Liberty Bell XC
Location: Liberty Bell High School - Winthrop, WA Date: 10.25.14
Distance: 5km Conditions: 52 degrees. Overcast. Light rain.
Comments: A nice-sized crowd and perfect running weather. Many thanks again to all of the parent volunteers, and especially to Tammy and Heidi who set a high bar for future meets by having apples and baked goods for racers at the finish!
VARSITY / JV GIRLS - 5k
Hmmm, last week I said something about Koharu notching her pace back under 7:50. Mission accomplished! Advil, the home crowd, a hard first and a gutsy second mile put Koharu across the line in her best performance of the year. With a restful week and determination like that again at Districts — watch out Tonasket pack! Koharu just raced herself into an outside shot at State. Following up on her breakthrough Oroville performance, McKenzie had another solid race - if not quite as fast overall. With a first mile quicker than last week, and a second mile that did not waiver much, it is great to see her challenging the distance and learning more about herself from race to race. One last go at Districts and McKenzie can look to a 9min mile for goal pace. Grrr!
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| Garett Palm. Strong to the end in 18:56 and a 9th place finish at League Champs. |
VARSITY BOYS - 5k. First place team. 27 pts.
Carter, a solid effort on a bothersome foot. It hurt, but you finished. The positive here is that 13:51 and 21:28 splits are exactly your 6:55 finishing pace. You backed off but stayed consistent. Pain set aside, we know that you have a sub-6:25 paced effort and a new 5k PR in you for State. Garett: Outstanding. Closing on 6min and you will get there. For additional perspective, Sam Thomas was over a minute in front of you at Manson, 49 sec at Oroville, and only 19 seconds this weekend. Willy dropped nearly 30 seconds between League and State in his debut XC season, so set your sights on a ballpark 18:30 or better. And speaking of Willy, great job in pacing out there. Controlled and confident as expected. Obvious as well that you still had legs and the ability to go faster at the finish. Right where you were at this time last year. Eli: Solid again and moving up well even with fewer racers to chase. We’ll let you go a bit more next weekend but your poise and confidence as a young runner continue to impress. Joe: you’ve been equally solid and consistent since Can-AM. 30 sec. faster on this course than you were last year while running much of it totally alone and chasing a faster than expected pace from Oren and Ben. Widhalm of Riverside Christian has run 17:34 at some point this season and you’ve firmly established who will be running faster at State. And Ben, a good race again even with a hiccup in the final 400m. Grace and composure will take you far, and despite the tangle with Oren’s lanky stride, you handled it perfectly. Its a race. Everyone is tired and leg weary. It happens. In the next two races however, be the hunter! Excellent even pacing, but a little too much work at the front too early in this one. That made it harder to pounce in the final mile. Make the move from behind in the last 800-400m and get the mental boost of being the passer when it counts. Just like Liam last year, you’ve been super solid in that 5:33-5:29 pace all season. You’re going to knock it down to the 5:25 or better range again for State.
And to EVERYONE, it is a compliment to ALL OF YOU, and to Liberty Bell’s team success over the last 5 years, that a League meet like this is getting just a little more competitive. And there will be more of the same next weekend. Bridgeport, Tonasket, Lake Roosevelt, Manson, Riverside Christian, and Bickleton ALL have kids that will challenge for top 10 spots at Districts. We will run great - no doubt - and the competition makes us better. REST and sharpening are the goals for the next 10 days. Easy speed if you will, and some shorter focused practices so that you can get home, do your work, and get some sleep. Finish this season with a smart, confident, approach, and we’ll be right in the mix of a top five finish again for State.