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!
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.
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!
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!
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!