Liberty Bell XC - 1B/2B State Championships!
Location: Sun Willows Golf Course, Pasco, WA
Date: 11.4.17
Distance: 5km. Conditions: Beautifully clipped golf course grass with some rolling ups and downs and a few more ups in the last mile. Downhill finish. Mostly cloudy and cool - 35-38 degrees for the girls and something similar for boys. A firmer grass surface then last year. An awesome running day if you didn’t over dress - and we played it pretty well with a touch of glitter even!
8 teams and 78 total finishers. 1st place - 23 points.
General Comments: I’ve been procrastinating writing this. If I’m honest, it’s because when this race report is done, then the season really will come to an end. I know all the psychologists teach these days that we aren’t supposed to say we are “proud” of someone. Being proud, they say, implies some “ownership” of the success and sends the signal that you need to succeed just to impress your coaches — both of which could not be further from the truth. You own all of this season’s success. Each of you — whether you crossed that finish line or you were ready to race at a moment’s notice as an alternate, or you were there to support your teammates (or if you endured the stomach flu!) — made a difference, and each of you earned a piece of that historic trophy that will be live again in the Liberty Bell display cases for another year. And certainly, you impress every day with your hard work, your laughter, your kindness to each other, your grit, and your belief in the power of glitter. So, if I can’t be proud of you, then let me be grateful for you. In this tumultuous, heated, angry time we live in, I am so grateful to see a new generation of young women who tolerate and celebrate each other’s differences, who find common ground with each other, who compete fiercely and yet believe in working together, who aren’t afraid to take on big goals, who express joy and humility all in one, and who challenge themselves daily to be better than they were last time. Yes, this season, you repeated as state champions in a very dominant fashion — a tremendous feat. But, you also reminded us all that what really matters is how we show up each and every day to be there for each other.
General Comments: I’ve been procrastinating writing this. If I’m honest, it’s because when this race report is done, then the season really will come to an end. I know all the psychologists teach these days that we aren’t supposed to say we are “proud” of someone. Being proud, they say, implies some “ownership” of the success and sends the signal that you need to succeed just to impress your coaches — both of which could not be further from the truth. You own all of this season’s success. Each of you — whether you crossed that finish line or you were ready to race at a moment’s notice as an alternate, or you were there to support your teammates (or if you endured the stomach flu!) — made a difference, and each of you earned a piece of that historic trophy that will be live again in the Liberty Bell display cases for another year. And certainly, you impress every day with your hard work, your laughter, your kindness to each other, your grit, and your belief in the power of glitter. So, if I can’t be proud of you, then let me be grateful for you. In this tumultuous, heated, angry time we live in, I am so grateful to see a new generation of young women who tolerate and celebrate each other’s differences, who find common ground with each other, who compete fiercely and yet believe in working together, who aren’t afraid to take on big goals, who express joy and humility all in one, and who challenge themselves daily to be better than they were last time. Yes, this season, you repeated as state champions in a very dominant fashion — a tremendous feat. But, you also reminded us all that what really matters is how we show up each and every day to be there for each other.
Novie: 18:30.2, 1 > 1 > 1st place, 11:52 second mile, 5:57 pace overall
It was a good day. You got out hard and raised the bar — you give our whole team confidence when they see you taking charge and getting into your running flow. I love that you don’t play games in races — you just go for it. I also love that you have even bigger goals for next year — they are absolutely within reach and I say we go for it. Now, rip it up on the ski trails and keep being Novie McCabe!
Gretta: 19:06.4, 2 > 2 > 2nd place, 12:19.7 second mile, 6:09 pace overall
An awesome race! You got out hard the way you like - and when Hannah came close, you just dug in. That is SO tough! You waited until that perfect moment going up the hill after the 2 mile to make your move and you did it with strength and confidence and no looking back. You just opened up the gap over the last half mile. It was textbook brilliant - strategic racing - and you made it possible because you kept calm and you believed. Perfect!
Ella: 19:55.8, 5 > 6 > 6th place, 12:41.4 second mile, 6:25 pace overall
That was a glitter-worthy performance if there ever was one. 6th place in the state in your first full high school season and under 20 minutes. All season, you have risen to every challenge we have put before you and you just keep getting better and better. You took off the starting line with determination and then you got into the flow of the race. You raced the St. George runner the whole way and you hung on at the end giving that finish everything you had. Treasure the feeling of Saturday — it should remind you that you can do anything you set your mind to!
Athena: 20:13.9, 18 > 13 > 7th place, 13:06.2 second mile, 6:31 pace overall
Third time in three years on that podium—that puts you in some very fine company. You must have a sort of 6th sense about what you need to do to get into the top 8 because, wow, you just looked like you were on a mission after the 2 mile mark. Nicely done getting out faster than you like — that set you up to be in a place where you could have the most amazing kick of the day and get on that podium. You are super consistent and I will never, never bet against you at the state meet! Let’s make it four for four next year!
Icel: 20:22.7, 21 > 14 > 10th place, 13:06.5 second mile, 6:33 pace overall
Congratulations — top 10 in the state! That’s pretty amazing, Icel Sukovaty and we hope you are extremely excited. You set a new PR for this course by more than 20 seconds and you ran so darn tough. You got yourself right in the top 20 by the mile and then you just started hunting. It was so strategic and gutsy. You know, on just about any other team in 2B, you’d be the #1 or #2 runner. Hope you feel the magic, though of being the fifth runner on an amazing team. You lead this group all year as captain and as the keeper of team spirit. Awesome job!
Liv: 20:44.8, 14 > 15 > 15th place, 13:06.7 second mile, 6:40 pace overall
It is so good to have your first state meet under your belt. When you toe the line in future years you will know what to expect and it will feel like home! We’re glad your knee/leg cooperated enough to let you race this one and you did an excellent job playing the cards you were dealt this injury season. You ran with guts and poise. We know it wasn’t the race you dreamed of, but patience….your time will come and when it does you will be all the stronger for having lived through this season’s experience.
Eva: 21:59.9, 39 > 38 > 38th place, 14:05.6 second mile, 7:05 pace overall
You had such a great approach to the whole state experience. You were excited and pumped up, but also kept it together and ran super smart. Now that you’ve done it once, it will be so much easier the next time! Terrific job putting yourself right in to the top half of the race and then giving it all you had over the last mile. You were ahead of Northwest Christian Lacey’s 6th runner and on any other team there you would have easily been in their top 5. Savor the fun of this experience and come back next year for more!
Keeley and Lindsay: It felt so good to know we had two completely capable alternates ready to step in at a moment’s notice. You were right there the whole time keeping everyone loose, managing things like hair ribbons and glitter, and keeping yourselves ready, just in case. That’s a tough role to play and you both did it with ease and joy. Thank you!
Lucy: So glad you were there and hope to have you there again next year!
Lena: So, so, so sorry the stomach flu chose to hit you Friday night. We know you felt lousy and the fact that you made it out onto the course to cheer your teammates says a lot about who you are.
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS
16 teams and 154 total finishers. 2nd place - 121 points.
General Comments: Phew! Second place with 121 points. (Just 4 points ahead of #3 St. George and 43 points behind #1 NWC Lacy). We had the second fastest team time (17:54.8 to NWCL’s 17:32.3) and a spread of only 1:09. The top four teams had the closest spreads but St. George’s team time ranked 5th out of the top five — which is exactly why we beat them. Even on an off day for us, the fact that their :22 pack is just a little slower gave us a razor thin margin of error. And that, gang, is the nature of the beast. Sporting at it’s finest! I firmly believe that you all ran your best of all possible races on the day — that we left it all out there on the course — and we were simply “that kind of team” where even a number of things could be off and we still finished second. You all were sharp and prepared. You were moving and ready to go at the start. And Lacy was lucky that we didn’t nail it. Let’s get back here again along with Manson and Tonasket and the lesser appreciated District 5-6 crowd — and show the State once again that we are a team top-to-bottom and that this podium tradition is a thing that will continue!
Walker: 16:59, 14 > 14 > 14th place, 5:13 first mile, 10:48.9 second, 5:28 pace overall
A smart and patient race. In every photo you are matching Herbierto stride-for-stride and you put yourself exactly in that podium position early — and fought for it all the way to the finish. A great new PR and the 45 sec. improvement at State — plus another year of knowledge about how this thing goes out and where we can challenge both the pace and the course — should help us to move you even further up the podium at next year’s meet. Congrats on an excellent sophomore season — which now ranks you right behind Liam Daily, Eli, and Ben in terms of the Liberty Bell record books — and have a great ski season!
Eli: 17:02, 11 > 12 > 15th place, 5:10 first mile, 10:44.9 second, 5:29 pace overall
Similar to Walker — but in the more workhorse/set-the-pace kind of roll — you found the podium sweet spot and did a TON of work out there in holding serve and keeping you and Walker in the mix to the end. Interestingly enough, EVERYONE in the top 16 at the mile was also in the top 16 at the end. NO one cracked it by going out easier — and you totally ran the race that needed to be run! Please note as well, you were closer to 12th than 16th, and that in beating Eli Engledow (Asotin) and Gavin Merrit (17th from Tekoa-Rosalia) you also soundly turned the tables on the two finishers immediately ahead of you at last spring’s state track meet 3200m :) Congratulations Eli, on a fine XC career here at Liberty Bell High School, and we’re definitely going to miss you in 2018!
Ian: 17:26.6, 26 > 25 > 24th place, 5:25 first mile, 11:08.6 second, 5:37 pace overall
The 3rd fastest freshman in the state behind Justin Peck from Trout Lake and an Easton Pomrankey from Kettle Falls. And you finished your season just like you started it - amazingly consistent, unflappable, and FAST! Your “pack” in that race was the ultimately the lynchpin for so many things regarding team scores etc., and your ability to hang with that group and to beat St. George’s #1 runner right at the line was super important to our razor thin margin between 2nd and 3rd. Your race was terrific, and I hope you can sense now too how much closer we would have made this thing if Emerson was feeling himself and running with you step-for-step like the last two weeks. SO many great things to build upon for good years ahead. Congrats on a really fine freshman year and three cheers for snow and the ski season to come!
Travis: 18:02.9, 52 > 41 > 49th place, 5:34 first mile, 11:21.8 second, 5:48 pace overall
9th freshman in the state and actually just 2 seconds back of Trout Lake’s Gabe Harpe - who you beat to the line at Districts. Considering how you felt at times - this was an awesome race! Not perfect for sure, but you never gave up and on will power alone helped us so incredibly much as a team. The perfect individual race and huge new PRs will come in future seasons - but with four total 5ks right in the ballpark of 18 minutes, and some super consistent racing over the last month esp. - this has been a freshman season full of success. Congratulations and like Ian and many others, we can wait to watch you ski!
Emerson: 18:09.2, 29 > 38 > 60th place, 5:25 first mile, 11:19.8 second, 5:50 pace overall
Chalk it up. Chalk it up. You finish exactly tied with NWCL’s 6th man — and they got extremely lucky that you were not 100%. This was purely a guts race on your part after the first mile and you are totally right there with Ian on any other week. Your tenacity kept us in that 2nd overall spot on the podium for sure. Not the ideal, I know, but you learned a TON this season about the rhythm of 5k racing and that was not what you were fighting out there at all. Thanks for a great season, Emerson. We’re back again next year with a vengeance… and the track season looms in the not too distant future. It’s going to be fun watching you burn up the turns!
Lazo: 18:44.1, 94th place, 5:46 first mile (103rd), 11:56.5 (99th), 6:02 pace overall
A huge congrats on your State meet performance and a PR and SR too if your throw Oroville out — which we certainly do :) Thank you again for your dedication to this team and for your ability to flex and adapt to the alternate roll and eventual call into service for State. And you ran terrific! Classic Lazo with a State meet twist. Not quite so easy to make up places with a faster start like that, but you did! You were also the 3rd best 6th man on the day (behind NWCL and Asotin) and the 5th man on any team beyond the top 5 (and closing in on 4th in many cases.) Already looking forward to what this team can do with so much excellent senior leadership in 2018!
Simon: 18:59.1,107th place, 5:40 first mile (80th), 11:57.2 (100th), 6:07 pace overall
Sub-19 again for the 4th time this season — which is amazing since it never happened once in 2016! Still ahead of Manson’s and St. Georges’s 6 plus just steps behind Tonasket’s 5th and better then the no. 5 runners for the next 9 teams at the meet. You, like Emerson and Travis, have something great to build on for 2018 and your experience this year — and this whole season in fact — is just what this team is about. SO much growth for you in the last three years and awesome to have you racing at State. As I’ve said already to Emerson, Lazo and Nick, I really can’t wait to see what this team can do with so much excellent senior leadership and experience in 2018. Congrats again and looking forward to watching some winter hoops!
Cade: DNR, sick.
The skipping photo above is the most relaxed and Cade-like that we’ve seen you in the last three weeks. So sorry that things compounded the way that they did, but a total pleasure to have you on this team the last three years and your impact - your attention to detail and your willingness to learn and push yourself as an athlete - has been quietly profound. Races and seasons hardly ever go exactly right — but the connections we form and the people matter more in the long run then any of the times of accolades. Awesome to suck you into this sport for three short years, and we will miss you greatly in 2018!
Nick: Second alternate.
As we’ve said many times — such an impressive first season of XC! You’ve been a terrific influence on this team and will be critical to our challenge for more again at Pasco 2018 :) You pushed Simon. You pushed Lazo. You pushed Emerson last season on the track and you embraced this sport with earnest desire and a will to improve. Simon and Lazo both dropped literally minutes from their times between their 9th and 10th grade seasons — and then again large chunks this junior year. 17 minute marks are definitely in your future for 2018 — and with a little taste of that that looks and feels like — we truly hope that you’ll be back for more!
Tim & Peter: Tim, your five-year contribution to this team has been nothing short of excellent. You are dedicated, hard-working, and one of the best teammates in this group. And Peter, it would be incredible to have you and Emerson, Lazo, Simon, and Nick back on the line at State next year as an awesome crew of strong and experienced senior runners. We CAN take that trophy from the likes of NWCL and we have all of the necessary ingredients to do it! Really happy to have you guys along for the ride and thank so much for supporting your teammates at the meet and all season long.
Eden: 21:40, 2nd place :) 3:00 1st 800m, 6:40 first mile, 6:48 pace overall
Congrats Eden on your state meet course time trial and a 13 second PR to end the year. Thanks so much for joining in the annual TT tradition and thanks even more for giving this sport a try when the neck injury just wasn’t working out with football. SO great to have you out and your enthusiasm for the team and genuine, earnest work ethic and perspective was appreciated top to bottom. You will be missed next year as well, and I can’t even imagine where we’d be if you had rolled right into this running thing during freshman year!
** NEXT YEAR ** NW Christian Lacey (1st) loses no one to graduation… but they were vulnerable and they will be again! St. George’s (3rd) loses two seniors from their :22 spread pack of five, and returns four 11th and a 9th grade. Asotin (4th) loses one senior (6th man) and returns four 11th and one 10th grade. Manson (5th) loses Herbierto, but returns three 10th and three 9th grade. And finally Tonasket (8th) will return four 11th and one 9th grade. We return three juniors, a sophomore and two ninth graders from this most excellent crew — but with two more state-caliber juniors waiting in the wings the pieces are definitely there to compete.
That being said, after last year I thought that Mary Walker would be tough with five returning seniors. It turns out — not so much. They never really made it happen and actually had six seniors racing at State - finishing 22, 40, 72, 88, 104, 125, and 151 in the scoring respectively. UGH! Our meet was a wee little bit rough in comparison — but still. You’ve got to bring it — and we usually do. Let’s take a break and get excited about the winter sports and spring-into-summer variety of activities that keep us fresh and lively. We CAN make a run at this again next season and you’ll be hearing from us again in the spring will all of our usual love and general positivity :)
Thanks gain to all of the kids, parents, bus drivers, and administrators that make this possible. August 2018 anyone? And bring your friends! We truly hope that the answer is a resounding ‘YES!’
