RACE COURSE: 5k. Sun Willows Golf Course. A rolling golf course terrain with firm fairway footing and tons of good atmosphere and State Meet vibes. The quieter, opening mile is followed by a second and third-mile loop and a downhill finish. Mid 40’s and breezy but NOT the gale force winds from the Friday walk-through. Upper 40’s to low 50’s for both girls and boys. The winds kicked it up a notch higher even for the later races. Not a great PR day due to wind, but still an overall reasonable day for running.
VARSITY GIRLS: 76 Finishers. Fourth place team with 100 points! PJP2 1st: 47, Garfield-Palouse 2nd: 48 (so close!), St. George’s 3rd: 60
Finish places: 3-20-32-46-66-68-70
Scoring places: 2-13-18-26-41-43-45
OVERALL: Wow! What a season. We went from not having a full team to 4th place and on the podium at State. That took courage and commitment from each of you. Courage for our three 8th graders to step up to the 5K race distance and the high school team vibe and commitment from our high schoolers to build a sense of team and togetherness. You all really came together these last few weeks and standing on that podium was truly the icing on the cake. We’re all super proud of you – you carried on the Liberty Bell Girls XC team tradition with honor.
Leki: 20:24.2., 3rd place. 1st mi: 6:13 (7th), 2nd mi: 13:01 (6th), Overall pace: 6:34
You did just what you wanted to in terms of racing. You were patient in the first mile and then when it felt like the right moment to go, you just starting eating up the distance between you and the other competitors. You made a conscious decision to go for it and it was a beautiful thing to watch. You were just so in it. I know the time wasn’t perhaps what you wanted, but the race was truly spectacular. You came to compete and you put together a master class in how to fight for a spot on the podium. Now, rest up, enjoy some skiing, have fun with track, and let’s talk in June about next fall—you just need a consistent summer, a little more confidence, and a season without interruption and mark my words, your potential is limitless. Let’s remember, you’ve been to State twice now and you’ve finished 2nd and 3rd….not many people can say that.
Sandra: 22:29.1, 20th place, 1st mi: 7:01 (32nd), 2nd mi: 14:18 (22nd), Overall pace: 7:14
Top 20 in state. Congratulations. And, while this one didn’t feel like the easy effort we all wanted for you, you totally gritted it out and ran 2 ½ minutes faster than last year on this course. And you moved up throughout the race brilliantly. I appreciate that you have high expectations for yourself and while I’m sorry we didn’t meet every single one of them at this state meet, I do hope you’ll reflect on this season with a whole lot of satisfaction and pride. You were so consistent this year – and so consistently improved. You have always brought determination to the starting line, but this season you found your confidence. You know you can get out strong and still run the toughest second half of a race out there. Senior year is up next and I think its going to be amazing.
Zoe: 23:32.9, 32nd place, 1st mi: 7:20 (45th), 2nd mi: 14:59.9 (38th) Overall pace: 7:35
I keep thinking about how you were so disappointed there for a bit in the finish chute because you ran 23:32 and contrasting that with your question at the beginning of the season about whether or not I thought you could run under 24 ever. It’s good to keep some perspective – yes you wanted to run a faster time, but my goodness…23:32 is the second-fastest time you’ve ever run. It’s amazing. And you looked amazing out there – you were moving up significantly throughout the race. No lapses in focus, no catching your breath, just constant, strong forward motion. You finished in the top half of the state meet – more than 90 seconds faster (and 30 places) better than last year. That’s a phenomenal success and you should go into basketball and track confident of your fitness, your athleticism, and your drive. Let’s go after 22 minutes next year.
Ingrid: 24:12.4, 46th place, 1st mi: 7:21 (48th), 2nd mi: 15:10 (43rd) Overall pace: 7:47
Can you even remember how nervous you were in Wenatchee? I have to remind myself, because when I think of you now, I simply think of a fierce competitor who has found joy and satisfaction in the art (and hard work) of racing. You did an excellent job at this race getting into a good spot in the first mile and keeping your eyes on Zoe. You worked the uphills just right with your arms leading the way and you didn’t let a nagging side stitch keep you from looking up and working to catch the runner ahead. You are only going to get stronger next year and that means you’ll only be getting faster. Start setting some goals now and we’ll work to get you there. You are a runner.
Juniper: 26:40.9, 66th place, 1st mi: 7:46 (64th), 2nd mi: 16:10 (63rd) Overall pace: 8:35
For an athlete new to the 5K distance, you sure had a consistent and successful season. And, this race fit that pattern. You did an excellent job holding your place throughout this, your first State meet. That’s not easy to do—many first-time runners find the first mile too tempting and spend the next two miles dropping back. But you held really steady—and still had quite a bit left in the tank to give a great kick at the end. Next fall you’ll have even more miles in your training log and this one bonus year of 5K racing experience and I think you’ll find it all will feel much easier and even more fun. I’m glad you’ve caught the running bug—you are a good teammate, a quick learner, and we haven’t even begun to understand your potential. I’m glad you are on this team.
Yasmin: 26:41.5, 68th place, 1st mi: 8:06 (69th), 2nd mi: 16:45 (67th) Overall pace: 8:35
Another race under 27 minutes…you’ve totally figured out this 5K racing stuff. Congratulations on not only making it to your first State meet but having a really terrific race at it. You ran so tough – and wow, what a kick you had at the end. You managed any pre-race nerves like a pro and you just got out there and ran. I really hope that you will stick with cross-country and join us again next fall. You are a tough competitor – you refuse to give up in a race – and I think you will continue to surprise yourself with what you can accomplish. You are brave and you can do hard things.
Josie: 27:39.5, PR 70th place, 1st mi: 8:06 (70th), 2nd mi: 17:18 (70th) Overall pace: 8:54
I was so happy to see you cross that finish line and even more happy to see you up there on that podium with your team. I know this season and this race were both full of lots of trials and tribulations but you stuck with it all and your willingness to just keep going for it is admirable. I know there’s a lot going on, but I do believe in you as an athlete, as a teammate, and as a person. There’s so much good yet to come, so much potential to discover, and so many more better days ahead. You did yourself and your team proud at State. I can’t wait to see what we can do next fall.
BOYS: 159 Finishers. Fourth place with 139 points! Chewelah 1st: 83, PJP2 2nd: 121, St. George’s 3rd: 131, Davenport 5th: 146, Brewster 6th: 148. Valley Christan 8th: 159.
Finish places: 4-5-23-87-89-108-136
Scoring Places: 3-4-19-55-56-71-86
OVERALL… AND A TAKEAWAY FOR NEXT YEAR! When all was said and done, we finished 4th - just 6 points shy of 3rd and only 11 shy of 2nd. On that day, in this season, with SO many factors in play and the fact that we’ve rarely all year long run the same group of varsity runners, it is fine and honorable result. We left points on the table for sure, but so did MANY other teams. We ran bang on with expectations up front, and steady enough in the middle. We didn’t blow anything completely up. We turned the tables on Brewster, and kept control of the District 6 pride at State. We podiumed when 12 other teams in the meet and 36 other teams in the state did not. Chewelah knocked in out of the park and St. Georges SERIOUSLY rose to the occasion after finishing 4th to Chewelah, Davenport and Valley Christian at their district meet. We were the ONLY team that moved up two places between the mile and the finish. Several teams moved up one, several dropped back one… and Valley Christan dropped from 2nd to 7th, which probably helped us out :)
On the podium: A rearrangement of last years top four, but Chewelah loses 5 seniors from their scoring 7. This was their year! PJP loses 4. St. Georges graduates just one senior and their top guy from last season was playing soccer… You can bet your bottom dollar that they will try to get him back for a title push in 2023.
On the outside looking in for those podium spots: Davenport loses 5 seniors as well. It was not meant to be and they were quite close to knocking us off the podium. Brewster loses 6 and will be in rebuilding mode for sure. Liam reports a scrappy 8th grade group, so we shouldn’t count them out of a qualifying round by any means. Valley Christian in 7th got out hard and fell apart. They graduate none and will come back with a little more experience, and probably a wrong to right. And finally, Goldendale and Garfield-Palouse lose just one senior each and will want to close that gap for sure.
On the local horizon… those Okanogan boys will be champing at the bit! No team at state but their 9th and 10th graders ran 18:44 (47th), 18:58 (56th), 19:03 (62nd), 19:30 (77th). They just need a good summer and one or two of those guys to hit the 17:50-17:30 range and they are solidly in the mix. Bridegport is also up and coming on the young side. We need to do the work!
We can complete again next year with ANY of these teams. Dexter, Will and Aksel will be the best top three in the state and Kyler and Tristan are now experienced vets. George, Hunter, Birch and Omar will round out a nice contingent of senior boys. If we find another diamond in the rough or two, and truly dedicate our off-season selves to some consistent summer running, we will certainly make another run. Take a few weeks away from it all. Have a great winter and spring of school and sports. Talk amongst yourselves and find a common goal. Hold each other accountable to making it happen and Sarah and I will very much look forward to coaching you again next fall!
Dexter: 16:59.6, 4th place. 1st mi: 5:07 (5), 2nd mi: 10:38 (4), Overall pace: 5:28
Given the season of ups and downs, this was an admirable race. You pushed right to the edge of what was possible, and I fully believe that with just another few regular weeks in that late-middle part of the season you would have made Ciaran a LOT more uncomfortable at the front. You would have had just a little more confidence in your body and a few more reps of interval work or race pace to push you over the top. As it stands, you were the 2nd best 1st man in the bunch and Ciaran’s team wasn’t nearly so helpful to team scoring cause. We will be back as a group and ready to roll. And that is that for now. Fortunately, you are young and growing with tons of training age and strength and speed yet to come. Congratulations on your first-ever State XC meet and here’s to the VERY auspicious start to the winter skiing season!
Will: 17:06.4, 5th place. 1st mi: 5:07 (7), 2nd mi: 10:45 (6), Overall pace: 5:30
Not totally the season that you imagined, but not the complete and utter nightmare that you were having at the halfway point either. Thankfully, you were able to find some consistency in the last 5 weeks and got in just enough racing experience to be happily in the mix with the best of the meet. You and Dexter were still the predicted power couple of the day – in a proverbial dogfight with the duos from Chewelah and St. Georges, but we just didn’t have quite enough firepower across the board to pull it off. That is our team challenge for 2023. That, and hopefully staying healthy enough so that everyone can get better through the races and the mid-season interval work. Congrats on the rally and also on the excellent racing finish with Foster in that final push to the finish. That is a moment and a move that you will own when it comes to seeing him again in the spring. Those little memories are powerful things!
PS Congrats as well on being the best second man of the meet.
Aksel: 18:01.6, 23rd place. 1st mi: 5:27 (27), 2nd mi: 11:27, Overall pace: 5:48
In a bigger race with 47 more runners, you equaled your performance from 2021. You outperformed! You overcame tons of early to mid-season pressure that had continued to build and was cramping your style… until you put those worries to rest. This was classic and excellent Aksel. You looked steady and strong across the board, plus you had a LOT of kick left in those legs – which I finally saw when I viewed the video replay of the finish. Your race kept us on the podium for sure and you were right there in the mix with the 3rd best 3rd-man placing on the day, ahead of all but five second runners (including Will in that count), and you would have been the first runner on almost half of the teams at the meet (please don’t transfer)! Congrats on an excellent junior year – and it IS important to include the whole year and all that you overcame in that statement – and here’s to even more fun with this sport and this team in 2023!
Jackson: 19:41.4, 87th place. 1st mi: 5:48 (78), 2nd mi: 12:12, Overall pace: 6:20
Tristan: 19:42.4, 89th place. 1st mi: 5:51 (83), 2nd mi: 12:20, Overall pace: 6:20
Jackson & Tristan, Tristan & Jackson, kicking each other down to the finish! DULY NOTED: Your entire race plan all year should have simply been to race each other. Never think about anyone else, never stop until you have beaten each other to that line!!!
It never seems fair or worthy of your notable individuality to talk about you in tandem, but you are twins after all and it has been our sincerest pleasure to have you both on this team for the past 6 years of Liberty Bell XC. I know that this wasn’t the perfect finish to the senior season that either of you imagined, but it was a team and a high school experience, a routine and ritual that you embraced with all that you could muster. Three state appearances. Two years of captainship. One State title and a follow-up podium finish in a very close race. More than that, you guys were in it. You participated when others did not. You put yourselves on the line with discomfort and doubt and nerves and desire. You had the guts and a will to run the races even if the physical body wasn’t always totally able. You competed. You pushed. You made it happen. And being a PART of something is worth it. It matters. That is what you will remember, and that is what will stand the test of time. And for that we thank you so very much!
Jackson, your freshman season of continuous PRs will go down in the record books as one to remember as well. The joy and naive belief that you could just keep going faster was an easier thing in a year with no comparisons, but you’ve always just kept pushing and chasing that elusive challenge. Keep doing that as you enter the world and move beyond this place. It is an admirable trait.
And Tristan, your dedication and will have always found a way. You’ve been hurt and frustrated, but you have run at State in three different years and have always found your way into that varsity spot. Even on a rougher day this year, you were still the 6th best 5th man in the field and you beat the 5th man for eight other teams. You are dedicated to a high degree and always thoughtful and intentional in plotting your way back. Personally, I also love that you are still excited about graphic design and trying to make that a part of whatever comes next.
Congratulations to you both on a excellent LBHS XC career. The world is waiting (in a few more months, that is) and we can’t wait to see where you take yourselves next!
Tristan H: 20:20.4, 108th place. 1st mi: 6:04 (109), 2nd mi: 12:43, Overall pace: 6:33
Overall Tristan, a really terrific season and an excellent introduction to running and racing at the State meet!! It was pretty tough going out there but you held you own and stayed in admirable step with everyone around you from the mile mark all the way into the finish. Wind was a factor for sure, and so was that crazy start with so many people, but next year you can definitely look forward to getting out just a little quicker and therefore being a little more into the mix of 10-20 places further up in the race. So much of this season was just about learning more about yourself as a runner and pushing your limits with the 5k distance. You did all of that in spades, and I really look forward to seeing you take another step forward in 2023. Spring track perhaps?
Kyler: 21:19.3, 136th place. 1st mi: 5:53 (89), 2nd mi: 12:26, Overall pace: 6:52
Chalk it up “Kick.” That was NOT on you and nothing that anyone would have predicted in a million years. You’ve been super solid and an excellent and reliable racing and motivational thread for us all season long. If anything, your race may have suffered just a bit from “first time at State” jitters and some extra pressure that you may have been feeling to rise to the occasion and to help make it happen for the likes of Tristan, the Schmekel bros., and the team in general. That’s on me if you felt too much of a burden in that regard, but I’m also really proud of you and impressed with your guts in finishing that race. No one thing is responsible. No one thing could have changed the outcome of the team scores or anything remotely like that. You improved leaps and bounds over last year. You raced with guts and your heart on your sleeve. Super glad to have you on this team… and now it's time to start throwing those shoulders around and boxing out those ballers on the court! Congrats on a great season, Kyler. I can NOT believe that you are going to be a senior next year!!!
George and Jayden: Thank you for being at the ready and for coming along to support your team and/or to race at the drop of a hat. Thankfully, we didn’t need to throw you into the race, but as the top two runners at our district meet, you would have represented us well.
