Sehome Invitational - Gear Up Sports Northwest Preview
Location: Civic Stadium in Bellingham
Date: 9.14.19
Race Details: 2 mile course, 2 one-mile loops, some flats (including track), a long downhill, and good uphill section. Weather was damp but not raining. Course was especially slick and muddy in places given recent rains. Races run were mostly by grade/gender, led off by a huge field in a JV Boys race.
Overall: What an awesome first meet - we definitely kicked the season off well. With only one coach present, the runners were terrifically responsible - making sure they were warmed up and ready to go on time. There was also really impressive team support, with a ton of cheering and great sportsmanship at the starting line. The course was running slow, given the slick conditions and the fact that there were 250 more runners in years past - and some of the races were really crowded! But, our athletes ran great and for the most part found their running space and stayed calm in the chaos. There were 44 teams present - almost all of them were large 2A, 3A, and 4A schools - so our performances are really really solid! Big thanks to parent Hanz Scholz who took all the mile splits for me!
Girls Overall: 7th place out of 36 teams (all much bigger than us!). We may be a little smaller team than in recent years but we are a tight and mighty one! I loved how much pack running you all did, finding strength in running with the people you train with. I also loved our grit - you all ran tough second laps. You were awesome supporters of each other and you each gave us your best for the morning. We learned some things, too:
1.) we need to start our complex pre-race preparations earlier (hair braiding, glitter, foot goals, etc. - they are important but they take time!)
2.) we CAN do hard things. We do them all the time and we just proved we could again, whether that was overcoming nerves, fighting through going out hard, taking in our first race, or setting a personal course record.
And 3.) we are a totally tough TEAM - our top 5 had a spread of only 46 seconds and our next runners set HUGE PRs on this course and showed they are ready to race. We were the 7th best team on the day and literally almost every school above has an enrollment at least 4 times larger than us! Every runner on this team matters and if we stick together, we’ll do great things!
FRESHMAN GIRLS: 111 finishers.
Stella: 11th place. 13:59. 6:52 first mile, 7:05 second mile.
You ran such a terrific first race - especially given that you had to stand on that first-ever high school start line all alone. You were patient and moved up steadily, especially on the second loop. Your mile splits are very close to even - which is what world class cross country runners strive for. Yes, we can try going out a little faster, but your instincts are good. Now that you’ve got your first high school race in the books, you know you can do it. You’ll get to toe the line with teammates from here on out, and I suspect your nerves will calm and you’ll be feeling good the whole way!
SOPHOMORE GIRLS: 102 finishers.
Jori: 9th place. 13:26. 6:33 first mile. 6:53 second mile.
You are picking right up from last year. You quickly got into that speedy Jori rhythm and then your motor just kept at it the whole way. You’ve got terrific endurance and such a strong racing mindset. I know your stomach didn’t feel great but you didn’t give up. Let’s get that hip looked at ASAP so we can keep you on track for a big season! And next time, I get to take your picture at awards :)
Ayeanna: 44th place. 15:27. 7:38 first mile. 7:49 second mile.
Yes, it’s true! You just ran more than 1:30 faster than last year on this course. That’s insane -and almost unbelievable except that you and Payten both made similar leaps and bounds - and undoubtedly helped each other get there. You should be feeling so good - you ran smart, held strong through the second loop and were racing the whole way. You are going to need to re-set your expectations for yourself as a racer, because you showed that you are here to own it this year.
Payten: 47th place. 15:42. 7:38 first mile. 8:04 second mile.
You wore your confidence well today. On the starting line you didn’t look afraid or nervous, just ready to go. And from the moment you took off, you were running like a racer. Congratulations on a huge first race and good for you for working with Ayeanna to find inspiration from each other. As the season progresses, that 2nd half is going to feel even better and you’ll be setting personal bests right and left!
Lydia: DNF. 8:24 first mile.
You took your first step toward your goal and we celebrate that! That was a huge, new scene to take in but you did and you got yourself to the start line ready to go with your team. You ran an 8:24 for the mile - so much faster and farther than your 800 time trial. All of these things are signs of good things to come. We’ll keep working together to figure out how to ensure you stay calm with even breathing throughout and we’re confident we’ll get to that finish line in the future!
JUNIOR GIRLS: 109 finishers. We had a scoring team of 5 runners in this race and we finished 3rd!!!!!! That’s awesome!
Keeley: 9th place. 13:29. 6:29 first mile. 7:00 second mile.
So fun to watch you race with confidence and know-how. You looked strong out there and you moved up well through the race. It was out quick, for sure, but I loved how you stayed tough when it hurt in the second lap. This was a 21 second PR over last year here and almost a minute faster than freshman year - a great example of how sticking with it and working hard pays off. Congrats on a great opener!
Liv: 11th place. 13:37. 6:28 first mile. 7:09 second mile.
I am so pleased with this first race - and hope you are too. We learned good things: 1.) you do know how to hang tough. You were out fast and then it got hard there in the middle but mentally you stayed with it and you didn’t give up. That means so much! 2.) You’ve got speed. That was a monster kick (and probably fun!). We’ll figure out how to make use of that speed with some good surges in mid-race and you’ll find that makes a difference. 3.) You overcame your nerves, got to that line, and you raced hard. All awesome things!
Lena: 38th place. 15:02. 7:18 first mile. 7:44 second mile.
A terrific end to a very busy week for you. That was an 18 second improvement over this course last year! You got out in good position and had your mental game in the race the whole way. You’ll start to close the gap on that first and second halves after a few weeks of solid training. You’ve got everything you need to have a great season. Believe it.
Lindsay: 41st place. 15:10. 7:17 first mile. 7:53 second mile.
Excellent! So great to start junior year with a 15 second course PR and the sense that it felt good. I loved seeing you, Lena, and Annika packed up and I bet the power of the team helped fuel you. You looked peppy out there and especially coming through after the mile you were running strong and with quick feet. Thanks, too, for being a terrific captain and helping make sure everyone got where they needed to be!
Annika: 42nd place. 15:14. 7:18 first mile. 7:56 second mile.
It was so exciting to see you pack it up with Lena and Lindsay. That showed confidence and grit and we love both of those things. You went out for your first mile in 7:18....for your one mile time trial last week you ran 7:35. And, you still held it together for a totally solid second mile. That’s awesome progress and I’m pretty sure you’re just getting started!
SENIOR WOMEN: 98 finishers.
Gretta: 15th place. 13:13. 6:14 first mile. 6:59 second mile.
So glad to see you again in that mean green uniform! Of course, the first race back is going to feel like a shock to the system but there is a lot here to work with and feel good about. First, you were fast. 13:13 is totally solid. Just like old times, you were right there with Rosie Kirker! Second, you were willing to get out. That race went out exceptionally fast, with Naomi pushing it. I love that you put yourself in the mix. Going out that fast will start to feel better each week as your body re-adjusts to racing. And, third, you showed your usual Gretta Grit and kept your form and your drive through the second loop. We know to never bet against that grit! Congrats on your last first race and leading your team to such a solid performance!
Boys Overall: 20th out of 38 scoring teams. A very promising start to the season. Remember, almost every school at this meet is MUCH larger than us. You were far and away the best performing 1B/2B School there. Last year, we had only 1 runner under 12 minutes here. This year we had 4. That’s a big improvement. As a coach, I appreciate how you each went after it at there— no one seemed intimidated or shy. I also liked the team spirit — your cheer may be short and less flashy than the girls, but you did it with conviction and you did it together and that’s going to be key for your season. You’ll get to state if you run as a team! Lots of good things happened this weekend to build your belief in that.
JUNIOR VARSITY BOYS: 223 finishers.
Kieran: 52nd place. 14:22. 6:58 first mile. 7:24 second mile. For someone who I know wasn’t entirely sure you wanted to do this this year, you sure busted out on this race big time. Last year you ran 15:13 here, almost a minute slower than this year. That’s ridiculously huge! You also finished in the top quarter of a very competitive race. Plus, you provided one of my favorite moments of the day, when you let me know that you and Eli wanted to double up and hop in the sophomore boys race. Love it!
Eli: 70th place. 14:32. 7:07 first mile. 7:26 second mile.
For someone running with a cold and really not feeling so hot before the race started, you gutted out a tough one. You were only a few seconds slower than last year—and in last year’s race report we noted that you looked “loose and easy.” So, to be so close when you felt decidedly not loose and easy should be a bit of a boost. Rest up and once you are feeling better your workouts will kick in and you’ll see the season progression you want.
Kellen: 122nd place. 15:18. 7:37 first mile. 7:41 second mile. You win the prize for the most consistent first and second miles on the day for boys and girls. That’s impressive to do in your first ever high school race, especially one this large, where the temptation is to go out too hard. Great job resisting that and even better job staying so tough in the second lap. You were also in the top 54% of that very competitive big school race so that should be a confidence builder too!
FRESHMAN BOYS: 154 finishers. 6th team out of 15 complete teams (had to have 5 runners). The only teams in front of you are big schools with long-traditions of awesome cross country. This is an amazing team result!
Isaiah: 8th place. 11:28. 5:32 first mile. 5:56 second mile.
Thank you! You totally kept it patient there at the beginning and you were able to use the first half mile to find your place. Then you just locked in and held so steady. This was excellent, smart racing! I hope it give you great confidence to know that you can move up in a race. That first half/second half time gap is going to close as we move through the season and you get more workouts in on those legs. Just keep being patient...this is going to turn out great! Top 10 was the goal on the day and you did it!
Graham: 17th place. 11:57. 5:49 first mile. 6:08 second mile.
On the bus we talked about aiming for top 20. You were excited but slightly skeptical it seemed...but then, look at that, a very impressive 17th. And, under 12 minutes. You looked so solid coming through after the mile — you had quick feet, good arm carriage, and your eyes were locked in ahead. That is everything we want to see! Congrats on a statement-making first high school race.
Carter: 34th place. 12:19. 5:57 first mile. 6:22 second mile.
You joked with me at the beginning wondering why you are doing this....but it is clear from this result that you are doing this because you can run fast and you like to race. You put yourself in the mix from the beginning, running a faster first mile than you ran in the one mile time trial a week ago. You had to dig deep in the second loop, but you did and you will only get stronger and faster over the second half as the season continues.
Tristan: 85th place. 13:19. 6:31 first mile. 6:48 second mile.
That pesky side stitch that came up on you at the end may have been the last memory you have of the race, but it should not be the lasting memory you keep. This was such a terrific first high school race. You were smart at the start and until that side stitch reared its ugly head, you were running a completely solid, almost even paced second lap. That’s really good! Give yourself a few more workouts and those side stitches will be gone.
Jackson: 105th place. 13:45. 6:45 first mile. 7:00 second mile.
You are well on your way to a great freshman season. I appreciate how much maturity you showed in this race. You settled in found your racing group and then got to work. You contributed significantly to the Freshman team score. As the weeks go on, you’ll be able to take it out a little harder and know you’ve got the confidence and endurance to hold steady. You are going to be stronger every week.
JUNIOR BOYS: 147 finishers.
Travis: 11th place. 11:13. 5:20 first mile. 5:53 second mile.
Great job showing your grit in that second loop. You were out a little fast and with just a touch more restraint in the first mile, you will feel so much better in the second. But, your endurance and race experience held on for you and you ran 37 seconds faster than on this course freshman year. That’s a sign of lots of things — you are stronger, you’ve got more race-experience, and you know how to hurt.
Ian: 22nd place. 11:24. 5:27 first mile. 5:57 second mile.
Welcome back to Liberty Bell...we’re really glad to have you not only as a fast runner but also as a captain and I thank you (and Travis) for helping set such a good tone for the boy’s team at this race. You are just getting back into the feel of racing and running and you went out really hard, so it’s no wonder the second loop felt tough. But, you kept at it and once you settled in, you were really steady. I guarantee every week is going to feel better. Your stride looked smooth and easy and you’ll be ripping up the second half in no time.
Oliver: 86th place. 12:36. 5:53 first mile. 6:43 second mile.
That was a quick first mile — in fact, it was 12 seconds faster than your time trial mile. So, it’s actually pretty heroically impressive that you kept it together as well as you did in the second loop. As you noted after the race, it is a sign of good things to come...and I totally agree. We’ll try to dial in a more even pace next week and you’ll feel better and be able to have the psychological boost of moving up in the race. You’ve been awesome the last three weeks always being willing to do everything we throw your way and that will start to pay off big in the next few weeks. Thanks for joining us!
Great job showing your grit in that second loop. You were out a little fast and with just a touch more restraint in the first mile, you will feel so much better in the second. But, your endurance and race experience held on for you and you ran 37 seconds faster than on this course freshman year. That’s a sign of lots of things — you are stronger, you’ve got more race-experience, and you know how to hurt.
Ian: 22nd place. 11:24. 5:27 first mile. 5:57 second mile.
Welcome back to Liberty Bell...we’re really glad to have you not only as a fast runner but also as a captain and I thank you (and Travis) for helping set such a good tone for the boy’s team at this race. You are just getting back into the feel of racing and running and you went out really hard, so it’s no wonder the second loop felt tough. But, you kept at it and once you settled in, you were really steady. I guarantee every week is going to feel better. Your stride looked smooth and easy and you’ll be ripping up the second half in no time.
Oliver: 86th place. 12:36. 5:53 first mile. 6:43 second mile.
That was a quick first mile — in fact, it was 12 seconds faster than your time trial mile. So, it’s actually pretty heroically impressive that you kept it together as well as you did in the second loop. As you noted after the race, it is a sign of good things to come...and I totally agree. We’ll try to dial in a more even pace next week and you’ll feel better and be able to have the psychological boost of moving up in the race. You’ve been awesome the last three weeks always being willing to do everything we throw your way and that will start to pay off big in the next few weeks. Thanks for joining us!
