RACE COURSE: Walla Walla Point Park, 5km. A course we’ve run many times before, with a long out-n’-back section and a few tight turns in the second half of the loop. Mostly grass with just a few quick sidewalk crossings. A firmer and shorter ground/grass than some other times, but still soft. Hot, with a slight haze and temps near 90 and just enough breeze to keep it from being oppressive.
OVERALL: On a warm afternoon with a lot of racers brand new to 5k XC and a very crowded total field of 41 teams and almost 1700 runners (6th-12th) grade, Liberty Bell XC had a pretty excellent day :) There are certainly things to fix, a few minor injuries to heal, and a series of other races, practices, and school/event schedules to navigate, but the season is rolling and we are right in the mix. Keep coming to practice. Keep working hard. Keep talking to us and each other about how things are feeling, and keep the good vibes coming.
JV BOYS (9/10): 240 Finishers - 9th place as a team. 80 more boys in this race than there were in 2021
Sam: 49th place, 20:52, PR, first mile: 6:37; overall pace: 6:43
An impressive debut 5k, and showing some real potential for you to drop a lot more time as the season unfolds. You ran smart and composed – never looking like you got dragged out too hard or were unable to navigate the longer distance. Likewise, your 6:37 opening mile to 6:43 average is IMPRESSIVELY well-paced and probably means that somewhere down the road you will be able to get out even a little quicker but still hold one. A very nice job in keeping it loose and not getting sucked along too quickly in your first-ever HS race!
Sorry, Liam, my focal point was WAY off when I tried to get your photo. Next time, I promise!
Liam: 63rd place, 21:18, PR, first mile: 6:49; overall pace: 6:51
An excellent first 5k, Liam! Super well-paced as well - in that your average time was very much similar to your mile. You found the sweet spot early for what seemed like a doable pace and you raced well with those around you - also seeming to move up well through the pack! Sometimes running even like this means that you will pass tons of people - especially in the middle part of the race. Don’t be surprised if your workout times get a little quicker after this excellent benchmark performance. Your race shows that you can run quicker on the intervals and still handle it :)
Orlo: 137th place, 23:44, PR, first mile: 7:47; overall pace: 7:38
Congrats on the first HS 5k, Orlo, and also on your approach to keeping it loose and fun. You also had TONS of speed and really opened up that stride in impressive fashion of the final stretch from the volleyball courts to the hill. As Dexter pointed out – and as the current difference between your opening 7:47 mile and your 7:38 average shows – you can probably try to get out a little more quickly the next race. We’ll plan to target something like 23 minutes for the goal and see what that kind of pace/split will feel like in the next one. Great work overall and hopefully the stage managing was equally successful!
Finn: 187th place, 25:33, first mile: 7:49; overall pace: 8:13
45 seconds faster than your first 5k race of the season here at Wenatchee in 2022, and you just rolled with a lot more confidence and comfort level for the distance! You found people to race and you could tell in your face that you were competing the whole way through – which was further evidenced by your post-race annoyance with the runner from Hanford or Wenatchee :) Getting a little fierce or mad about a good back’n’fourth is a good thing. It means that you care and that you are striving. Keep up the great work; keep using those arms like you did at the finish, and the seconds are going to drop away race-by-race!
JV BOYS (11/12): 177 Finishers
Omar: 28:20, 165th place, 1st Mile: 8:32, Overall: 9:08
Great job, Omar. We talked about this a little already, but with a one-minute thirty-second improvement from your time here last year, you just know this distance better now and you know how to fight through the suck when it hurts! Also, an awesome example of you adapting and getting more used to the feel of racing. Your average split of 9:08 here was over 40 seconds faster than your time trial mile at Big Valley, and you kicked your 5k season off in excellent fashion. Keep using those arms to set the rhythm of the legs!
GIRL’S VARSITY: 141 finishers, 18 complete teams.
A super hot day of running and lots of tenacious efforts out there. We finished 13th as a team, just 5 points out of 11th, against some very big high school teams. It was a good season-opener…we all learned a lot!
Leki: 15th place, 20:35, first mile: 6:20; overall pace: 6:38
Such a well-executed first 5K of the season. You got out in the perfect spot, just inside the top 25, and then as you realized you were feeling strong and good, you moved up patiently. You ran a super impressive last mile, pushing up by the tennis courts and then using that gradual down to really open up. And, the best part was that after the race you felt good and excited. Take this one as a real confidence booster — it’s ok to say you are feeling good again and you’re setting the table for a great senior season.
Sandra: 74th place, 22:49, first mile: 6:59; overall pace: 7:24
Excellent job staying in it even when you weren’t feeling your best. It looked to me like somewhere after the mile you just didn’t feel great but you did an awesome job of rallying when Samra joined you and it was terrific to see Liberty Bell running together there for a bit. You’ve been putting in really hard work at these first few weeks of practice, so while I know this race was frustrating for you, trust that racing will start to feel better soon. It will. You are a fierce competitor (as evidenced by your huge kick up the hill) and soon enough your legs and lungs will feel more refreshed and ready to go.
Samra: 75th place, 22:49, first mile: 7:07; overall pace: 7:24
We learned that you are a smart and savvy racer! You did a terrific job of getting out in the pack well, right where we talked about, and then you just looked stronger and stronger as the race progressed. You were patient and consistent and competitive. You looked so focused and like you were racing in each phase of the course. Don’t spend a moment comparing times this year to last year — every course and race are different (that’s what makes XC fun!). This was a terrific opener and with the hard work you are putting in at practice, you’ll see the times drop steadily through the season.
Alida: 102nd place, 24:51, PR, first mile: 7:22; overall pace: 8:00
Terrific first high school varsity 5K — and in the heat, which you said is not your favorite! That second mile in Wenatchee is a tough one — lots of gradual up and long stretches there — and you did a great job of digging in and sticking right with it. We learned that you have tremendous focus and a motor that just keeps going. This is a strong high school opener and a mark we can use to just get faster as the season goes.
Ingrid: 103rd place, 24:52, first mile: 7:22; overall pace: 8:00
A 15-second PR on this course over last year — and this was a much tougher day of conditions with the heat. Congrats! You did a great job of getting out well but not being tempted to get out too hard — you were out about 10 seconds faster than last year, which is totally reasonable. Excellent to see you running with a teammate. One thing I noticed that we can work on: it looked like in the middle of the race you shortened your stride and your arms got tighter—whereas that day last week when we did the 400 workout on the grass, you kept your stride open. We’ll focus on some cues to remind you that even when you are tired, you can use your leg stride and arms to keep the rhythm going.
VARSITY BOYS: 179 Finishers. 12th place out of 26 teams!
Some positives and negatives for sure, but overall a great way to start the season. True to form, our races on Saturday put us right in the mix of the top four teams in the state, and we will be working all season to be the best team that we can be when it matters at the end. Thanks for your great efforts out there on Saturday!
OVERALL: On a warm afternoon with a lot of racers brand new to 5k XC and a very crowded total field of 41 teams and almost 1700 runners (6th-12th) grade, Liberty Bell XC had a pretty excellent day :) There are certainly things to fix, a few minor injuries to heal, and a series of other races, practices, and school/event schedules to navigate, but the season is rolling and we are right in the mix. Keep coming to practice. Keep working hard. Keep talking to us and each other about how things are feeling, and keep the good vibes coming.
JV BOYS (9/10): 240 Finishers - 9th place as a team. 80 more boys in this race than there were in 2021
Kyler: 20:29, 37th place, 1st mile: 5:53, Overall: 6:36
GRRR! Not what you wanted for your first race, but thank you especially for taking the lead with the 9th grade group. I hope that running further didn’t make things worse. Super positive that you felt good with a sub-six opening mile, but we might have to take a step back here for a bit to get that calf better before we push too much again.
GRRR! Not what you wanted for your first race, but thank you especially for taking the lead with the 9th grade group. I hope that running further didn’t make things worse. Super positive that you felt good with a sub-six opening mile, but we might have to take a step back here for a bit to get that calf better before we push too much again.
Sam: 49th place, 20:52, PR, first mile: 6:37; overall pace: 6:43
An impressive debut 5k, and showing some real potential for you to drop a lot more time as the season unfolds. You ran smart and composed – never looking like you got dragged out too hard or were unable to navigate the longer distance. Likewise, your 6:37 opening mile to 6:43 average is IMPRESSIVELY well-paced and probably means that somewhere down the road you will be able to get out even a little quicker but still hold one. A very nice job in keeping it loose and not getting sucked along too quickly in your first-ever HS race!
Sorry, Liam, my focal point was WAY off when I tried to get your photo. Next time, I promise!
Liam: 63rd place, 21:18, PR, first mile: 6:49; overall pace: 6:51
An excellent first 5k, Liam! Super well-paced as well - in that your average time was very much similar to your mile. You found the sweet spot early for what seemed like a doable pace and you raced well with those around you - also seeming to move up well through the pack! Sometimes running even like this means that you will pass tons of people - especially in the middle part of the race. Don’t be surprised if your workout times get a little quicker after this excellent benchmark performance. Your race shows that you can run quicker on the intervals and still handle it :)
Orlo: 137th place, 23:44, PR, first mile: 7:47; overall pace: 7:38
Congrats on the first HS 5k, Orlo, and also on your approach to keeping it loose and fun. You also had TONS of speed and really opened up that stride in impressive fashion of the final stretch from the volleyball courts to the hill. As Dexter pointed out – and as the current difference between your opening 7:47 mile and your 7:38 average shows – you can probably try to get out a little more quickly the next race. We’ll plan to target something like 23 minutes for the goal and see what that kind of pace/split will feel like in the next one. Great work overall and hopefully the stage managing was equally successful!
Finn: 187th place, 25:33, first mile: 7:49; overall pace: 8:13
45 seconds faster than your first 5k race of the season here at Wenatchee in 2022, and you just rolled with a lot more confidence and comfort level for the distance! You found people to race and you could tell in your face that you were competing the whole way through – which was further evidenced by your post-race annoyance with the runner from Hanford or Wenatchee :) Getting a little fierce or mad about a good back’n’fourth is a good thing. It means that you care and that you are striving. Keep up the great work; keep using those arms like you did at the finish, and the seconds are going to drop away race-by-race!
JV BOYS (11/12): 177 Finishers
Omar: 28:20, 165th place, 1st Mile: 8:32, Overall: 9:08
Great job, Omar. We talked about this a little already, but with a one-minute thirty-second improvement from your time here last year, you just know this distance better now and you know how to fight through the suck when it hurts! Also, an awesome example of you adapting and getting more used to the feel of racing. Your average split of 9:08 here was over 40 seconds faster than your time trial mile at Big Valley, and you kicked your 5k season off in excellent fashion. Keep using those arms to set the rhythm of the legs!
GIRL’S VARSITY: 141 finishers, 18 complete teams.
A super hot day of running and lots of tenacious efforts out there. We finished 13th as a team, just 5 points out of 11th, against some very big high school teams. It was a good season-opener…we all learned a lot!
Leki: 15th place, 20:35, first mile: 6:20; overall pace: 6:38
Such a well-executed first 5K of the season. You got out in the perfect spot, just inside the top 25, and then as you realized you were feeling strong and good, you moved up patiently. You ran a super impressive last mile, pushing up by the tennis courts and then using that gradual down to really open up. And, the best part was that after the race you felt good and excited. Take this one as a real confidence booster — it’s ok to say you are feeling good again and you’re setting the table for a great senior season.
Sandra: 74th place, 22:49, first mile: 6:59; overall pace: 7:24
Excellent job staying in it even when you weren’t feeling your best. It looked to me like somewhere after the mile you just didn’t feel great but you did an awesome job of rallying when Samra joined you and it was terrific to see Liberty Bell running together there for a bit. You’ve been putting in really hard work at these first few weeks of practice, so while I know this race was frustrating for you, trust that racing will start to feel better soon. It will. You are a fierce competitor (as evidenced by your huge kick up the hill) and soon enough your legs and lungs will feel more refreshed and ready to go.
Samra: 75th place, 22:49, first mile: 7:07; overall pace: 7:24
We learned that you are a smart and savvy racer! You did a terrific job of getting out in the pack well, right where we talked about, and then you just looked stronger and stronger as the race progressed. You were patient and consistent and competitive. You looked so focused and like you were racing in each phase of the course. Don’t spend a moment comparing times this year to last year — every course and race are different (that’s what makes XC fun!). This was a terrific opener and with the hard work you are putting in at practice, you’ll see the times drop steadily through the season.
Alida: 102nd place, 24:51, PR, first mile: 7:22; overall pace: 8:00
Terrific first high school varsity 5K — and in the heat, which you said is not your favorite! That second mile in Wenatchee is a tough one — lots of gradual up and long stretches there — and you did a great job of digging in and sticking right with it. We learned that you have tremendous focus and a motor that just keeps going. This is a strong high school opener and a mark we can use to just get faster as the season goes.
Ingrid: 103rd place, 24:52, first mile: 7:22; overall pace: 8:00
A 15-second PR on this course over last year — and this was a much tougher day of conditions with the heat. Congrats! You did a great job of getting out well but not being tempted to get out too hard — you were out about 10 seconds faster than last year, which is totally reasonable. Excellent to see you running with a teammate. One thing I noticed that we can work on: it looked like in the middle of the race you shortened your stride and your arms got tighter—whereas that day last week when we did the 400 workout on the grass, you kept your stride open. We’ll focus on some cues to remind you that even when you are tired, you can use your leg stride and arms to keep the rhythm going.
Sorry, Yasmin, like Liam, my photos of you were all totally out of focus. Next time, I promise!
Yasmin: 140th place, 31:58, first mile: 8:27; overall pace: 10:17
That heat was a beast today and that made for a tough go for you out there. It’s been an exhausting week with Outward Bound and everything just sort of combined to make for a really hard day. We’re sorry the racing experience was not good — and we hope that you will stick with it. You are so very determined and you know from last year that racing can feel better. Let’s get a few more good consistent weeks of running and workouts in and we know you will be able to find some joy in it again. Thanks for talking with us afterwards and please know we do trust you to call it a day if a race is ever feeling really terrible again.
*****
Yasmin: 140th place, 31:58, first mile: 8:27; overall pace: 10:17
That heat was a beast today and that made for a tough go for you out there. It’s been an exhausting week with Outward Bound and everything just sort of combined to make for a really hard day. We’re sorry the racing experience was not good — and we hope that you will stick with it. You are so very determined and you know from last year that racing can feel better. Let’s get a few more good consistent weeks of running and workouts in and we know you will be able to find some joy in it again. Thanks for talking with us afterwards and please know we do trust you to call it a day if a race is ever feeling really terrible again.
*****
VARSITY BOYS: 179 Finishers. 12th place out of 26 teams!
Some positives and negatives for sure, but overall a great way to start the season. True to form, our races on Saturday put us right in the mix of the top four teams in the state, and we will be working all season to be the best team that we can be when it matters at the end. Thanks for your great efforts out there on Saturday!
Dexter: 16:20, PR, 6th place, 1st Mile: 5:14, Overall Pace: 5:15
Congrats on the new PR and on almost breaking the 16:00 barrier! You were probably wise to not chase Ephrata hard from the start, but at the same time you also never lost ground in massive chunks. It was a really steady and strong-looking race and a good solid indication, I think, of where your fitness is at plus where we can go from here. One little note about running a course with cones and the line – cut those tangents as much as you can! It’s super easy to get locked on that line, but make the course as short as you possibly can to squeeze out those extra seconds :)
Will: 16:16, PR, 5th place, 1st Mile: 4:57, Overall: 5:14
An overall excellent race and an auspicious start to the season! Great to see you getting out maybe a little farther back than you’d imagined, but also still be able to sift through the field and find your sweet spot. You attached to a really good group in that first mile and just continued to race with a lot of poise and patience. The arms were working well for you at key moments of acceleration, and it was an awesome mental battle that you got to practice with racing Brayden from Cascade across the whole second lap of the course. Our hard week likely left your legs a little wanting in that final kick, but that’s the kind of thing that will come on nicely at the end of the season.
Sorry, Aksel, like Liam and Yasmin, my photos of you were all totally out of focus :( Next time!
Aksel: 17:34, PR, 37th place, 1st Mile: 5:33, Overall Pace: 5:39
I said as much already in my reply to your email, but this was an excellent opener and it has me excited to see what the rest of the season will bring. Its always hard to find the pace or to sort things out in the first race or two, but you found that top 30-35 position really well and you raced really tough from start to finish. Yes, the second mile was slower – it was for everyone - but you closed like a beast! Mentally hanging tough and then using your strength at the end was a perfect way to do this, and faster races
George: 20:17, 127th place, 1st Mile: 6:11, Overall Pace: 6:32
One of the standout races on the day! Wrapping up last year with a PR of 20:04 and rolling out a 20:17 in slower grass on a hot day is super impressive. You love running the 100m in track, but you are a distance runner for sure :) The 5:23 miles show it, and your smooth progression through the field on Saturday shows it as well. We need to keep building up your endurance, but I truly believe that a sub-19 5k is possible for you by the season’s end. It was also noted and much appreciated seeing you cheer on Tristan when you caught him on the second lap. Great racing and great sportsmanship!
Congrats on the new PR and on almost breaking the 16:00 barrier! You were probably wise to not chase Ephrata hard from the start, but at the same time you also never lost ground in massive chunks. It was a really steady and strong-looking race and a good solid indication, I think, of where your fitness is at plus where we can go from here. One little note about running a course with cones and the line – cut those tangents as much as you can! It’s super easy to get locked on that line, but make the course as short as you possibly can to squeeze out those extra seconds :)
Will: 16:16, PR, 5th place, 1st Mile: 4:57, Overall: 5:14
An overall excellent race and an auspicious start to the season! Great to see you getting out maybe a little farther back than you’d imagined, but also still be able to sift through the field and find your sweet spot. You attached to a really good group in that first mile and just continued to race with a lot of poise and patience. The arms were working well for you at key moments of acceleration, and it was an awesome mental battle that you got to practice with racing Brayden from Cascade across the whole second lap of the course. Our hard week likely left your legs a little wanting in that final kick, but that’s the kind of thing that will come on nicely at the end of the season.
Sorry, Aksel, like Liam and Yasmin, my photos of you were all totally out of focus :( Next time!
Aksel: 17:34, PR, 37th place, 1st Mile: 5:33, Overall Pace: 5:39
I said as much already in my reply to your email, but this was an excellent opener and it has me excited to see what the rest of the season will bring. Its always hard to find the pace or to sort things out in the first race or two, but you found that top 30-35 position really well and you raced really tough from start to finish. Yes, the second mile was slower – it was for everyone - but you closed like a beast! Mentally hanging tough and then using your strength at the end was a perfect way to do this, and faster races
George: 20:17, 127th place, 1st Mile: 6:11, Overall Pace: 6:32
One of the standout races on the day! Wrapping up last year with a PR of 20:04 and rolling out a 20:17 in slower grass on a hot day is super impressive. You love running the 100m in track, but you are a distance runner for sure :) The 5:23 miles show it, and your smooth progression through the field on Saturday shows it as well. We need to keep building up your endurance, but I truly believe that a sub-19 5k is possible for you by the season’s end. It was also noted and much appreciated seeing you cheer on Tristan when you caught him on the second lap. Great racing and great sportsmanship!
And finally, Tristan. I'm very sorry, but Wenatchee was apparently my worst day EVER for getting the focal point attached to the correct athlete. Like Aksel, Liam, and Yasmin before you, I had no photos worth posting :( Next time!
Tristan: 20:38, 140th place, 1st mile: 6:03, Overall: 6:38
You are very much capable of more, but whatever was off, you were still a minute faster on this course than you were two years ago. That is progress, and the 6:03 first mile is a good sign of things to come. You’ve taken on a lot in these last four weeks and after track I know that you are probably putting a little pressure on yourself to make a huge leap. Worry not. It will happen. Excited to put you in the mix with the Berry brothers at Okanogan on Wednesday. You know how they race. You are definitely in their ballpark, and with Kyler maybe not racing on Wednesday, you can make the Berry twins part of a concrete goal.
Brodi: 20:55, PR, 148th place, 1st Mile: 6:17, Overall Pace: 6:44
Brodi Barber – the runner! Such a great job out there Brodi in your first 5k effort. You had a really nice instinct for what seemed like a doable pace, and you really never let George or Tristan get too far out of reach. I’m sure that there were lots of question marks about what the distance or the big crowd of varsity runners would feel like, but you handled it all with a ton of poise and patience – hopefully adding a nice dose of confidence and “I can do this” to your next racing efforts down the road. Each race is a little different and there will certainly be highs and lows, but this was a terrific start!
Hunter, Calvin, Birch, and Ben: The boys on the bench – or in Alaska or what have you – but we are glad to have you back at practice this week and to get the team ready again for our race in Okanogan. Birch, you might just keep healing and adding runs slowly but you are welcome to run, practice, or accompany us to races any time that you like. Hunter, we had no idea that you were going to be gone this week so try to tighten up the communication a little bit… and Calvin, let’s talk about maybe trying a little bit of racing this week. We’ll chat at practice. You are ready :) And finally, Ben, thanks for coming down on Saturday to support your team. I hope that your ankle keeps getting better and that we can get you back to running soon!
Tristan: 20:38, 140th place, 1st mile: 6:03, Overall: 6:38
You are very much capable of more, but whatever was off, you were still a minute faster on this course than you were two years ago. That is progress, and the 6:03 first mile is a good sign of things to come. You’ve taken on a lot in these last four weeks and after track I know that you are probably putting a little pressure on yourself to make a huge leap. Worry not. It will happen. Excited to put you in the mix with the Berry brothers at Okanogan on Wednesday. You know how they race. You are definitely in their ballpark, and with Kyler maybe not racing on Wednesday, you can make the Berry twins part of a concrete goal.
Brodi: 20:55, PR, 148th place, 1st Mile: 6:17, Overall Pace: 6:44
Brodi Barber – the runner! Such a great job out there Brodi in your first 5k effort. You had a really nice instinct for what seemed like a doable pace, and you really never let George or Tristan get too far out of reach. I’m sure that there were lots of question marks about what the distance or the big crowd of varsity runners would feel like, but you handled it all with a ton of poise and patience – hopefully adding a nice dose of confidence and “I can do this” to your next racing efforts down the road. Each race is a little different and there will certainly be highs and lows, but this was a terrific start!
Hunter, Calvin, Birch, and Ben: The boys on the bench – or in Alaska or what have you – but we are glad to have you back at practice this week and to get the team ready again for our race in Okanogan. Birch, you might just keep healing and adding runs slowly but you are welcome to run, practice, or accompany us to races any time that you like. Hunter, we had no idea that you were going to be gone this week so try to tighten up the communication a little bit… and Calvin, let’s talk about maybe trying a little bit of racing this week. We’ll chat at practice. You are ready :) And finally, Ben, thanks for coming down on Saturday to support your team. I hope that your ankle keeps getting better and that we can get you back to running soon!