OROVILLE INVITE
Date: 10.18. 2019 Results Link!
GENERAL NOTES:
This was not a particularly fast course, what with the wind, the cold, the weird side hills and the brief stint running along the lakeshore. Nevertheless, you all had great races and showed that you can run tough! Most of you were able to run with someone for at least part of the race, and even if you weren’t, you were able to keep moving at your pace and catch up to runners ahead of you. I still don’t know why the start took so long, but that does happen sometimes. I want to say that you all handled it very well! We are really in a great spot going in to our League Championships!
I calculated averages with my assumption that the course was more like 1.4 miles, not the 1.5 as was advertised. Unfortunately that means your average listed is slower than you might like. I also have your finishing places, should you want to see them. The boys scored 22 points, with second place Okanogan coming in at 82 points.
7th GRADE GIRLS
Marta: 6:56 at one mile, 9:52 finishing time, 7:02 average
You went out a little bit slower this time than at Omak, but that’s to be expected. You did a good job of running with a group turning into the wind after the beach, and stayed with Kyler all the way through the first mile (until he put on a little burst of speed). Next time, see if you can put in a bit of extra energy to keep moving up with your team mate. It’ll be tough in the moment, but it will feel easier going through the rest of the course. Your arms and knees look very good while you run, and it sounds like you’re very ready for Saturday!
Zoe: 8:28 at one mile, 11:57 finishing time, 8:32 average
You went out fairly quickly (certainly not your fastest mile, but still quick), but you were able to hold your pace which is an excellent sign, especially as the competition started to spread out. And then you were able to kick it in at the finish! Something that I think will help you going down the stretch is to use a little burst of energy to remain in contact with the person ahead of you so that it’s easier to run the rest of the race. While you make that quick move, think about keeping your shoulders and arms swinging forwards and backwards, and don’t let them freeze up!
7th GRADE BOYS
Dexter: 5:43 at one mile, 8:06 finishing time, 5:47 average
More so than Will, you had to do some running from behind in this race which showed just how strong you can stay. Despite not being in the lead pack after the beach, you were able to close the gap and eventually overtake those competitors. Excellent job! This was a bit of a slower start for you, but you did a good job of holding your pace and turning it on at the end to maintain your position. One thing to keep in mind while you run is to try to keep your arms from coming across your body when running on the flats.
Mac: 5:45 at one mile, 8:11 finishing time, 5:50 average
I know you missed a few practices, including some speed workout days, and maybe you didn’t totally feel 100%, but you still were able to run a fantastic race! You also had a bit of a gap to close, but running with Dexter always seems to help and you two were able to make up the distance nicely by the mile. Our next step, which has really been the same the whole time, is to keep thinking about holding on to Dexter, every time he starts to move you have to think about going with him no matter how tired you feel!
Bradyn: 5:57 at one mile, 8:38 finishing time, 6:10 average
You got off to a fairly quick first mile, about on par with Omak actually. And that was despite the fact that there was a sizeable gap in front of you for a good portion of the race, so you did a great job of staying internal! You always do a really good job of keeping your head up and staying calm while you run, and it showed on Friday. The one thing I can point out is that sometimes your arms come across your body like you’re windmilling but when you’re on a flat.
Tristan: 6:12 at one mile, 8:58 finishing time, 6:24 average
You had a pretty fast first mile considering the course, and I think that maybe your fast first mile coupled with the fact that there was a pretty large gap in front of you meant that it was difficult to maintain your pace through the end of the race. That’s totally ok! It definitely happens when there aren’t many runners to try to catch. You still looked like you were very focused and were concentrating internally to keep motivating yourself which is excellent!
Damon: 6:37 at one mile, 9:23 finishing time, 6:42 average
You did a great job of coming into the race with a goal, and then going out and crushing that goal! When you came by the mile, you were leading a pack, which I don’t think is something you’ve done very much. It’s totally different when you’re setting the pace. One thing to think about for Saturday is to keep your body from swaying side to side. Just think about keeping your momentum going forward!
Sam: 6:39 at one mile, 9:26 finishing time, 6:44 average
You were running most of that race in a large pack, which I think worked to your advantage because you were able to hold you pace really well through the last leg of the course. You put on some nice little bursts to make up some time which is excellent, and you looked super smooth while you were doing it. And again, all of this is while wearing the cast!
Raiff: 6:45 at one mile, 9:33 finishing time, 6:49 average
You looked super smooth during this race, and like you were very comfortable with how you were running, which is great! You also ran a good portion of the race in a pack, which meant you were able to hold your pace as well through the finish, all while tracking down Ayla over the course. I think that Friday was just another example of how you’ve been improving over the season!
Kaden: 8:11 at one mile, 11:37 finishing time, 8:18 average
While this race was a slower start than at Omak, you still got out to a very quick first mile, and then did a pretty good job of holding your pace for the last bit of the race. We only have one more race, and I think you might want to try to run with Conrad for as long as you can on Saturday, because you both seem to push each other quite a bit! Also, remember to keep your arms swinging forward all the way, and not losing momentum because they stop at your sides.
Malloch: 9:42 at one mile, 14:15 finishing time, 10:10 average
You had a fairly quick first mile, especially considering the conditions at Oroville. What’s even more impressive is that you were able to accomplish that while mostly running by yourself, so very well done! I really enjoy watching you run and videoing you, because every single time I’ve done it I catch you (in a super chill way) glance over at me! I’m glad you’re able to run so relaxed! One thing to remember is to keep picking up your knees so that your stride is a run and not a shuffle!
8th GRADE RESULTS
BOYS - 1.5 miles - 68 finishers
Will - 1st place, 8:00 finishing time, 5:39 at one mile, Pace: 5:20
A very impressive and composed race. You looked in control the whole way and it was fun to watch you float up the hills. You have terrific arm drive. This is a super solid time on this course — more than 44 seconds faster than you were last year here. Eli Nielsen, who was a high school state podium finisher several times, ran 8:04 here as an 8th grader...so you are in very good company. Just keep it relaxed and fun!
Aksel - 6th place, 8:20 finishing time, 5:53 at one mile, Pace: 5:33
Another super solid performance for you —just 2 seconds off your PR last week at Omak. Almost 40 seconds faster than you ran on this course last year — that’s sort of crazy to think about and hopefully helps you feel really good about how you are developing as a runner. You ran the hilly section well and hard. Remember to keep your arms driving straight back for even more efficiency. 8:20 is an excellent time on this course — you would have won the race with that time in 2018 and 2017.
Kyler - 27th place, 9:41 finishing time, 6:56 at one mile, Pace: 6:27
You had to be the fastest person out there with an ankle twice its normal size! We appreciate your positive attitude and your willingness to give it a try. And, it turns out it went pretty well. You ran almost 30 seconds faster than last year on this course — a sign that you are not only stronger physically but also mentally. Hopefully that ankle will feel much better by this coming Saturday and you’ll have a chance to finish off an excellent junior high career with a super fast one.
Landry - 30th place, 9:47 finishing time, 6:59 at one mile, Pace: 6:31
I know this one wasn’t your favorite of the season — and that’s ok. Every season has its ups and downs. It’s important to remind yourself about what worked. You kept in it the whole way and you refused to give up. You ran an excellent long downhill there at the end — with arm windmill and all. Next week you can try getting out just a bit faster and see if that helps you set that PR you are after.
Conrad - 43rd place, 11:22 finishing time, 8:07 at one mile, Pace: 7:35
Another excellent improvement! I had to check the pace calculation twice because your pace per mile was almost a minute faster than at Okanogan — and that was a big improvement race, too! I know you felt like this one hurt more but it was super fast. You are finding your running rhythm and able to sustain a great pace for the whole race without letting up. Hope you are feeling good about all the progress this season! It’s impressive.
Connor - 54th place, 12:14 finishing time, 8:30 at one mile, Pace: 8:09
You did such a great job of racing this one—not just running it but racing. Your finish was impressive and it was great to see you decide to catch people and then go for it. Your season is one of so much improvement — your time at this course was almost a minute faster than at Okanogan just a few weeks ago. This last race let’s start your kick even a little bit earlier and see if you can bring your time down even more! I think you’ve got more speed than you know!
GIRLS - 1.5 miles - 30 finishers
Ayla - 1st place, 9:31 finishing time, 6:44 at one mile, Pace: 6:21
You are doing an excellent job managing that pesky hurt knee — I can tell you are doing everything you can to take care of it and still pursue racing. This is not always easy to do! With the cold wind, sand, and angled hillsides this was not the dream course for someone nursing along an injury, but you handled it all well and found the flat moments to surge as needed. It is always fun to watch you race — every race there are these moments where you get this super determined look and you just go after it!