RACE COURSE: 5k. Sun Willows Golf Course. A rolling golf course terrain with firm fairway footing and a ton of good atmosphere and State Meet vibes. The quieter, opening mile is followed by a second and third mile loop and a long downhill finish into the shute. Mid 40’s and humid/damp at 8:30 but the weather improved by the hour. Great racing conditions for both and even more clearing and mid-50 degree temps for lunch at the end :)
VARSITY GIRLS: 77 Finishers. Second place team with 59 points! PJP2 1st: 46, St. George’s 3rd: 89, Garfield-Palouse 4th: 102
OVERALL: Well, I’d say you surprised quite a few people out there--perhaps even a few of you! What a great day. Excellent, patient racing, and a real focus on just having fun and seeing what we could do. You each gave everything you could in this one and it paid off big time with an outstanding 2nd place overall. How did we go from tentatively wondering if we could qualify for state as a team to standing together on that podium holding the runner’s up trophy? We worked hard, we trusted each other, and we took all the pressure off and remembered it’s just fun to run. What a pleasure to coach each of you. Congratulations on a really remarkable season.
Leki: 19:40.4, PR, 2nd place. 1st mi: 6:15 (5), 2nd mi: 12:44 (3), Overall pace: 6:20
A truly brilliant race--you did everything you needed to do to set up a decisive 2nd place and a big PR. Nice job getting out just fast enough to keep up with the pulse of what was happening, but not so crazy fast that you couldn’t push that second mile. Which you did. It was so great to see you pump up those little hills by the tree and make things happen. And in mile 3, you just dug down deep and kept the pressure on. It was simply a thing of beauty to watch all your hard work and dedication come together on this day.
Jori: 20:34, 7th place. 1st mi: 6:18 (8), 2nd mi: 13:05 (7), Overall pace: 6:37
You’ve entered a very small group of Lady Lions who podiumed each year of their high school racing career. That says so much about you as an athlete -- to stay healthy enough, inspired enough, and frankly gutsy enough to reach that level every year is a testament to your strength, hard work, and racing bravery. And, on this day, you brought all of those traits plus some super senior powers to the line and once again you raced smart and hard every step of the way. Things got stretched out there in the last mile, but you kept your own tempo going and held on strong. Congratulations on a super solid LBHS running career. Can’t wait to hear about your skiing successes this year and beyond!
Dashe: 21:02, 11th place. 1st mi: 6:26 (16), 2nd mi: 13:18 (9), Overall pace: 6:46
I don’t think I can describe in words how excited I was to watch you run this race. So well done. You were patient at the start and got out into just the right spot and then you moved up so well between mile one and two. You looked in charge and confident as you just kept passing people one at a time. I’m not sure what it felt like in your head and body, but it sure looked like you found a rhythm and you just let yourself be with the race. I know you are looking forward to turning in those running shoes for some ski boots -- and I look forward to having you speed past me on the trails soon -- AND I hope you’ll want to come back out again. You are a pleasure to coach and so much fun to have on the team!
Payten: 21:41, PR, 23rd place. 1st mi: 6:52 (35), 2nd mi: 14:02 (27) , Overall pace: 6:59
Let’s consider your journey. Freshman year you never broke 25 minutes for 5K and, if my memory serves, you did more observing than participating in team activities. Fast forward 3 years. Now you are finishing in the top 25 at State, running as the 4th runner on the 2nd place team, running more than a minute per mile faster, AND playing a crucial role in giving this small but mighty team a positive mindset. I’m absolutely convinced that your enthusiasm for this race and this course on Friday’s walk through set the stage for all the goodness that followed for everyone on your team. Thank you. What an honor to get to be a part of your emergence.
Ayeanna: 23:01, 42nd place, 1st mi: 7:12 (46), 2nd mi: 14:51 (44), Overall pace: 7:24
One of my favorite lasting memories of this very memorable day is watching you run up to your parents and Grandma as we arrived at the course and then watching you find them at the finish, after you had just run a really excellent State race. Both times, you were simply joyful. That so sums up what you bring to this team. No longer an uncertain freshman, you showed up aware of the challenge ahead and totally ready to face it head on. You soaked in every bit of coaching and teammate wisdom you could and then you ran so smart and calm and steady and fast. While, selfishly, I wish I had another year to coach you (because I think you are just finding your XC racing confidence), I know you have a whole world waiting for you -- and what a lucky world it will be to benefit from your kindness, wisdom, and joy. May you always remember what you accomplished this season, and may it inspire you to always reach for more than you might first think you are capable of.
Sandra: 25:06, 61st place, 1st mi: 8:02 (70), 2nd mi: 16:21 (69), Overall pace: 8:05
If I had a magic wand that I could use on only one runner at State, I would wave it over your leg and give you the chance to have run the race we all know you could have had. I’m so sorry that the district race left you hurting. It’s just plain unfair. You were poised for a sub 23:30 performance for sure. Nevertheless, you refused to be deterred by your pain and you ran one very gutsy race out there. You still moved up 9 places throughout the race and you still found your classic fast finish. Thank you for your perseverance and for being on this team. You absolutely earned your share of that 2nd place trophy. Can’t wait to see what you do on that course next year!
Zoe: 25:08, 63rd place, 1st mi: 8:15 (73), 2nd mi: 16:38 (70) Overall pace: 8:05
There are so many good things to say about this race. Your first time at State and you didn’t let the hype rattle you at all. You greeted the inevitable nerves and then tucked them aside to run your race. You moved up 10 spots over the course of the race and once again ran a faster second half than first. And, that finish -- it was amazing. I could go on and on. But what I want to say, and what I hope you hear and hold close, is that you are a runner. You know what hard work looks like and you don’t shy from it. You know how to keep your mind positive. You know how to shift gears and respond to a race. You know what it means to be on a team. I’m glad you are a runner on this team -- and I am so excited to watch you continue your huge arc of PRs next season.
BOYS: 112 Finishers. State Champs with 50 points! PJP2 2nd: 96, Chewelah 3rd: 107, St. George’s 4th: 115. Finish places: 2-16-17-19-23-42-67 Scoring: 1-10-11-13-15-29-50
OVERALL: The last (and only other) LBHS boy’s team XC championship was in 1998. In that race we scored 68 points. You guys had a feeling that you could do this, and you went out there and ran like you meant it. No one else attacked. No one else took a risk to run for the front. No one else put themselves in the position to win this. Congratulations on a really excellent effort and thank you again for making this such a fun group to coach!
Will: 16:37, 2nd place. 1st mi: 5:10 (2), 2nd mi: 10:36 (1), Overall pace: 5:21
Super solid all year long, and you capped things off with a toe-to-toe, push-to-the-end race vs the defending State champ. You put yourself at the front, confidently took a measure of pace and effort vs. potential, and you now hold the second fastest LBHS State meet 5k time and the highest-ever individual finish by any Liberty Bell XC runner. I’m 100% confident that all things being fair and equal, you are just getting started! Congrats on an excellent 10th grade year and on setting a high bar for both yourself and for others on this team.
Carter: 17:32, 16th place. 1st mi: 5:15 (10), 2nd mi: 10:57 (10), Overall pace: 5:39
Your second best time ever - just 3 seconds off of that Twilight PR - and first time as our second runner. That was a terrific race! Pushing that pace the first two miles definitely seems to work in your favor. You are strong from hours on the bike and you can fight through the hurt at the end. You may have dropped a few spots in the final 800m., but it was a calculated risk that served your teammates well and put us totally in charge of the race. Your efforts on the front to get Graham and Isaiah up into competitive spots in that top 20 were more than worth it. I’m sure as well that seeing all of the yellow blazing ahead put a LOT of early fear and uncertainty into the heads of PJP or St. George’s. Congrats on your first state meet and an excellent season all around!
Isaiah: 17:35, SB, 17th place. 1st mi: 5:18 (16), 2nd mi: 11:09 (16), Overall pace: 5:40
Your 3rd best 5k ever and a season best at just the right time. Super steady and well-paced. You picked an excellent spot early and you hung tough in there all the way through. Something clicked these last three weeks, and it’s been really fun to see you excited and confident about both your own individual and team chances to stand atop that podium on Saturday afternoon. It was SO fun to watch (I have to say that again) and I am excited to see you all recognized for your efforts as well. Congrats on an excellent junior year and thank you again for doing such a fine job of leading this team. Lowest team score ever in 2022? I would not put it past you guys! Have a great basketball season and I’m excited to watch some games :)
Graham: 17:44, 19th place. 1st mi: 5:14 (9), 2nd mi: 11:08 (15), Overall pace: 5:42
Not how you pictured this I know, but such a solid effort after a week of feeling under the weather. You looked super strong in that first half for sure. A few more days and you probably crank that second half just as well. It’s a testament to our strength as a team that we still put 5 in front of PJP’s #2 and they should thank you for being sick and not making it even worse. Sub-17 will have to wait, but the first LBHS State Championship in 23 years is pretty darn sweet regardless. Sam Naney was a freshman that year (1998) but either didn’t run or didn’t make varsity until his 10th-12th grade years. The team was 2nd in each of those efforts 1999-2001 so you all can make it a goal to get at least two in a row. Congrats on an excellent junior year all around and I’m so glad that you and Carter came back out for the team.
Aksel: 17:52, 23rd place. 1st mi: 5:28 (34), 2nd mi: 11:24 (26), Overall pace: 5:45
However you feel about your time, this was an excellent race for your first-ever State meet. You got a little separated from Isaiah early, but you didn’t panic, did your job and moved up, passing 11 other runners enroute. For whatever times are worth at this point in the season, you were 43rd on the performance list… and finished 23rd in the race with 41 of those same 43 runners! You crushed it for your team!! Faster times and 16min efforts will definitely happen in future years, but this was an awesome Aksel-style grind with steady racing start to finish. Congrats on an excellent sophomore season and I can’t wait for track!
Jackson: 18:16, SB, 42nd place. 1st mi: 5:36 (54), 2nd mi: 11:35 (41), Overall pace: 5:53
Your 2nd best 5k ever and a season best by 26 seconds. You beat everyone else’s 5th man and the 4th man on all but two teams (PJP 40th and St. George’s 39). You also moved up 12 places from the first mile to finish! That’s one more than Aksel, and it’s just simply tough, gusty racing. Appreciably, our margin of victory was such that Will could have dropped out half way through, and we still would have won the race based on your 5th man performance. Congrats on yet another inspired State meet performance and thank you as well for taking on a leadership role with stretching and other things in this excellent junior season. Have a great basketball season and I’m excited to have you guys back again one more time for senior year!
Tristan: 18:55, SB, 67th place. 1st mi: 5:43 (68), 2nd mi: 11:58 (66), Overall pace: 6:05
Your 3rd best 5k ever and a season best by 24 seconds! The best 7th man overall and better than every 5th man in the field even (except for PJP and St. George’s). That being said, you and Jackson BOTH packed points onto every team who’s 5th runner you beat, thusly extending our margin of victory into impressive territory by all manner of analysis. At times your shins were frustrating, I know, but you showed terrific poise in dealing with and working through the pain. It would have been easy in that scenario to tuck yourself away from the team, but thank you as well for rising to the occasion and for sharing that positive attitude and perseverance in tag-teaming with the captain duties. We could not have asked for a better group of leaders or a better overall ending to the last two seasons of XC running. Eighth-to-first in the last two years of covid-compromised athletics is no small feat and a pretty great thing indeed. I really look forward to having all of you guys back out again in that fast-approaching senior year. Congrats again and have a great basketball season!
Kyler and Tristan: Thank you all very much for being ready and willing to go at the drop of a hat. You were present and supportive in all the right ways: A good and boisterous heckling of the other teams across the hotel courtyard :) - warming up and prepared just in case - willing to grab gear and to cheer on your teammates - and finally right there in the end to enjoy the thrill of the first State Championship in 23 years! This is a race that you will run for sure in either 2022 or 2023. Tuck that experience away and take it out again when you need it. Congrats on a great year!
A truly brilliant race--you did everything you needed to do to set up a decisive 2nd place and a big PR. Nice job getting out just fast enough to keep up with the pulse of what was happening, but not so crazy fast that you couldn’t push that second mile. Which you did. It was so great to see you pump up those little hills by the tree and make things happen. And in mile 3, you just dug down deep and kept the pressure on. It was simply a thing of beauty to watch all your hard work and dedication come together on this day.
Jori: 20:34, 7th place. 1st mi: 6:18 (8), 2nd mi: 13:05 (7), Overall pace: 6:37
You’ve entered a very small group of Lady Lions who podiumed each year of their high school racing career. That says so much about you as an athlete -- to stay healthy enough, inspired enough, and frankly gutsy enough to reach that level every year is a testament to your strength, hard work, and racing bravery. And, on this day, you brought all of those traits plus some super senior powers to the line and once again you raced smart and hard every step of the way. Things got stretched out there in the last mile, but you kept your own tempo going and held on strong. Congratulations on a super solid LBHS running career. Can’t wait to hear about your skiing successes this year and beyond!
Dashe: 21:02, 11th place. 1st mi: 6:26 (16), 2nd mi: 13:18 (9), Overall pace: 6:46
I don’t think I can describe in words how excited I was to watch you run this race. So well done. You were patient at the start and got out into just the right spot and then you moved up so well between mile one and two. You looked in charge and confident as you just kept passing people one at a time. I’m not sure what it felt like in your head and body, but it sure looked like you found a rhythm and you just let yourself be with the race. I know you are looking forward to turning in those running shoes for some ski boots -- and I look forward to having you speed past me on the trails soon -- AND I hope you’ll want to come back out again. You are a pleasure to coach and so much fun to have on the team!
Payten: 21:41, PR, 23rd place. 1st mi: 6:52 (35), 2nd mi: 14:02 (27) , Overall pace: 6:59
Let’s consider your journey. Freshman year you never broke 25 minutes for 5K and, if my memory serves, you did more observing than participating in team activities. Fast forward 3 years. Now you are finishing in the top 25 at State, running as the 4th runner on the 2nd place team, running more than a minute per mile faster, AND playing a crucial role in giving this small but mighty team a positive mindset. I’m absolutely convinced that your enthusiasm for this race and this course on Friday’s walk through set the stage for all the goodness that followed for everyone on your team. Thank you. What an honor to get to be a part of your emergence.
Ayeanna: 23:01, 42nd place, 1st mi: 7:12 (46), 2nd mi: 14:51 (44), Overall pace: 7:24
One of my favorite lasting memories of this very memorable day is watching you run up to your parents and Grandma as we arrived at the course and then watching you find them at the finish, after you had just run a really excellent State race. Both times, you were simply joyful. That so sums up what you bring to this team. No longer an uncertain freshman, you showed up aware of the challenge ahead and totally ready to face it head on. You soaked in every bit of coaching and teammate wisdom you could and then you ran so smart and calm and steady and fast. While, selfishly, I wish I had another year to coach you (because I think you are just finding your XC racing confidence), I know you have a whole world waiting for you -- and what a lucky world it will be to benefit from your kindness, wisdom, and joy. May you always remember what you accomplished this season, and may it inspire you to always reach for more than you might first think you are capable of.
Sandra: 25:06, 61st place, 1st mi: 8:02 (70), 2nd mi: 16:21 (69), Overall pace: 8:05
If I had a magic wand that I could use on only one runner at State, I would wave it over your leg and give you the chance to have run the race we all know you could have had. I’m so sorry that the district race left you hurting. It’s just plain unfair. You were poised for a sub 23:30 performance for sure. Nevertheless, you refused to be deterred by your pain and you ran one very gutsy race out there. You still moved up 9 places throughout the race and you still found your classic fast finish. Thank you for your perseverance and for being on this team. You absolutely earned your share of that 2nd place trophy. Can’t wait to see what you do on that course next year!
Zoe: 25:08, 63rd place, 1st mi: 8:15 (73), 2nd mi: 16:38 (70) Overall pace: 8:05
There are so many good things to say about this race. Your first time at State and you didn’t let the hype rattle you at all. You greeted the inevitable nerves and then tucked them aside to run your race. You moved up 10 spots over the course of the race and once again ran a faster second half than first. And, that finish -- it was amazing. I could go on and on. But what I want to say, and what I hope you hear and hold close, is that you are a runner. You know what hard work looks like and you don’t shy from it. You know how to keep your mind positive. You know how to shift gears and respond to a race. You know what it means to be on a team. I’m glad you are a runner on this team -- and I am so excited to watch you continue your huge arc of PRs next season.
BOYS: 112 Finishers. State Champs with 50 points! PJP2 2nd: 96, Chewelah 3rd: 107, St. George’s 4th: 115. Finish places: 2-16-17-19-23-42-67 Scoring: 1-10-11-13-15-29-50
OVERALL: The last (and only other) LBHS boy’s team XC championship was in 1998. In that race we scored 68 points. You guys had a feeling that you could do this, and you went out there and ran like you meant it. No one else attacked. No one else took a risk to run for the front. No one else put themselves in the position to win this. Congratulations on a really excellent effort and thank you again for making this such a fun group to coach!
Will: 16:37, 2nd place. 1st mi: 5:10 (2), 2nd mi: 10:36 (1), Overall pace: 5:21
Super solid all year long, and you capped things off with a toe-to-toe, push-to-the-end race vs the defending State champ. You put yourself at the front, confidently took a measure of pace and effort vs. potential, and you now hold the second fastest LBHS State meet 5k time and the highest-ever individual finish by any Liberty Bell XC runner. I’m 100% confident that all things being fair and equal, you are just getting started! Congrats on an excellent 10th grade year and on setting a high bar for both yourself and for others on this team.
Carter: 17:32, 16th place. 1st mi: 5:15 (10), 2nd mi: 10:57 (10), Overall pace: 5:39
Your second best time ever - just 3 seconds off of that Twilight PR - and first time as our second runner. That was a terrific race! Pushing that pace the first two miles definitely seems to work in your favor. You are strong from hours on the bike and you can fight through the hurt at the end. You may have dropped a few spots in the final 800m., but it was a calculated risk that served your teammates well and put us totally in charge of the race. Your efforts on the front to get Graham and Isaiah up into competitive spots in that top 20 were more than worth it. I’m sure as well that seeing all of the yellow blazing ahead put a LOT of early fear and uncertainty into the heads of PJP or St. George’s. Congrats on your first state meet and an excellent season all around!
Isaiah: 17:35, SB, 17th place. 1st mi: 5:18 (16), 2nd mi: 11:09 (16), Overall pace: 5:40
Your 3rd best 5k ever and a season best at just the right time. Super steady and well-paced. You picked an excellent spot early and you hung tough in there all the way through. Something clicked these last three weeks, and it’s been really fun to see you excited and confident about both your own individual and team chances to stand atop that podium on Saturday afternoon. It was SO fun to watch (I have to say that again) and I am excited to see you all recognized for your efforts as well. Congrats on an excellent junior year and thank you again for doing such a fine job of leading this team. Lowest team score ever in 2022? I would not put it past you guys! Have a great basketball season and I’m excited to watch some games :)
Graham: 17:44, 19th place. 1st mi: 5:14 (9), 2nd mi: 11:08 (15), Overall pace: 5:42
Not how you pictured this I know, but such a solid effort after a week of feeling under the weather. You looked super strong in that first half for sure. A few more days and you probably crank that second half just as well. It’s a testament to our strength as a team that we still put 5 in front of PJP’s #2 and they should thank you for being sick and not making it even worse. Sub-17 will have to wait, but the first LBHS State Championship in 23 years is pretty darn sweet regardless. Sam Naney was a freshman that year (1998) but either didn’t run or didn’t make varsity until his 10th-12th grade years. The team was 2nd in each of those efforts 1999-2001 so you all can make it a goal to get at least two in a row. Congrats on an excellent junior year all around and I’m so glad that you and Carter came back out for the team.
Aksel: 17:52, 23rd place. 1st mi: 5:28 (34), 2nd mi: 11:24 (26), Overall pace: 5:45
However you feel about your time, this was an excellent race for your first-ever State meet. You got a little separated from Isaiah early, but you didn’t panic, did your job and moved up, passing 11 other runners enroute. For whatever times are worth at this point in the season, you were 43rd on the performance list… and finished 23rd in the race with 41 of those same 43 runners! You crushed it for your team!! Faster times and 16min efforts will definitely happen in future years, but this was an awesome Aksel-style grind with steady racing start to finish. Congrats on an excellent sophomore season and I can’t wait for track!
Jackson: 18:16, SB, 42nd place. 1st mi: 5:36 (54), 2nd mi: 11:35 (41), Overall pace: 5:53
Your 2nd best 5k ever and a season best by 26 seconds. You beat everyone else’s 5th man and the 4th man on all but two teams (PJP 40th and St. George’s 39). You also moved up 12 places from the first mile to finish! That’s one more than Aksel, and it’s just simply tough, gusty racing. Appreciably, our margin of victory was such that Will could have dropped out half way through, and we still would have won the race based on your 5th man performance. Congrats on yet another inspired State meet performance and thank you as well for taking on a leadership role with stretching and other things in this excellent junior season. Have a great basketball season and I’m excited to have you guys back again one more time for senior year!
Tristan: 18:55, SB, 67th place. 1st mi: 5:43 (68), 2nd mi: 11:58 (66), Overall pace: 6:05
Your 3rd best 5k ever and a season best by 24 seconds! The best 7th man overall and better than every 5th man in the field even (except for PJP and St. George’s). That being said, you and Jackson BOTH packed points onto every team who’s 5th runner you beat, thusly extending our margin of victory into impressive territory by all manner of analysis. At times your shins were frustrating, I know, but you showed terrific poise in dealing with and working through the pain. It would have been easy in that scenario to tuck yourself away from the team, but thank you as well for rising to the occasion and for sharing that positive attitude and perseverance in tag-teaming with the captain duties. We could not have asked for a better group of leaders or a better overall ending to the last two seasons of XC running. Eighth-to-first in the last two years of covid-compromised athletics is no small feat and a pretty great thing indeed. I really look forward to having all of you guys back out again in that fast-approaching senior year. Congrats again and have a great basketball season!
Kyler and Tristan: Thank you all very much for being ready and willing to go at the drop of a hat. You were present and supportive in all the right ways: A good and boisterous heckling of the other teams across the hotel courtyard :) - warming up and prepared just in case - willing to grab gear and to cheer on your teammates - and finally right there in the end to enjoy the thrill of the first State Championship in 23 years! This is a race that you will run for sure in either 2022 or 2023. Tuck that experience away and take it out again when you need it. Congrats on a great year!