48 (so close!), St. George’s 3rd: 60
Finish places: 3-20-32-46-66-68-70
Scoring places: 2-13-18-26-41-43-45

OVERALL: Wow! What a season. We went from not having a full team to 4th place and on the podium at State. That took courage and commitment from each of you. Courage for our three 8th graders to step up to the 5K race distance and the high school team vibe and commitment from our high schoolers to build a sense of team and togetherness. You all really came together these last few weeks and standing on that podium was truly the icing on the cake. We’re all super proud of you – you carried on the Liberty Bell Girls XC team tradition with honor.

Leki: 20:24.2., 3rd place. 1st mi: 6:13 (7th), 2nd mi: 13:01 (6th), Overall pace: 6:34
You did just what you wanted to in terms of racing. You were patient in the first mile and then when it felt like the right moment to go, you just starting eating up the distance between you and the other competitors. You made a conscious decision to go for it and it was a beautiful thing to watch. You were just so in it. I know the time wasn’t perhaps what you wanted, but the race was truly spectacular. You came to compete and you put together a master class in how to fight for a spot on the podium. Now, rest up, enjoy some skiing, have fun with track, and let’s talk in June about next fall—you just need a consistent summer, a little more confidence, and a season without interruption and mark my words, your potential is limitless. Let’s remember, you’ve been to State twice now and you’ve finished 2nd and 3rd….not many people can say that.

Sandra: 22:29.1, 20th place, 1st mi: 7:01 (32nd), 2nd mi: 14:18 (22nd), Overall pace: 7:14
Top 20 in state. Congratulations. And, while this one didn’t feel like the easy effort we all wanted for you, you totally gritted it out and ran 2 ½ minutes faster than last year on this course. And you moved up throughout the race brilliantly. I appreciate that you have high expectations for yourself and while I’m sorry we didn’t meet every single one of them at this state meet, I do hope you’ll reflect on this season with a whole lot of satisfaction and pride. You were so consistent this year – and so consistently improved. You have always brought determination to the starting line, but this season you found your confidence. You know you can get out strong and still run the toughest second half of a race out there. Senior year is up next and I think its going to be amazing.

Zoe: 23:32.9, 32nd place, 1st mi: 7:20 (45th), 2nd mi: 14:59.9 (38th) Overall pace: 7:35
I keep thinking about how you were so disappointed there for a bit in the finish chute because you ran 23:32 and contrasting that with your question at the beginning of the season about whether or not I thought you could run under 24 ever. It’s good to keep some perspective – yes you wanted to run a faster time, but my goodness…23:32 is the second-fastest time you’ve ever run. It’s amazing. And you looked amazing out there – you were moving up significantly throughout the race. No lapses in focus, no catching your breath, just constant, strong forward motion. You finished in the top half of the state meet – more than 90 seconds faster (and 30 places) better than last year. That’s a phenomenal success and you should go into basketball and track confident of your fitness, your athleticism, and your drive. Let’s go after 22 minutes next year.

Ingrid: 24:12.4, 46th place, 1st mi: 7:21 (48th), 2nd mi: 15:10 (43rd) Overall pace: 7:47
Can you even remember how nervous you were in Wenatchee? I have to remind myself, because when I think of you now, I simply think of a fierce competitor who has found joy and satisfaction in the art (and hard work) of racing. You did an excellent job at this race getting into a good spot in the first mile and keeping your eyes on Zoe. You worked the uphills just right with your arms leading the way and you didn’t let a nagging side stitch keep you from looking up and working to catch the runner ahead. You are only going to get stronger next year and that means you’ll only be getting faster. Start setting some goals now and we’ll work to get you there. You are a runner.

Juniper: 26:40.9, 66th place, 1st mi: 7:46 (64th), 2nd mi: 16:10 (63rd) Overall pace: 8:35
For an athlete new to the 5K distance, you sure had a consistent and successful season. And, this race fit that pattern. You did an excellent job holding your place throughout this, your first State meet. That’s not easy to do—many first-time runners find the first mile too tempting and spend the next two miles dropping back. But you held really steady—and still had quite a bit left in the tank to give a great kick at the end. Next fall you’ll have even more miles in your training log and this one bonus year of 5K racing experience and I think you’ll find it all will feel much easier and even more fun. I’m glad you’ve caught the running bug—you are a good teammate, a quick learner, and we haven’t even begun to understand your potential. I’m glad you are on this team.

Yasmin: 26:41.5, 68th place, 1st mi: 8:06 (69th), 2nd mi: 16:45 (67th) Overall pace: 8:35
Another race under 27 minutes…you’ve totally figured out this 5K racing stuff. Congratulations on not only making it to your first State meet but having a really terrific race at it. You ran so tough – and wow, what a kick you had at the end. You managed any pre-race nerves like a pro and you just got out there and ran. I really hope that you will stick with cross-country and join us again next fall. You are a tough competitor – you refuse to give up in a race – and I think you will continue to surprise yourself with what you can accomplish. You are brave and you can do hard things.

Josie: 27:39.5, PR 70th place, 1st mi: 8:06 (70th), 2nd mi: 17:18 (70th) Overall pace: 8:54
I was so happy to see you cross that finish line and even more happy to see you up there on that podium with your team. I know this season and this race were both full of lots of trials and tribulations but you stuck with it all and your willingness to just keep going for it is admirable. I know there’s a lot going on, but I do believe in you as an athlete, as a teammate, and as a person. There’s so much good yet to come, so much potential to discover, and so many more better days ahead. You did yourself and your team proud at State. I can’t wait to see what we can do next fall.

BOYS: 159 Finishers. Fourth place with 139 points! Chewelah 1st: 83, PJP2 2nd: 121, St. George’s 3rd: 131, Davenport 5th: 146, Brewster 6th: 148. Valley Christan 8th: 159.
Finish places: 4-5-23-87-89-108-136
Scoring Places: 3-4-19-55-56-71-86

OVERALL… AND A TAKEAWAY FOR NEXT YEAR! When all was said and done, we finished 4th - just 6 points shy of 3rd and only 11 shy of 2nd. On that day, in this season, with SO many factors in play and the fact that we’ve rarely all year long run the same group of varsity runners, it is fine and honorable result. We left points on the table for sure, but so did MANY other teams. We ran bang on with expectations up front, and steady enough in the middle. We didn’t blow anything completely up. We turned the tables on Brewster, and kept control of the District 6 pride at State. We podiumed when 12 other teams in the meet and 36 other teams in the state did not. Chewelah knocked in out of the park and St. Georges SERIOUSLY rose to the occasion after finishing 4th to Chewelah, Davenport and Valley Christian at their district meet. We were the ONLY team that moved up two places between the mile and the finish. Several teams moved up one, several dropped back one… and Valley Christan dropped from 2nd to 7th, which probably helped us out :)

On the podium: A rearrangement of last years top four, but Chewelah loses 5 seniors from their scoring 7. This was their year! PJP loses 4. St. Georges graduates just one senior and their top guy from last season was playing soccer… You can bet your bottom dollar that they will try to get him back for a title push in 2023.

On the outside looking in for those podium spots: Davenport loses 5 seniors as well. It was not meant to be and they were quite close to knocking us off the podium. Brewster loses 6 and will be in rebuilding mode for sure. Liam reports a scrappy 8th grade group, so we shouldn’t count them out of a qualifying round by any means. Valley Christian in 7th got out hard and fell apart. They graduate none and will come back with a little more experience, and probably a wrong to right. And finally, Goldendale and Garfield-Palouse lose just one senior each and will want to close that gap for sure.

On the local horizon… those Okanogan boys will be champing at the bit! No team at state but their 9th and 10th graders ran 18:44 (47th), 18:58 (56th), 19:03 (62nd), 19:30 (77th). They just need a good summer and one or two of those guys to hit the 17:50-17:30 range and they are solidly in the mix. Bridegport is also up and coming on the young side. We need to do the work!

We can complete again next year with ANY of these teams. Dexter, Will and Aksel will be the best top three in the state and Kyler and Tristan are now experienced vets. George, Hunter, Birch and Omar will round out a nice contingent of senior boys. If we find another diamond in the rough or two, and truly dedicate our off-season selves to some consistent summer running, we will certainly make another run. Take a few weeks away from it all. Have a great winter and spring of school and sports. Talk amongst yourselves and find a common goal. Hold each other accountable to making it happen and Sarah and I will very much look forward to coaching you again next fall!

Dexter: 16:59.6, 4th place. 1st mi: 5:07 (5), 2nd mi: 10:38 (4), Overall pace: 5:28
Given the season of ups and downs, this was an admirable race. You pushed right to the edge of what was possible, and I fully believe that with just another few regular weeks in that late-middle part of the season you would have made Ciaran a LOT more uncomfortable at the front. You would have had just a little more confidence in your body and a few more reps of interval work or race pace to push you over the top. As it stands, you were the 2nd best 1st man in the bunch and Ciaran’s team wasn’t nearly so helpful to team scoring cause. We will be back as a group and ready to roll. And that is that for now. Fortunately, you are young and growing with tons of training age and strength and speed yet to come. Congratulations on your first-ever State XC meet and here’s to the VERY auspicious start to the winter skiing season!

Will: 17:06.4, 5th place. 1st mi: 5:07 (7), 2nd mi: 10:45 (6), Overall pace: 5:30
Not totally the season that you imagined, but not the complete and utter nightmare that you were having at the halfway point either. Thankfully, you were able to find some consistency in the last 5 weeks and got in just enough racing experience to be happily in the mix with the best of the meet. You and Dexter were still the predicted power couple of the day – in a proverbial dogfight with the duos from Chewelah and St. Georges, but we just didn’t have quite enough firepower across the board to pull it off. That is our team challenge for 2023. That, and hopefully staying healthy enough so that everyone can get better through the races and the mid-season interval work. Congrats on the rally and also on the excellent racing finish with Foster in that final push to the finish. That is a moment and a move that you will own when it comes to seeing him again in the spring. Those little memories are powerful things!

PS Congrats as well on being the best second man of the meet.

Aksel: 18:01.6, 23rd place. 1st mi: 5:27 (27), 2nd mi: 11:27, Overall pace: 5:48
In a bigger race with 47 more runners, you equaled your performance from 2021. You outperformed! You overcame tons of early to mid-season pressure that had continued to build and was cramping your style… until you put those worries to rest. This was classic and excellent Aksel. You looked steady and strong across the board, plus you had a LOT of kick left in those legs – which I finally saw when I viewed the video replay of the finish. Your race kept us on the podium for sure and you were right there in the mix with the 3rd best 3rd-man placing on the day, ahead of all but five second runners (including Will in that count), and you would have been the first runner on almost half of the teams at the meet (please don’t transfer)! Congrats on an excellent junior year – and it IS important to include the whole year and all that you overcame in that statement – and here’s to even more fun with this sport and this team in 2023!

Jackson: 19:41.4, 87th place. 1st mi: 5:48 (78), 2nd mi: 12:12, Overall pace: 6:20
Tristan: 19:42.4, 89th place. 1st mi: 5:51 (83), 2nd mi: 12:20, Overall pace: 6:20

Jackson & Tristan, Tristan & Jackson, kicking each other down to the finish! DULY NOTED: Your entire race plan all year should have simply been to race each other. Never think about anyone else, never stop until you have beaten each other to that line!!!

It never seems fair or worthy of your notable individuality to talk about you in tandem, but you are twins after all and it has been our sincerest pleasure to have you both on this team for the past 6 years of Liberty Bell XC. I know that this wasn’t the perfect finish to the senior season that either of you imagined, but it was a team and a high school experience, a routine and ritual that you embraced with all that you could muster. Three state appearances. Two years of captainship. One State title and a follow-up podium finish in a very close race. More than that, you guys were in it. You participated when others did not. You put yourselves on the line with discomfort and doubt and nerves and desire. You had the guts and a will to run the races even if the physical body wasn’t always totally able. You competed. You pushed. You made it happen. And being a PART of something is worth it. It matters. That is what you will remember, and that is what will stand the test of time. And for that we thank you so very much!

Jackson, your freshman season of continuous PRs will go down in the record books as one to remember as well. The joy and naive belief that you could just keep going faster was an easier thing in a year with no comparisons, but you’ve always just kept pushing and chasing that elusive challenge. Keep doing that as you enter the world and move beyond this place. It is an admirable trait.

And Tristan, your dedication and will have always found a way. You’ve been hurt and frustrated, but you have run at State in three different years and have always found your way into that varsity spot. Even on a rougher day this year, you were still the 6th best 5th man in the field and you beat the 5th man for eight other teams. You are dedicated to a high degree and always thoughtful and intentional in plotting your way back. Personally, I also love that you are still excited about graphic design and trying to make that a part of whatever comes next.

Congratulations to you both on a excellent LBHS XC career. The world is waiting (in a few more months, that is) and we can’t wait to see where you take yourselves next!

Tristan H: 20:20.4, 108th place. 1st mi: 6:04 (109), 2nd mi: 12:43, Overall pace: 6:33
Overall Tristan, a really terrific season and an excellent introduction to running and racing at the State meet!! It was pretty tough going out there but you held you own and stayed in admirable step with everyone around you from the mile mark all the way into the finish. Wind was a factor for sure, and so was that crazy start with so many people, but next year you can definitely look forward to getting out just a little quicker and therefore being a little more into the mix of 10-20 places further up in the race. So much of this season was just about learning more about yourself as a runner and pushing your limits with the 5k distance. You did all of that in spades, and I really look forward to seeing you take another step forward in 2023. Spring track perhaps?

Kyler: 21:19.3, 136th place. 1st mi: 5:53 (89), 2nd mi: 12:26, Overall pace: 6:52
Chalk it up “Kick.” That was NOT on you and nothing that anyone would have predicted in a million years. You’ve been super solid and an excellent and reliable racing and motivational thread for us all season long. If anything, your race may have suffered just a bit from “first time at State” jitters and some extra pressure that you may have been feeling to rise to the occasion and to help make it happen for the likes of Tristan, the Schmekel bros., and the team in general. That’s on me if you felt too much of a burden in that regard, but I’m also really proud of you and impressed with your guts in finishing that race. No one thing is responsible. No one thing could have changed the outcome of the team scores or anything remotely like that. You improved leaps and bounds over last year. You raced with guts and your heart on your sleeve. Super glad to have you on this team… and now it's time to start throwing those shoulders around and boxing out those ballers on the court! Congrats on a great season, Kyler. I can NOT believe that you are going to be a senior next year!!!

George and Jayden: Thank you for being at the ready and for coming along to support your team and/or to race at the drop of a hat. Thankfully, we didn’t need to throw you into the race, but as the top two runners at our district meet, you would have represented us well.

Tuesday, November 1, 2022

D6 District Championship @ LBHS, Winthrop, WA - 10/29/22

RACE COURSE: 5km. The same as our home invite from Oct. 8th. Twisty, turny, two big campus loops with a variety of grass, dirt, and a few pavement crossings. Pretty much PERFECT XC weather with sun, no wind, and temps in the low 50s.

BOYS: Varsity - 49 finishers. Second place to Brewster, 39 points to their 31. Okanogan 3rd with 56, Tonasket 4th (120), Manson 5th (139), and Lake Roosevelt 6th (153). Congrats on a 12th consecutive year of qualifying for State! That is indeed remarkable, and this year like every other, has been plenty full of surprise and challenge – all of which make the continuation of this streak even more special and meaningful. Going WAAAAY back to Liam’s (Mr. Daily’s) freshman year, the boy’s team from this school has been present on the course at Pasco. In one way or another, varsity or JV you are a contributor to that tradition and a part of making it happen. Thanks very much for an excellent season. Now for the race where we see what everyone around the state is actually able to run. We know that Brewster is tough, and it's a really good perspective to have when your competition rises to the occasion. We did well, but we can be even better!

Dexter: 17:15.5, 2nd place, 1st Mile: 5:24, Overall Pace: 5:33
Super glad to have you back and to see you and Will running together again. You looked smooth and in control out there with no visible hitch in your stride or stiffness that was apparent to the casual fan. Sorry to hear that it was a little painful, but I hope that your Sunday routine was good for getting things loose without any additional strain. Given what little you’ve been able to do since the home meet, this was truly a solid race/time and you were asking a lot of yourself with also a large number of unknowns. I know that you and Will can’t at all be pleased with the final outcome of the race, but live and learn and make the most of it next weekend.

Will: 17:15.8, 3rd place, 1st Mile: 5:25, Overall Pace: 5:33
Likewise excellent to see you and Dexter running together and sharing the work out there. You looked smooth and totally under control and you also knocked some time and pace from the race three weeks back - so things are obviously headed in a good direction. As you know I did not see the finish, but I hope that you can chalk this up to a lesson learned. Whatever the race, practice pushing at the end. It becomes a habit and a habitual, ingrained response to kick. I’m sure that you are excited to get back to State and it seems like your health is on the mend. Once again based on the crazy little performance list, people will no doubt underestimate what you are capable of running. With you and Dexter pushing into the top of the pack, it will definitely be fun and will set us up for a good meet. Finish, finish, finish!

Aksel: 17:33, PR, 4th place, 1st Mile: 5:30, Overall Pace: 5:39
OK. There it is! No plan - or a very loosely defined one. No splits. Just racing! You are a natural racer and we have seen that since freshman year when you would slowly grind your way towards the front and wear people down. Awesome job, Aksel! You and Kyler were a huge difference maker for us because Brewster and Okanogan came to play. Without your super steady hand in staying clear of that Brewster #2 and #3 we would have drifted back way to close to comfort with a young and feisty group of Okanogan runners that went out there and rolled the dice. We’re pretty lucky in a way that they don’t have a true sub-18 guy just yet or it might have gotten really close. Soak this one in and enjoy it. You looked strong and quick the whole way through. More of the same next weekend!

Kyler: 19:03, PR, 15th place, 1st Mile: 5:58, Overall Pace: 6:08
Still fighting a cold and still throwing the heat! Once again some stellar racing and in this meet guiding and battling with an even bigger pack of mountain lions to keep us in the mix AND to push us over the top to State. A 30 sec. PR and a minute improvement over the home course three weeks prior. I seriously believe that an 18:45 is in your future at State. You might need to let go a little bit and worry less about the group at the mile. If you go, they will follow. Nothing special needed. Just a little more rest and the sharpening to come. SUPER glad to have you racing at State this year, and also really appreciate all of the work that you do to try and pull the team together for warm-ups and skips etc.

Tristan: 19:16.4, 17th place, 1st Mile: 5:59, Overall Pace: 6:12

Nice! Back on track again. Each race is better than the last and you are knocking on the door of another sub-19, 18:30-18:40 performance at State, if not better. Aksel just dropped 35-40 seconds after quite a few races of waiting. You are experienced and practiced on that State course and in navigating all of the crowds and nerves and excitement. Great and necessary to have you in the mix of four out there today. Keep feeling better. Keep staying relaxed. Keep knowing that you’ve got it in you. You do!!!

Jackson: 19:16.8, 18th place, 1st Mile: 5:59, Overall Pace: 6:12
Just another workout, Jackson, and another step towards having your best race of the season at State. The week off set you back a little, but you looked good in that Tuesday workout… and just a little tired the rest of the week. This week is the taper. This week is the rest. We will turn it over a bit, but mostly you should be feeling fast and effortless. Let us know if it is ever not, and we will just do less (it really is never that much!). Anyway, fully confident in your experience and ability to turn it on at State. You said yourself that Saturday was not unlike Okanogan last year, and it was also faster still than the home meet in early October. Nov. 5th is when it counts. Looking forward to it!!

Little T: 19:26, PR, 20th place. 1st Mile: 6:01, Overall Pace: 6:15
At our home invite, some “19:30” kinds of times were predicted for your future… and you delivered big time on that result! Congrats on yet another stellar race, Tristan, and one again where you battled with a little stomach ache and probably have even more to give if you are feeling 100%. Super excited for you to be able to race next weekend! It’ll be your first State championship rodeo, so don’t sweat it too much, just come in tapered, with a good week of sleep and let yourself have a ton of fun rolling past people in that second half of the race. The Schmekels and Kyler will find the early pace. You just need to go along for the ride and race people to the finish!

GIRLS: Varsity - 23 finishers. What a terrific showing! You each gave everything you had out there – and you did your Lion Pride very very proud. Congratulations on making it to state! That is a big honor and you will go into next weekend with 7 consecutive years worth of Liberty Bell girl's teams who have also made that journey with you.

Leki: 20:21, 1st place, 1st Mile: 6:14, Overall Pace: 6:33
That is what I call racing. So so so nicely done. You took on the responsibility of leading it out and then Kaydence made her move after about a mile and a half. She had a nice little gap on you at the 2 mile and I know you were wondering if that was it. But, the super-competitive, and bold believer in you emerged and you set about methodically reeling her back in. You won clearly and you ran an awesome time on this course. You have now pulled together everything you need this season for a huge state meet. Enjoy it and trust yourself.

Sandra: 22:02, 4th place, 1st Mile: 6:40, Overall Pace: 7:05
You are so strong! That was a brilliant effort the whole way. A minute 20 seconds faster than just three weeks ago on this course – and while, yes, the weather was better, most of that improvement comes from your tenacious hard work and your ever-growing confidence. You are healthy and persistent and ready for a big big race at State. So so excited for you.

Zoe: 22:58.7, 6th place. 1st Mile: 6:58, Overall Pace: 7:24
You are, indeed, a sub-23 minute 5K runner now. Just keep saying that to yourself all week. And, most of all remember that on the starting line on Saturday. You will not be there just to run, you’ll be there to compete. What a perfect job you did getting out into a good spot by the mile and then just proving to be an unrelenting racer all the way to the end. We’re not through yet with you setting PRs. Bring all that positive energy and joy with you to Pasco.

Ingrid: 23:58, 8th place. 1st Mile: 7:08, Overall Pace: 7:43
Sub-24!!! That’s an incredible accomplishment. And, literally more than 3 minutes faster than three weeks ago – and you had a cold! You know what made the difference? Two things: 1) you believed you could, and 2) you kept your stride nice and long and your arm swing going in that middle of the race. You have lots of competitive grit and you put it all to good use today. Wow!!!

Juniper: 26:13, 14th place. 1st Mile: 7:54, Overall Pace: 8:26
Can I just start by pointing out that you were just 2 seconds off your 5K PR, which came from a much, much, much faster course. This course usually runs about 30 seconds slower than Wenatchee, so this effort was huge! You did a great job moving up steadily throughout the race and then racing it home with Yasmin. You are stronger than you realize in the middle of the race and given how much of a monster kick you still had, we can shave off even more time with a bit more of a push earlier in the third mile. I definitely think you can go under 26.

Yasmin: 26:18, 15th place. 1st Mile: 7:56, Overall Pace: 8:28
Almost 2 minutes faster than just three weeks ago - and a 40-second PR. That’s amazing. You got out hard – which certainly matched my recommendation for people to be bold. Perhaps we’ll turn down the bold by just a bit next week and you’ll feel even better in the middle of the race. I do have to say, however, despite your really really bold start, you held your form together so well and you kept at it (super persistent) and held on for an awesome finish. Quite a season you are having!

Josie: DNF

Ok, so that happened. And, the world didn’t end. You are still you and we’re still proud and glad to have you on this team. I know this was a big disappointment for you, but I hope you felt and know that everyone else just simply cares about you – no judgment at all. There’s a lot going on right now and you’re still figuring it all out. It’s ok. You’re ok. Keep that chin up and try to be gentle with yourself.

JUNIOR VARSITY:
George: 20:04, PR, 1st place. 1st Mile: 6:24, Overall Pace: 6:28
An amazing 45 seconds per mile improvement over the home meet. You looked terrible and hurt before the race, but somehow managed to find a smooth and fluid stride from start until the very finish. You also led the way for a pack of lions and quite literally set the pace for the entire race. Super impressive and you have grown so much and gained so much confidence as a runner this fall. You should be really proud of that and we are excited to have you join us at State as our first alternate!

Jayden: 20:07, 2nd place. 1st Mile: 6:25, Overall Pace: 6:28
A nice improvement upon the home meet Jayden, and I’m sorry for you about the cold – AND the wisdom teeth extraction that kind of knocked you out at a critical time in the season. Your work ethic is incredibly strong and you really have come a very long way in a short period of time and with not that many races. I know that soccer is your thing, but hopefully you caught just a little bit of the running bug as well. Excited that you can join is for State as an alternate and congrats on an excellent senior year.

John: 21:53, PR, 7th place. 1st Mile: 6:26, Overall Pace: 7:03
49 seconds per mile faster than the home meet and awesome to see you pushing that pace early in the race and working so hard to stick with Jayden and George. You lost the group a little later, but you didn’t give up and you finished strong again with a new PR and your first time breaking 22 minutes! You guys were out pretty fast in 6:28 or so for the mile. If you are game, I will pace you on the course at State and see if we can get you another PR near 21:30. It’s totally possible. Friday night at 4-4:30 or so the race is on!!

Hunter: 22:31, 9th place. 1st Mile: 7:00, Overall Pace: 7:15
A terrific job slowly tracking those two boys from Brewster and finding just the right time over the final 400m to make the pass and to make it decisive. And you now have a kick!!! Congratulations on a truly fantastic season of improvement, Hunter. We’ll be sorry to miss you at State but hope to have you back again to keep working on that speed and endurance during the spring track season.

Omar: 26:35, PR, 12th place. 1st Mile: 7:36, Overall Pace: 8:33
Nearly a minute improvement over Twilight, and an awesome and impressive way to finish up your first-ever cross-country season! You are now CRUSHING it in that first mile, and your average pace - at 8:33 - is now faster than your mile PR from before the start of the season!! You should seriously get your speed & strength coach to let you get in a good warm-up, put on some spikes, do some strides, and see how fast you can go for a mile on the track :) Congrats on an amazing and excellent season Omar. Looking forward to track in the spring!

Monday, October 24, 2022

Okanogan Highlands League Meet (MS) -- 10/21/2022

OKHL Championships – 10/21/2022

Course Length – 1.5 miles

General Notes – This was the final race of the season! None of our athletes had ever run at Oroville, which means the excellent performances were especially impressive! The course is a bit strange, with grass, gravel, dirt, sand, and rocks all appearing at some point on the loop. The opening half mile is always slow at Oroville, and the closing half mile is always fast. This was definitely the coldest temperature we’ve seen at race time all season, though luckily the wind wasn’t too strong. Overall, really well done! Congratulations to the Boys team for finishing 2nd in the league and to the Girls team on completing their perfect season!

The Liberty Bell Girls won with a score of 19 points. Manson was 2nd with 44 points. There were 37 athletes and 3 scoring teams in the race.

Liberty Bell Boys were 2nd with a score of 47. Bridgeport won with a score of 43. There were 48 athletes and 5 scoring teams in the race.

Anja – One mile: 6:59. Finish: 10:03, 5th place. Average: 6:42.

What a race. You put it all out there! You are racing smarter each time and I think you’re doing an excellent job of finding the balance of staying in control and being patient and giving it your all. On an especially tough course, you ran your fastest average pace this season. It’s awesome that you have teammates to race with, it makes things just a bit more fun. Amazing job!

Avery – One mile: 7:35. Finish: 10:42, 12th place. Average: 7:08.

Wowzers! You raced hard. You ran your fastest mile split, average pace and overall time at the last race of the season. That is amazing timing and shows that your efforts throughout the season paid off. You looked calm but really determined throughout the race, even when you were running by yourself which is tough! I am super excited to see you get after it and have fun in your first season of XC.

Alida – One mile: 7:55. Finish: 11:11, 18th place. Average: 7:27.

Yay! That was a fantastic race. And it was on a course where the first half mile is really tough! You looked focused and in the “zone” throughout the race. Looking back to your last race last season, your average mile pace this year was about a minute faster. That is a lot of improvement and it’s coming both from hard work and your thoughtful attitude on your training and racing. Plus, you crushed your mile time goal!

Sky – One mile: 7:48. Finish: 11:12, 19th place. Average: 7:28.

Your first time racing in the cold, with a beach, with rocks, with hills….and you looked great. You ran relaxed and consistent the entire race (even with your sweat top wrapped around your waist). You PR’d by 40 seconds despite the tough course. You will just continue to get faster.

Elsa – One mile: 7:58. Finish: 11:21, 22nd place. Average: 7:34.

A 30 second PR! Need I say more? You have been training hard and it showed. I loved the way you ran with teammates both pulling them along and having them pull you along. I can’t wait for track season.

Luke – One mile: 6:27. Finish: 9:22, 6th place. Average: 6:14.

What a great finish to the season. A top 10 in league and a 30 second PR! You worked hard all season and it showed. You looked determined in the race and your pace was over a minute per mile faster than last year’s PR. Quite the improvement. Can’t wait to see what you do on the track.

Liam – One mile: 7:15. Finish: 10:15, 21st place. Average: 6:50.

Great work. You went into this one with a positive mindset and you could really tell! Even during the steep uphills, you looked like you were focused. That helped you not go out too fast and then be able to move up throughout. You’ve been improving a little bit each race this season, and for comparison, your average pace at the last race last year was about a minute slower than this year. That’s leaps and bounds! Awesome job.

Cassius – One mile: 8:28. Finish: 12:00, 33rd place. Average: 8:00.

Nice job! You dug deep for this one. You got to run with some teammates for part of the race which is great and super helpful. You looked really determined throughout this race. I know you’ve been hurting a little but you still did terrific. Running is part mental and part physical and you showed a lot of grit in both ways. I’m super excited you tried XC this year and I hope you had fun too!

Asher – One mile: 11:50. Finish: 15:52, 47th place. Average: 10:34.

It was a tough course with sand, rocks and hills but you gutted it out strong. Your time was a whopping PR by 1 minute and 47 seconds! My favorite part was the look you gave the runner from Paschal Sherman when he tried to pass you in the last 100 meters. Your glare, combined with your kick, left him in the dust. Awesome.