2019 State XC Championships
Location: Sun Willows Golf Course, Pasco, WA
Girls Overall: 2nd Place (106 points); (1st Place - Pope John Paul II with 96; 3rd Place - St. George’s with 145; 4th Place - Kettle Falls with 148)
I’ve been putting off writing this race report all day. I’m feeling three really strong emotions and I’m not sure if I’ll be able to capture all of them correctly on paper. The first and most powerful thing I’m feeling is pride in you all—all 12 of you. You have had to bear the burden of being on the 3 time-in-row state championship team and that’s pressure. And on Saturday, that pressure beat us — but the way you responded was the epitome of what every community should want to see in its next generation. You were graceful and kind. You showed so much class when you congratulated Pope John Paul II with sincerity and warmth — a lesson hopefully not lost on some of their parents who may have needed a reminder. You were also kind with each other—recognizing that some on our team had great days while others did not. You celebrated the joys of teammates who PR’d and podiumed and you comforted those who still aren’t quite sure how the race veered from plan. I will take grace and kindness any day over any trophy or title. I have literally never been prouder of a Liberty Bell team. You are the kind of women our world needs.
The second feeling I am recognizing is sadness — sadness that this season is now over. I will admit that there are days each season when I wonder if I can really keep coaching, trying to juggle it with my work and other commitments. But, then I have a great conversation with one of you on a run or I see your dedication to this sport and I can think of nowhere else I’d rather be on fall afternoons. I am sad that I won’t get to see each of you every day - I find you all full of interesting thoughts, ideas, and personalities and I will miss you and our time together as a team.
And, finally, I find a feeling of heartbreak off an on. Nothing overwhelming, but just a recognition that I know you wanted to defend that title and bring Harriet back to the Methow and it stings when something you worked really hard for just didn’t happen. I wish, as your coach, that I had had the magic words or pre-race pump up to help you all run to your potential because I do still believe that at our best, we are unbeatable. So, I feel that same sting you do, too. But, I have learned that those stings—they fade over time and what you are left with, what really in the end matters, is immense joy at having had the chance to be on a team that fought hard together.
It has been an honor to be on this journey with you this fall.
Gretta: 19:33, 3rd place
Congratulations on a top-3 finish to end a very accomplished LBHS XC career. You went for it and you worked hard the whole way. I know you wanted more—and I respect that about you—but I hope time will help you feel really good about a comeback senior season that was full of some pretty terrific high points. We will miss you!!!!
Jori: 20:10, 6th place
I’m never a fan of coaches using the whole Energizer bunny comparison, but oh my goodness you have this ability to just grit it out forever without stopping. That was one impressive race full of heart and confidence and just plain fortitude. You’ve had a terrific and consistent season and on Saturday you really made a statement about the future of LBHS XC. I can’t wait to see you next year!
Liv: 21:22, 30th place
You are incredibly tough. That one got hard and I know in your head it got really hard. And, yet you battled and battled and battled some more. And, you still found a pretty impressive kick up the hill and into the finish. Yes, the struggle was real but I hope you’ll give us a chance to keep working on it together because I always believe in you.
Stella: 22:08, 45th place
It’s amazing to me that you can still finish as strongly as you do when you are actively vomiting. That could not have been much fun—and I’m sorry that happened—but you were such a dedicated teammate that you just kept pushing forward. I’m glad you are ok and I’m sure glad you are on this team. We’ll keep working on nerves and finding the right foods to keep your stomach settled and I predict big PR’s next season!
Keeley: 22:12, 50th place
You had such an amazing race going through 2.25 miles. You were right where you wanted to be and you were looking smooth and strong and you were crushing those downhills that had you concerned. And, then you panicked. I know you thought you had figured that out this season—and you had—but sometimes there is still more work to do. That’s ok. We’re all a work in progress, really, and the bravery you showed to still finish is noteworthy. You are an important and beloved part of this team for many many reasons—don’t forget that ever.
Lindsay: 22:15, 51st place
Congratulations on an awesome PR. Just like last week you took it out from the starting gun and you threw caution to the wind and just went for it. And, it totally worked, again. You had a great rhythm going and you really were in a racing groove with the people around you. You kept your eyes up and ahead and you trusted your legs to do the rest. I’m so happy for you!
Lena: 22:51, 71st place
A solid State performance. You went right out with Cara Hutton from Manson and you did a great job sticking with her for a good long time. You moved up steadily throughout the race — but I still contend you can get out even more aggressively and your strength will carry you through. We’ll work on that next year and I think you’ll see that PR mark more often! Congrats on running in your first state XC meet!
Boys Overall: 8th Place (211 points). 16 teams. 154 total runners. An improvement by 39 points and 2 places over last year -- and by all measures we are headed in a VERY positive direction for the next several seasons. We graduated no one, raced three freshman (with two more VERY capable options waiting in the wings) and have an excellent crew of rising ninth graders all cued up for 2020. That being said and very factual, there was also an excellent (dare I say) “vibe” this year’s team that we really came to appreciate. Its fun having fun - as long as the coaches aren’t talking J - and finding that common ground for a posse of freshman and a few older fellahs isn’t always easy. (Credit Eli and Kieren for being right in the middle) And it’ll be really sweet in 2020 if we can field a team that runs the gamut grades 9-12. Enjoy the winter, run some when you can, and you will hear from us again with summer plans this spring!
PS If we had run four freshman, we would have been the only team that young. Only two other teams had 3 freshman running, and likewise, only two other (different) teams are in the enviable position of graduating zero seniors.
Travis: 17:03, 21st place, Overall pace: 5:29
So nice Travis! Just like last week you put yourself in play early and competed late for some valuable points and another near podium finish. Liam ran 17:03 in 2013 or 2014 and and finished 6th! In a fast field you held your own. You ran level-headed and you crushed it on that final hill. Great job all season as well with the warmups and the race day leadership. We sincerely hope that you’ll be back again for more in your senior year, and I look forward to seeing just how high we can climb on that podium with a few more pieces in play for 2020. Have a great ski season!
Ian: 17:21, 34th place, Overall pace: 5:35
Ok, so you didn’t totally bust one like I'd hoped, but you're body is still taking on a lot in the transition back and its going to click in a major way at some point soon. You did get a new PR and you hung tough through the middle part of the race. Like you said, a brief lapse in attention and that little gap opened up between you and Travis. Still, a great return to action this entire season and I’m sure that you’ve raced/run yourself into some pretty good shape for the coming ski season. Thanks as well for jumping into the captain’s role and for helping to lead such an auspicious crew of youngsters to an overall very successful year. Hoping that you’ll be back again in your senior season and I’m pretty certain that you and Travis both can set your sights on some sub-17 5k times, plus designs again on a podium finish at State.
Isaiah: 17:49, 58th place, Overall pace: 5:44
Congratulations Isaiah on such an excellent freshman XC season. Sarah and I are so pleased to be your coaches and you did an excellent job of setting aside the occasional nerves and really showed yourself to be an excellent, speedy, and reliable runner all season long. Yes, the first mile of the State meet was a tiny blip, but again your rallied and the experience is one that will help you in years to come. Your ceiling is high, and the future prospect for this team go right along with it. LOTS of fun, fast and team-oriented running to do in the next few years. I know it’s finally basketball season, but I already can’t wait for fall!
Jackson: 18:08, 73rd place, Overall pace: 5:50
Mission accomplished! 1.) you PRrd in every race this year. 2.) in doing so you nearly closed the gap on Graham’s best time of the year and got us some incredibly valuable points in that middle part of the race, and 3.) you successfully completed you freshman season of LBHS XC fashion as our 5th man at State in only your second varsity race of the year!!!!!! Such a great job of not getting rattled. So much poise and patience and guts. You just ran. You just competed. Thanks so much for being a part of this team and we’re already looking forward to next season!
(Tristan photo on the way!)
Tristan: 18:32, 101st place, Overall pace: 5:58
Part two of the dynamic Schmekel duo and you two did such an awesome job in this meet that we really didn’t skip a beat after losing Graham on race day. Your first sub-6 min 5k on a tough and hilly course in your freshman year at State? Awesome stuff! Really impressed with your consistency and grit all season long. And you are only going to get stronger and more capable in the next few years ahead. I know that basketball starts soon, but I’m already looking forward to fall to see how high this team can go!
Tristan: 18:32, 101st place, Overall pace: 5:58
Part two of the dynamic Schmekel duo and you two did such an awesome job in this meet that we really didn’t skip a beat after losing Graham on race day. Your first sub-6 min 5k on a tough and hilly course in your freshman year at State? Awesome stuff! Really impressed with your consistency and grit all season long. And you are only going to get stronger and more capable in the next few years ahead. I know that basketball starts soon, but I’m already looking forward to fall to see how high this team can go!
Oliver: 18:59, 123rd place, Overall pace: 6:07
Just like last week, you made this race for Tristan and bought us some valuable points in the middle 3rd of the race. It hurt on the hills, I know, but you handled them better then several District competitors and you finally won the battle as well over Manson’s #7 (who finished just back of Kieren in 19:09)! Congratulations on an excellent season, your first State meet, and your first year of Liberty Bell XC. We sincerely hope that you and your family are here to stay and that we can get you back out next fall. Have a great ski season (with plenty of XC fitness to get you started) and we’ll see you on the trails sooner than later!
Kieren: 19:03, 134th place, Overall pace: 6:08
Without a doubt, an even more awesome race then your “throw down” at Districts! Out in 5:52 and you just held strong! We so appreciate as well your willingness to jump right in at the last minute. No visible rattle. No worries. Something clicked this season and your last three races have just been ON. Thanks as well for keeping things loose and for upping the Spikeball game to PRO. I know that sometimes I could seem a little annoyed with all of the ballin’ but it kept you guys loose and it really does look like a lot of fun J Congrats on a great sophomore season and I can’t wait to see what more you can do in the junior year.
***
Date: 11.8.19
Liam: 5:32 at one mile, 11:22 at two miles, 17:56 finishing time, 5:47 average
You definitely got off the line well, and did a good job finding your stride in the first half mile to set yourself up for a quick first mile time. On the long downhills you really lengthened out and stayed calm around the corners, working the hills all the way through the half way mark. It looked like you definitely slowed down a bit on the long straightaway up the hill, which is definitely understandable since you were running by yourself, but it definitely cost you a bit of time on your second mile. On your third mile it looked like you were really struggling at parts, with your stride getting a bit uneven and, dare I say, lethargic even. But you kept your eyes up on Carter, which I think helped pull you along through the parts of the course where you needed to engage, and despite your mile being a bit slow, you were able to rally for the finish. You did a better job of warming up this time, but it looked like maybe you hadn’t set a very definitive race plan, or at least you didn’t quite stick to the plan you had set. All of this is stuff to work on next year!
Liam: 5:32 at one mile, 11:22 at two miles, 17:56 finishing time, 5:47 average
You definitely got off the line well, and did a good job finding your stride in the first half mile to set yourself up for a quick first mile time. On the long downhills you really lengthened out and stayed calm around the corners, working the hills all the way through the half way mark. It looked like you definitely slowed down a bit on the long straightaway up the hill, which is definitely understandable since you were running by yourself, but it definitely cost you a bit of time on your second mile. On your third mile it looked like you were really struggling at parts, with your stride getting a bit uneven and, dare I say, lethargic even. But you kept your eyes up on Carter, which I think helped pull you along through the parts of the course where you needed to engage, and despite your mile being a bit slow, you were able to rally for the finish. You did a better job of warming up this time, but it looked like maybe you hadn’t set a very definitive race plan, or at least you didn’t quite stick to the plan you had set. All of this is stuff to work on next year!
Erik: 5:53 mile, 6:04 second mile, 6:09 third mile, 18:40 finishing time, 6:00 average
You surprised us a bit by actually warming up before this years TT. That walk/jog with the team plus a little extra stretching and some buildups at the start are decidedly more than your usual pre-TT approach... and apparently it makes a difference! You felt WAY better than expected over that first 800m and took the sub-6 initial mile in relatively good sprits. Carter and Liam pulled away from you pretty quick, but that was predictable and thusly didn't freak you out. There was a certain aged confidence in your pace and those occasional 4-6 x 2:57 800m Tempo workouts have been at least a little helpful - even it you're not running quite as much as you might like. The second mile unfolded just about as expected, with that long straight away after 1.5 taking some concentration, but the first ascent to 2mi not really seeming all that bad. Great downhills for recovery and a reset of the tempo, but important to keep on rolling. At this point you could see that Liam wasn't pulling that much farther ahead, plus a few other time trialers on the course gave you people to chase. You didn't catch anyone -- well maybe one (it's hard to remember) -- but even just that little bit of extra engagement in that final mile was a huge help towards pushing through to the finish. It was also awesome to know that your 2mi split just 11 seconds slower than the first, and even better the 3rd mile (which did feel harder and take more work for sure) just 5 seconds slower than the second! All-in-all some great take-aways to share with the team. Run through those ups and around all of those corners. The new course is pretty fun, and looking forward to watching you crush it again in 2020!
