Course Length – 5k
General Notes – Our home course is always fun, with lots of open fields to see the competition. The terrain is fairly flat, but the footing means the course isn't particularly fast. It was a chilly day, with temps in the low 40's and a very consistent downpour throughout the races. This was a smaller meet with 13 high schools present.
We had some timing issues during the JV race, so we only have some approximate mile times. We were not able to get any 2-mile splits.
The Boys Varsity won with 31 points. Okanogan was 2nd with 40 points. There were 44 athletes and 7 teams.
The Girls Varsity won with 20 points. Manson was 2nd with 38 points. There were 27 athletes and 2 teams.
The Boys JV won with 15 points. There were 11 athletes and 1 team.
The Girls JV won with 15 points. There were 11 athletes and 1 team.
Sam P - One mile: 7:45ish. Finish: 25:43, 8th place. Average: 8:18.
Nice running Sam! You really put yourself out there, going with Finn, SJ, Kylie, and Madie, which meant you had a pretty fast first mile. Even though you went fast, you were able to hold on really well and come through with a new PR, pushing all the way to the line! You also looked very smooth while doing it. This week you have another shot at feeling good, and I think a slightly slower first mile will really pay off. Keep it up!
Alida - One mile: 7:00ish. Finish: 21:48, 1st place. Average: 7:02.
Great race Alida! You did an excellent job finding your pace early, running with Elsa and Cassius, then you kept pushing yourself, holding onto that pace through the middle stretch. Even when you found yourself running solo, you dug deep and set a new PR! It seems like not worrying about your time and just running really paid off. Let's keep that mentality going into the final stretch!
Liam - One mile: 5:59. Finish: 19:19, 21st place. Average: 6:14.
Nice running Liam! What with the cold weather and the packed line, you got out maybe a bit too fast. That's ok! You did a great job moving up in the second mile, holding onto your pace while others dropped off. You also made some smart moves, like when you used that little burst to catch up with Sam so you could run with a teammate. That's called experience! While it wasn't quite as fast as you wanted it to be, I think with another couple of weeks you'll break 19:00!
Maren - One mile: 6:35. Finish: 21:11, 6th place. Average: 6:50.
Fantastic job, Maren! You absolutely crushed the 22-minute barrier with an incredible 54-second PR! You’re amazing. Your first mile was quick, but you stayed strong and steady—even when you found yourself running solo. That’s such an impressive skill to have; running fast alone takes real grit. I’m so glad your hip is starting to feel better! For the rest of the season, let’s keep prioritizing recovery and work on keeping those shins happy. Now it’s time to set your sights on breaking 21 minutes—you’ve got this!
Holden - One mile: 5:22. Finish: 17:20, 4th place. Average: 5:35.
Great work Holden! It was awesome to see you feeling so good and running so smooth in that race! You got out quick with the lead pack, which set up an exciting race throughout. The pack definitely slowed down in the second mile, and you didn't have another group to catch for a bit, but you and your teammates kept pushing together. Then you dug deep and pulled out a major sprint to the finish. That's excellent! Since you have teammates to run with, it may be beneficial to aim for a slightly slower first mile so you can feel really good and move in the middle mile. Keep it up!
Soren - One mile: 5:23. Finish: 17:20, 5th place. Average: 5:35.
Nice run Soren! That was a big PR for you, and you made it look pretty easy, running with your teammates in the lead pack for the first two miles. You all went out perhaps a bit too fast, but that was a reasonable thing to do given you were right at the front and there wasn't another group to chase up ahead of you. Still, you dug deep and went with Aidan as he started to move, which is exactly what you want to do. Keep working together, and that crew is going to break 17:00!
Tova - One mile: 7:15ish. Finish: 23:19, 6th place. Average: 7:31.
Way to go Tova! Not only did you push with Zoie and Ava, you pushed yourself all the way through the line to a 44 second PR! You got out to a fast start, probably slightly faster than you would want to go, and that did mean you slowed down through the middle mile. That's ok! Working with your teammates, you picked it back up for a strong finish in the cold weather. With the taper coming, this next race is going to be a lot of fun!
Crispin - One mile: 6:00ish. Finish: 19:21, 1st place. Average: 6:15.
Great race Crispin! Not only did you run the entire time by yourself, you did a pretty good job of finding your pace and pushing throughout. You likely got out a bit fast, and you did slow down a bit, but that's totally fine! It can be challenging to stay consistent when there's no one else around. You still found a way to kick hard at the end, and it sounds like you felt really good afterwards. That's awesome! I think a sub-19:00 pace is just around the corner!
Luke - One mile: 6:30ish. Finish: 20:23, 2nd place. Average: 6:35.
Awesome job, Luke! That was an impressive run—dropping a 38 second PR in those conditions is no small feat, but you made it look effortless. Your first mile was fast, yet you stayed strong and even moved up during the second mile. Then, even when you ended up running solo, you didn’t let it slow you down. The determination you showed all the way to the finish was awesome to watch. You’re having a fantastic season—let’s see what you can do this week!
Orlo - One mile: 5:35. Finish: 17:59, 12th place. Average: 5:48.
What a race Orlo! First off, you just broke 18:00 and set a 42 second PR! You went out pretty fast, keeping River and Soren in your sights through the second mile, just like you wanted to. That really seemed to help when you got caught by yourself for a stretch there. Then, as always, your last mile was blazing fast, as you picked off runner after runner down the stretch. I think the next couple of races will be even better for you as the field expands and your shoulder relaxes. You're in a really great spot coming into the finish. Keep it up!
Cassius - One mile: 7:00ish. Finish: 21:37, 4th place. Average: 6:58.
Fantastic race, Cassius! You didn’t let your sore calves or shin pain slow you down—way to stay tough out there. You got out at a strong pace and worked well with Alida and Elsa through the first mile. Then you and Alida really started moving, picking off runners one by one as you powered through the middle part of the race. To cap it all off, you absolutely crushed the final 400—flying down the hill and charging all the way to the finish. Keep focusing on recovery for your shins this week, and let’s close out your season strong at Districts!
Aidan - One mile: 5:21. Finish: 17:18, 3rd place. Average: 5:35.
Nice running Aidan! The conditions were a bit different this time around, and you adjusted to them very well. Unfortunately we didn't have a massive hill for you to eat up, but don't worry! There are plenty in the next couple races. You got out fast with the lead pack, then went with Okanogan as they picked it up at the 2-mile. They got a bit of space, and that's ok, because with a nice taper I think you'll have no problem picking them off, especially as your teammates go with you. Keep going!
Sam K - One mile: 5:57. Finish: 19:32, 26th place. Average: 6:18.
Nice race, Sam! Those were some tough conditions out there, but you put your head down and got it done—running 14 seconds faster than at 509! That’s especially impressive given you just got back from your hunting trip and have been managing hip and knee pain. Keep staying consistent with your recovery work. Your first mile went out pretty quick, but that can happen in cold races when the field goes out fast. Let’s aim to start a bit more conservatively next time so you’ve got more energy to hold pace through the later stages of the race. Keep up the great effort!
Finn - One mile: 7:45ish. Finish: 26:55, 9th place. Average: 8:41.
Great job Finn! It's always nice to get that first 5k of the season out of the way, and you did a great job running with so many teammates throughout the race. It was cold, which is likely why you got out so fast, and that probably set you back a bit down the stretch. However, you worked hard through the second half of the race for a solid finish. A bit of patience next time will go a long way, and you're in for a great 3-mile!
Elsa - One mile: 7:00ish. Finish: 22:32, 3rd place. Average: 7:16.
A 44-second PR after coming back from injury?! That’s incredible, Elsa! You’re such a strong and determined runner. I know you were hoping for one of those days where everything just clicks and the pace feels easy, but to run that big of a PR on a day when it didn’t feel great is even more impressive. Take a moment to think about what you learned from this race, then let it go and shift your focus to the week ahead. This week, let’s work on controlling the things we can and not worrying about the rest that comes with racing. Trust yourself and your training—you’re more than capable of holding that faster pace, even when your mind starts to doubt it. Great job, Elsa!
Bhavana - One mile: 9:30ish. Finish: 31:32, 11th place. Average: 10:10.
Wahoo, Bhavana! You ran tough in tough conditions! You show consistency and persistence - both fantastic things to achieve in racing. It’s possible you went out a little fast. But sometimes that’s hard to avoid and you did a good job keeping with it, staying determined, which can be hard to do. You do an excellent job of paying attention to what your body and mind needs to stay intentional, present and feeling good - so let’s keep doing that and keep having fun and these last couple weeks will be amazing.
Sisu - One mile: 7:15ish. Finish: 22:30, 2nd place. Average: 7:15.
Way to go, Sisu! Even though you were nervous about beating your 509 time, of course you pulled off another PR! You’re such a fierce competitor, and that really showed in this race. We don’t have exact mile splits, but by our estimates, you even-split the race. Wow! That’s very impressive in those conditions and running by yourself. You did an awesome job running smart and staying patient, resisting the urge to go out too fast and instead methodically reeling people in. Then your competitive fire kicked in, and you finished with one of your strongest kicks yet down the field. Let’s keep this PR streak going!
Yasmin - One mile: 8:30ish. Finish: 28:40, 10th place. Average: 9:15.
Nice running Yasmin! I know you were a bit nervous about racing, especially given how cold it was, but you didn't let that stop you! You ended up running most of the race solo, which can be a challenge. However, you did a great job of pushing yourself up and over every hill out there! Plus, you were 30 seconds faster than at 509, which is a big accomplishment! With a bit of patience in the first mile, I think you're in for a great race at Apple Ridge!
Ingrid - One mile: 6:32. Finish: 20:28, 3rd place. Average: 6:36.
Wow! Ingrid, that was an amazing race! You went out fast at 6:32, then held on through the middle mile, before closing strong with a 1:16 PR! That is awesome! Even though you found yourself a bit behind Lena, Sammy, and Alice, you kept moving, gradually closing the distance on the pack. These past two weeks, you've really shown just how strong you are, and the best part is I know you have even more speed, and the runners at state have no idea what's coming for them. You're on a roll!
Kylie - One mile: 7:45ish. Finish: 26:40, 9th place. Average: 8:36.
That was such a great race, Kylie! After everything you’ve dealt with with your ankle, it was awesome to see you out there running so strong. You stuck with the big Liberty Bell pack early, which carried you to a fast first mile. Even though you found yourself mostly alone in the second half, you kept pushing and finished strong. Racing by yourself takes a lot of mental toughness, especially in that weather. And you snagged another HUGE PR - over 2 minutes! You’ve worked hard all season while battling your ankle, and it’s paying off. You should feel really proud of that effort and the way you competed today. Way to go!
Zoie - One mile: 7:15ish. Finish: 22:58, 5th place. Average: 7:25.
Wowzers, what a race Zoie!! You crushed! In very chilly conditions, you leaned into the challenge and really competed. You raced smart and ran with a great group of teammates which helped push you through the tough middle part of the race. You are getting the hang of racing this distance and it shows with your biggest PR of the season - 50 seconds faster than Battle for the 509! You are really starting to find the sweet spot of racing - not going out too fast or having too much left over at the end. Excellent work!
Ava - One mile: 7:15ish. Finish: 22:58, 4th place. Average: 7:25.
Ava, that was incredible! You carried the momentum from last week’s time trial and it really showed out there. You looked strong from start to finish—going out with Tova, steadily reeling Zoie in, and then finding another gear in the final stretch. It was such a fun race to watch. Not only did you run your best 5k of the season, but you also ran a course PR! You ran even faster than you did at last year’s league meet, which is something to be really proud of. Cloudy, rainy races are definitely your sweet spot!
River - One mile: 5:25. Finish: 17:29, 7th place. Average: 5:38.
Let’s go, River! What a PR - plus, compared to last year’s home meet you were a minute and a half faster this year. You ran an impressive, brave race. That top boys pack stayed together for quite a ways into this race, and you did not let yourself lose focus, or fall off, even after a quick first mile. You fought hard in this race, and I hope you are proud of yourself! Keep bringing that excitement to these next couple weeks and it will pay off.
Alice - One mile: 6:30. Finish: 20:31, 4th place. Average: 6:37.
What a race, Alice! You’re really starting to figure out how to handle these longer races and trust yourself to hold those fast paces. You ran over two-minutes faster than your first 5k at Connell - wow wow wow! It was awesome seeing you run in a pack with Sammy and Lena early on, and then work with Lena through most of the race. What impressed me most was halfway through—when it looked like you were starting to fall back a bit—you made the decision to dig in, reattach, and stay with them. That kind of determination is huge. The sky’s the limit heading into the post-season races!
Sutherland - One mile: 7:45ish. Finish: 25:14, 7th place. Average: 8:08.
Awesome racing SJ! You trusted yourself and ran a fantastic, competitive and brave race. You did not let the rainy weather or your nerves stand in your way. You started with your teammates and didn’t go out too fast. And you carried that momentum to peel away and really run your own race. It’s really fun to see you get the hang of high school racing and gain confidence as you learn and grow. I know there have been bumps in the season, but you keep bringing your best self and I can’t wait to see what you do this next week!
Calvin - One mile: 10:15ish. Finish: 32:44, 10th place. Average: 10:34.
Great job Calvin! On a very rainy and cold day, you showed great strength. I know you didn’t quite make the goal you had on this day. But that doesn’t mean it’s not around the corner. You’re learning each time you race and growing in your race smarts and endurance. Your knee not feeling the best is tough and it can make racing not feel amazing. But I’m glad you felt good to race. Let’s try to do all the good recovery things for the last bit of the season so you can feel your best and run your best!
Nina - One mile: 7:08. Finish: 22:05, 9th place. Average: 7:07.
Fantastic job Nina! You ran an incredible race - smart and fearless. You ran your race and it helped you continue to reel people in the whole time. You did not let up! Your brave racing helped you place above Manson’s 3rd runner, and helped your team points. You are continuing to stay in that low 22 range and it is due to your hard work this season - everything from visualizing your race, doing your band exercises, getting enough sleep, and being engaged at practice. I’m excited to see what you do this week and next!
Lena - One mile: 6:24. Finish: 20:31, 5th place. Average: 6:37.
Way to go Lena! That was a tough race, and you went out pretty fast. Even though you slowed down a bit, you still worked with Sammy and Alice in the middle mile and down the stretch, getting yourself to a new PR! The conditions were definitely less than ideal, and you didn't have anyone to chase down, which is one of your fortes. Next time around, with a bit of patience up front, I think you'll be in for a phenomenal race. You rock!
Sammy - One mile: 6:24. Finish: 20:23, 2nd place. Average: 6:35.
Congratulations on your first 5k Sammy! It was so cool to see you running in the pack with Lena and Alice at the start. That got you three out pretty quick, and even though you slowed down in the middle mile, you were able to push each other through. Then, when it came down to the final effort, you dug deep and started speeding up, coming through with an awesome time! A slightly slower opening mile may pay off, which is something to think about next time. Overall though, you were great!
Madie - One mile: 7:45ish. Finish: 26:09, 8th place. Average: 8:26.
Great job, Madie! You got out fast in that first mile, keeping right with the big Liberty Bell pack—and that’s totally fine! The cold weather can make running quick feel a bit easier anyway. Once the pack started to spread out, you did an awesome job settling into your own race and staying strong. Even better, you were super close to your PR and over a minute and a half faster than last year on our home course! You were also very stylish with your pink long sleeve - nice touch!
