Liberty Bell XC
Location: Leavenworth Ski Hill, Leavenworth, WA Date: 10.10.15
Distance: 1.4/2.8mi Conditions: 60-65 degrees. Partly Cloudy with some hills.
Comments: Three races in 8 days for most of you, and even on tired legs we have no quit! I saw a LOT of kids walking on the long uphill in the woods, but not a single mountain lion jersey in the bunch. Across the board - and yes, that even means those who felt a little off - we should be proud of the grit on display and the mental toughness that it takes to run that course. Well done, well done, and the best is yet to come. PS Thank you to Dana Milani for several of these photos and to E.A. for taking a HUGE batch as well: http://www.weymullerphotography.com/gallery/Liberty-Bell-Cross-Country/G00007Fa5taoNGio
Location: Leavenworth Ski Hill, Leavenworth, WA Date: 10.10.15
Distance: 1.4/2.8mi Conditions: 60-65 degrees. Partly Cloudy with some hills.
Comments: Three races in 8 days for most of you, and even on tired legs we have no quit! I saw a LOT of kids walking on the long uphill in the woods, but not a single mountain lion jersey in the bunch. Across the board - and yes, that even means those who felt a little off - we should be proud of the grit on display and the mental toughness that it takes to run that course. Well done, well done, and the best is yet to come. PS Thank you to Dana Milani for several of these photos and to E.A. for taking a HUGE batch as well: http://www.weymullerphotography.com/gallery/Liberty-Bell-Cross-Country/G00007Fa5taoNGio
MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS & BOYS - 1.4mi.
Sorry gang… despite several emails to the Icicle Creek middle school athletic director, no one is sending results :( The fact of the matter, however, is that we ran great with no big surprises. Top to bottom, girls to boys, you are an terrific group of middle school racers, and its been an excellent season — which only makes your coaches even more excited for the years ahead. I’ll be sorry to miss your last races in Cashmere, but get out fast (but smart) and run em’ into the ground!
GIRLS - 2.8mi. 165pts. 5th place out of 18 high school teams!
210 girls in the race and a starting line that was WAY more chaotic and crazy than State! From what we saw out there, you moved up smartly and we were definitely one of the better teams on that long hill in the woods. And running tough when no one’s really looking is GRRR! worthy running indeed. Johanna, tough running again and a great progression moving 23 places up through the crowded field. Sage, strong form in the later part of the race. Your strength in that 5th runner position — and keeping track of those Tonasket 4 & 5 (both of whom you beat this weekend) is definitely key for us in going to State. Mia, good job in finding a strategy again to get yourself start to finish! Ava, awesome lift in those legs and drive from the arms on the final hill. Do the same at State and you will be flying into the downhill finish! Icel, once again so steady and reliable in moving up through the pack. Aware that you’d lost Ava briefly, but right back on it and moving ahead. Plus, you can kick! Ella, congrats on the back-to-back racing — and on not skipping a beat even with two close races and the hillier course. Decisive again in the difference between your race and those of your fellow skiers from Cascade. And when you get just a wee bit more recovery going into State… Yes! And Athena, you may not like the hills, but you conquered them nonetheless. That, and you run the downs great. Not so steep a course at State, but the wide open fairways and rolling terrain will play to your strength in the second half — and to your excellent awareness of looking ahead to the next runners and moving up strong.
VARSITY BOYS - 2.8mi. 202pts. 6th overall out of 23 scoring teams.
Peter, if I may, gets top billing for the week. A nice performance in moving right back in front of the Tonasket 5/6/7. He was aware of their presence right from the start, and even if his place progression looks a little off, he was aware of an objective for the week and ran a gutsy race. Geza, keep your eye out at Leagues for Justin McDonald of Tonasket. You had him at Chelan but he stuck past you in the crowd this weekend. We know that you can get him again, and I’ll be sure to point him out before the starting gun at home. Carter, nearly 30 seconds faster than last year on this course, which is a similar margin to your time comparison at Can AM. Great if we can get you a little closer to Emerson in the next few weeks — and I think that we will — but you are definitely headed in the right direction compared to similar races last year. And that 5th runner spot is going to be key for us in the post-season. Emerson, maybe a drop off a bit in the 2nd mile, but I also may have counted wrong. You appeared to be holding ground well and I know that you closed in a tight race up the final hill. Having you in front of Tonasket no. 3 is spot on! Cade, three races in 8 days and you are on a roll. A little break this week, but then right back at it. Keep that rhythm in your stride and picture where you want to be at season’s end. Eli, another fine race and you are closing gaps every week. A great stretch of races and a well deserved week away from racing action. And Ben, we’ve already talked but this is one in the guts/workout column. 100% effort but not a 100% cooperation from the body. It happens. Keep your wits together and you are fine. And Of special note: After a race where you were not so pleased -- your grace under pressure in congratulating Hunter is a classy thing indeed.
JV BOYS - 2.8mi 254pts. 9th out of 19 teams.
194 kids in the race — so a big field and a nice team finish in 9th over all. Noted as well is the fact that our “average” pace is starting to look a lot like our opening mile — with just a few holdouts. For most of you dropping that just a bit more will come from holding pace just a little tighter in that second mile. Continue seeking how to strike that balance. Michael, fighting hard to hold off Tonasket up final hill and a strong response to looking just a bit tired at Chelan. Way to drop 12 spots in the final .8mi as well! Tim, nice to have you back. Stay on top of those grades so that we can keep you in the mix. Consistency is key from now through the end of the season — AND in fighting hard for that middle mile to move up even more in the pack. Keep it rolling in both the academics, the practices, and the races. Cameron, well done sir. Not much fall off at all from mile one to mile 2. Out just a little harder next race and then use that strength. You can definitely be out 5-10 seconds faster, and still hold on to a similar middle. In a crowded race like Leavenworth or State, 10-15 seconds could be 10-15 places! Lazo, a great finishing stretch, and the faster average says that you can try getting out a little faster still. Shoot for 7:15 or so on the flatter course at Leagues and you can ride that right along to an excellent finish with some home field advantage. Simon, bully effort with a sore leg and look at those balanced splits. Notice too that just a 4 second swing STILL has you passing nearly 30 kids start to finish. Steady as she goes! I know that you took the start a little easier to test the leg, but splits this even are terrific — especially on a hilly course. Practice looked good on Tuesday too. I hope the leg is feeling better. Ian, one of the racers who expressed some regrets this week, but you were right back at it on Tuesday. Good as well that you could identify the difference between feeling sharp on Tuesday and maybe a little flat on the weekend. Keep charging along as its been fun to watch you and Sam move as a team. Sam, great arms on the hills and REALLY looking fast and fluid in the workout on Tuesday. Keep an eye on Michael for the next few meets and he will pull you and Ian along to some nice finishes at Leagues. And Zach, MOVIN’ up that final hill! Your dad couldn’t even keep you in the picture frame for a photo, and its been really clear to us that you’ve been working hard on that turn over. A well-deserved Athlete of the Week Award!
A way ward coach out wandering. I was a LOT happier about the meet than I appear in this photo. That's just my tired face from chasing you all up and down this hills in the woods :)