RACE COURSE: Bellingham Civic Stadium, 2mi. The course is fast but challenging. Outer loop (run twice) includes a long downhill on trail/grass and a challenging uphill on trail. Grass start, middle loop around inner facility ends on the track. Fun early season running. Mid 60’s and overcast. Excellent running weather!
OVERALL: An excellent first day of racing and overall successful trip across the mountains! This race was about getting out and making a race day effort. It was also a good chance to remind ourselves of how to start, how to finish, and how to keep your mental game engaged at various points throughout a race. We don’t run 2mi races all that often, but it’s also worth noting that these were PR (personal record) finishes for ALL of you today. Great job all around!
JV1: 100 Finishers - The first race of the first meet of the season! It’s a time for nerves and excitement and a whole lot of learning about racing! An excellent show by our 3 LBHS runners -- all of whom have been working hard these last three weeks and who will continue to improve each race!
Hunter: 17:58, 81st place. 1st Mile: 8:35, Overall Pace: 8:59
Congratulations! Finishing your first cross-country race is always a reason to celebrate and we sure hope you feel good and proud of this one. You navigated a big field of runners and found your race. You ran steady and with focus throughout. To have your first and second miles only about 24 seconds apart in your first try at this is great -- you showed you have patience and you understand pace. It was a joy to watch you kick into a whole different gear at the finish!!
FROSH BOYS: 87 Finishers
Tristan: 13:25.21, 58th place, 1st Mile: 6:20, Overall Pace: 6:43
Congrats on your first HS race as well Tristan. And a crowded and chaotic one at that! You did an excellent job in navigating that early crowd on the track, and it’s impressive to see you starting this race in almost the same pace as you did for the mile TT just two weeks back. SO much to learn and build on in these next few weeks. This is a terrific beginning, and if your season in any way mirrors that of other 9th graders before you, then a 13:25 at this race should have you running in the 20 to 20:30 minute range for 5k very soon.
SOPH BOYS: 101 Finishers
Aksel: 11:47.21, 24th place, 1st Mile: 5:42, Overall Pace: 5:54
A solid opening mile and comparable to your 1 mile TT. That being said, you were still running on tired legs from the week I think and you will feel better in the next couple of races. 11:47 also translates to about 18:50 for 5k, so regardless you are still ahead of where you were at this point last spring and you have MANY weeks ahead to find that racing groove that we know is in there!
SOPH GIRLS: 88 Finishers. Sandra represented our sophomore contingent-- knowing that Leki and Dashe were cheering from afar!
Sandra: 16:13.07, 51st place, 1st Mile: 8:05, Overall Pace: 8:07
Look at those mile paces -- that is the very definition of STEADY...and in about 10 seconds faster each mile than when you did the mile time trial! You’ve been working really hard at practice and that is all money in the bank that will pay off in the weeks to come. I think you are ready to go out harder. You are such a fierce competitor that I just suspect once you get in the race, you’ll just run--so let’s try setting that starting pace just a bit quicker next week and learn about what might happen!
JUNIOR BOYS: 90 Finishers, 4th place junior team w/ 89 points. Just 2 points behind Kamiak HS -- a 4A school with an enrollment of 2100 kids! ALL of you improved upon your times from 2019 and the pack/group running potential for this team as the season unfolds is awesome to consider.
Graham: 11:11.76, 12th place, 1st Mile: 5:25, Overall Pace: 5:36
Running on strength from summer biking and ski training, you are in an excellent place. Your endurance is super solid and like you already stated you just need to adapt a little to the running/speed training. Lots of time for that to happen and your own confidence as to how long and how hard you can push will grow as well. A great start! PS 46 sec. faster than freshman year.
Isaiah: 11:22.64, 15th place, 1st Mile: 5:25, Overall Pace: 5:42
An improvement upon freshman year, but even more exciting was the adjustments made mid-race to reconnect and the SO MUCH speed that you still had left for a kick at the end! Remember always that when you open up and let it roll, momentum eventually takes over. Little surges anytime you need to reset, and then start to trust that you can go from 400m or even 6-800m from the finish. Excited for this as your opener and very much looking forward to the next few weeks ahead. Let’s stay consistent with miles and just make sure that we keep getting in the work. The sky’s the limit for this team!
Carter: 11:24.18, 18th place, 1st Mile: 5:25, Overall Pace: 5:42
Another excellent start to the season and nearly a whole minute faster than freshman year. Really excited to have you and your brother back in the XC mix! You looked super comfortable and strong out there and I know that you like to race. The next couple of races you can test the limits a bit of that opening mile and it looks like you and Graham, Isaiah, Will, Dexter and Aksel will have an awesome pack to run with in these next several week of more wide open courses and slightly better sight lines. Just keep racing and being competitive out there. Great work!
Jackson: 12:06.23, 39th place, 1st Mile: 5:45,
Jori: 13:13.21, 13th place, 1st Mile: 6:25, Overall Pace: 6:37
What a nice way to start your senior year - a PR on this course. You ran 13 seconds faster than your sophomore year and two seconds faster than your freshman year - and both of those years resulted in some pretty terrific racing by November. You looked so strong and so focused from the start all the way through the finish line. And, that kick… oh my… I don’t think I’ve ever seen you kick quite like that - you’ve got some serious speed!!
Ayeanna: 15:08.49, 40th place, 1st Mile: 7:20, Overall Pace: 7:34
The epitome of senior poise, you ran this one with smarts and strength. 20 seconds faster than your sophomore year and close to 2 minutes faster than your freshman time on this course. Let that soak in for a second -- because your training this year is just getting started. I don’t think we should put any limits on what we think is possible for you by the end of the season. You are a key component of this team - as a runner and a leader - keep working hard and being a good example for us all of positive thinking!
OVERALL: An excellent first day of racing and overall successful trip across the mountains! This race was about getting out and making a race day effort. It was also a good chance to remind ourselves of how to start, how to finish, and how to keep your mental game engaged at various points throughout a race. We don’t run 2mi races all that often, but it’s also worth noting that these were PR (personal record) finishes for ALL of you today. Great job all around!
JV1: 100 Finishers - The first race of the first meet of the season! It’s a time for nerves and excitement and a whole lot of learning about racing! An excellent show by our 3 LBHS runners -- all of whom have been working hard these last three weeks and who will continue to improve each race!
Malloch: 14:59, 24th place. 1st Mile: 7:15, Overall Pace: 7:30
It was great to see you confidently move up throughout this entire race. You charged up that hill the first time and found a rhythm that just kept you rolling along. I could tell you were not just running to finish, but you were racing. You had your eyes focused ahead and you even looked like you had some fun catching people. Excellent introduction to high school racing! And, hopefully a good end to a birthday week!
Madison: 15:53, 43rd place. 1st Mile: 7:20, Overall Pace: 7:57
We so appreciate your willingness to get out strong. You put yourself in a good spot in the race and while that made the second lap hurt a bit, you were strong and you finished with a good solid kick. Keep working hard like you have been at practice and in just a few weeks that 7:20 opening mile will become your average. You are so much stronger than last season!
We so appreciate your willingness to get out strong. You put yourself in a good spot in the race and while that made the second lap hurt a bit, you were strong and you finished with a good solid kick. Keep working hard like you have been at practice and in just a few weeks that 7:20 opening mile will become your average. You are so much stronger than last season!
Hunter: 17:58, 81st place. 1st Mile: 8:35, Overall Pace: 8:59
Congratulations! Finishing your first cross-country race is always a reason to celebrate and we sure hope you feel good and proud of this one. You navigated a big field of runners and found your race. You ran steady and with focus throughout. To have your first and second miles only about 24 seconds apart in your first try at this is great -- you showed you have patience and you understand pace. It was a joy to watch you kick into a whole different gear at the finish!!
FROSH BOYS: 87 Finishers
Dexter: 10:38.44, 1st place, 1st Mile: 5:20, Overall Pace: 5:19
Tough racing! A really nice job in being confident, getting to the front, and then responding each and every time the Seattle Prep runner wanted to push you a little further. You are strong from consistent summer miles - both on your feet and on the bike - and you had the mental tenacity to keep taking the fight and throwing it right back into his corner. Not every race will be this much of a dog fight, but it was awesome to see you handle one right out of the gates. Great lift and drive in your legs even late in the race. You held form really well over that final 150m and that made all the difference. An awesome first HS race!
Tough racing! A really nice job in being confident, getting to the front, and then responding each and every time the Seattle Prep runner wanted to push you a little further. You are strong from consistent summer miles - both on your feet and on the bike - and you had the mental tenacity to keep taking the fight and throwing it right back into his corner. Not every race will be this much of a dog fight, but it was awesome to see you handle one right out of the gates. Great lift and drive in your legs even late in the race. You held form really well over that final 150m and that made all the difference. An awesome first HS race!
Tristan: 13:25.21, 58th place, 1st Mile: 6:20, Overall Pace: 6:43
Congrats on your first HS race as well Tristan. And a crowded and chaotic one at that! You did an excellent job in navigating that early crowd on the track, and it’s impressive to see you starting this race in almost the same pace as you did for the mile TT just two weeks back. SO much to learn and build on in these next few weeks. This is a terrific beginning, and if your season in any way mirrors that of other 9th graders before you, then a 13:25 at this race should have you running in the 20 to 20:30 minute range for 5k very soon.
SOPH BOYS: 101 Finishers
Will: 11:13.03, 12th place, 1st Mile: 5:30, Overall Pace: 5:37
A few seconds slower than your track PR, but about a minute faster than your Moses Lake 2mi XC race last spring and a solid showing 12th place with 10th graders from MUCH larger no-slouch programs from the west side of the state! Next week we race as a team and you can push a few relativity buttons regarding your sense of place, pace etc.. You are fit from summer miles for sure, so we can push a bit at the start and trust that you will hold. Super happy with your finishing ‘pep’ on the track at Sehome and we just need to keep moving ahead with consistent work and racing. Tons of great stuff to build on here. Keep up the good work!
A few seconds slower than your track PR, but about a minute faster than your Moses Lake 2mi XC race last spring and a solid showing 12th place with 10th graders from MUCH larger no-slouch programs from the west side of the state! Next week we race as a team and you can push a few relativity buttons regarding your sense of place, pace etc.. You are fit from summer miles for sure, so we can push a bit at the start and trust that you will hold. Super happy with your finishing ‘pep’ on the track at Sehome and we just need to keep moving ahead with consistent work and racing. Tons of great stuff to build on here. Keep up the good work!
Aksel: 11:47.21, 24th place, 1st Mile: 5:42, Overall Pace: 5:54
A solid opening mile and comparable to your 1 mile TT. That being said, you were still running on tired legs from the week I think and you will feel better in the next couple of races. 11:47 also translates to about 18:50 for 5k, so regardless you are still ahead of where you were at this point last spring and you have MANY weeks ahead to find that racing groove that we know is in there!
SOPH GIRLS: 88 Finishers. Sandra represented our sophomore contingent-- knowing that Leki and Dashe were cheering from afar!
Sandra: 16:13.07, 51st place, 1st Mile: 8:05, Overall Pace: 8:07
Look at those mile paces -- that is the very definition of STEADY...and in about 10 seconds faster each mile than when you did the mile time trial! You’ve been working really hard at practice and that is all money in the bank that will pay off in the weeks to come. I think you are ready to go out harder. You are such a fierce competitor that I just suspect once you get in the race, you’ll just run--so let’s try setting that starting pace just a bit quicker next week and learn about what might happen!
JUNIOR BOYS: 90 Finishers, 4th place junior team w/ 89 points. Just 2 points behind Kamiak HS -- a 4A school with an enrollment of 2100 kids! ALL of you improved upon your times from 2019 and the pack/group running potential for this team as the season unfolds is awesome to consider.
Graham: 11:11.76, 12th place, 1st Mile: 5:25, Overall Pace: 5:36
Running on strength from summer biking and ski training, you are in an excellent place. Your endurance is super solid and like you already stated you just need to adapt a little to the running/speed training. Lots of time for that to happen and your own confidence as to how long and how hard you can push will grow as well. A great start! PS 46 sec. faster than freshman year.
Isaiah: 11:22.64, 15th place, 1st Mile: 5:25, Overall Pace: 5:42
An improvement upon freshman year, but even more exciting was the adjustments made mid-race to reconnect and the SO MUCH speed that you still had left for a kick at the end! Remember always that when you open up and let it roll, momentum eventually takes over. Little surges anytime you need to reset, and then start to trust that you can go from 400m or even 6-800m from the finish. Excited for this as your opener and very much looking forward to the next few weeks ahead. Let’s stay consistent with miles and just make sure that we keep getting in the work. The sky’s the limit for this team!
Carter: 11:24.18, 18th place, 1st Mile: 5:25, Overall Pace: 5:42
Another excellent start to the season and nearly a whole minute faster than freshman year. Really excited to have you and your brother back in the XC mix! You looked super comfortable and strong out there and I know that you like to race. The next couple of races you can test the limits a bit of that opening mile and it looks like you and Graham, Isaiah, Will, Dexter and Aksel will have an awesome pack to run with in these next several week of more wide open courses and slightly better sight lines. Just keep racing and being competitive out there. Great work!
Jackson: 12:06.23, 39th place, 1st Mile: 5:45, Overall Pace: 6:03
Pshaw! 1:40 faster than freshman year and an opening mile faster than the TT on the track. You had a good week of practice and it carried right over to race no. 1. Give it another week or three and you will be right in that 6 min pace ballpark for the 5k distance. This team is going to be deep no matter how you slice it. Excited to have you all back in one piece and running strong!
Tristan: 12:41.83, 56th place, 1st Mile: 5:55,
Pshaw! 1:40 faster than freshman year and an opening mile faster than the TT on the track. You had a good week of practice and it carried right over to race no. 1. Give it another week or three and you will be right in that 6 min pace ballpark for the 5k distance. This team is going to be deep no matter how you slice it. Excited to have you all back in one piece and running strong!
Tristan: 12:41.83, 56th place, 1st Mile: 5:55,
Overall Pace: 6:21
Another side stitch I think but as per usual you are tough as nails and fighting through it no matter. And you showed that yet again with a final kick to the finish that was fun to watch. 40 seconds better than freshman year, plus your opening mile was just about the same as in our TT, but the race was twice as far. Another 2-3 races of adaptation to the 5k distance, but you will be dropping some serious time by Twilight. Super excited to see what this team can do!
SENIOR GIRLS: 84 Finishers -- As always, the Senior Girls start line was a composed, calm, and actually a pleasant place to be. Always a moment for me to reflect on where each of you were three years ago - I trust that each of you can sense that difference, too! Our LBHS women showed their leadership in their confident approach to racing AND reminded the 1B/2B girls across the state that, while we may not have a huge team in numbers, we have some serious depth.
Another side stitch I think but as per usual you are tough as nails and fighting through it no matter. And you showed that yet again with a final kick to the finish that was fun to watch. 40 seconds better than freshman year, plus your opening mile was just about the same as in our TT, but the race was twice as far. Another 2-3 races of adaptation to the 5k distance, but you will be dropping some serious time by Twilight. Super excited to see what this team can do!
SENIOR GIRLS: 84 Finishers -- As always, the Senior Girls start line was a composed, calm, and actually a pleasant place to be. Always a moment for me to reflect on where each of you were three years ago - I trust that each of you can sense that difference, too! Our LBHS women showed their leadership in their confident approach to racing AND reminded the 1B/2B girls across the state that, while we may not have a huge team in numbers, we have some serious depth.
Jori: 13:13.21, 13th place, 1st Mile: 6:25, Overall Pace: 6:37
What a nice way to start your senior year - a PR on this course. You ran 13 seconds faster than your sophomore year and two seconds faster than your freshman year - and both of those years resulted in some pretty terrific racing by November. You looked so strong and so focused from the start all the way through the finish line. And, that kick… oh my… I don’t think I’ve ever seen you kick quite like that - you’ve got some serious speed!!
Payten: 14:43.67, 29th place, 1st Mile: 7:12, Overall Pace: 7:22
As we’ve already discussed, this was a HUGE breakthrough - and I hope you’ll carry a whole lot of confidence with you after this race. A one minute improvement over sophomore year and a two minute improvement over freshman year - for just two miles of racing! You are just stronger and I can see your heart is all-in this season. So, keep getting that shin looked after and let’s be sure we can keep you running, because you are about to surprise yourself with just how tough you can run! (And, just for the record, your first mile was faster than your mile time trial on the track - that should make you smile).
Ayeanna: 15:08.49, 40th place, 1st Mile: 7:20, Overall Pace: 7:34
The epitome of senior poise, you ran this one with smarts and strength. 20 seconds faster than your sophomore year and close to 2 minutes faster than your freshman time on this course. Let that soak in for a second -- because your training this year is just getting started. I don’t think we should put any limits on what we think is possible for you by the end of the season. You are a key component of this team - as a runner and a leader - keep working hard and being a good example for us all of positive thinking!
