Course Length – 5k
General Notes – This is a course where part of the race is on flat grass and most is rolling hills on a dirt road. Things can get fairly secluded out on the long stretches through the shrub steppe. There is a notable hill from the 2 to the 2.5 mile mark, which climbs up significantly before dropping down to the finish. The weather during the races was in the high 70s, with the sun throughout the day and the smoke gradually improving. We saw a lot of schools that we don't get to see much, particularly from south-central Washington. It was great to see everyone go and work hard in our first 5k of the season!!
In the 1B/2B Varsity Boys race, there were 72 competitors. LBHS was 5th out of 10 scoring teams.
In the 1B/2B Varsity Girls race, there were 27 competitors.
In the JV Boys race, there were 101 competitors.
In the JV Girls race, there were 32 competitors. LBHS was 1st out of 3 scoring teams.
Orlo – One mile: 5:57. Two Mile: 12:26. Finish: 19:35, 24th place. Average: 6:19.
Great job Orlo! You went out right where you wanted to be at the mile, and you had a strong finish, even though you feel like you could have pushed harder on the hill. That's ok! Where you can improve is by focusing on the second mile to bring that split closer to 6:00. That's also going to help you feel more involved in the race, which will set you up for an even better finish.
Soren – One mile: 5:28. Two Mile: 11:21. Finish: 18:12, 11th place. Average: 5:52.
Nice running Soren! Staying with River seemed to benefit both of you, as you were able to maintain the pace through the second mile even with the fast start. Also, it kept you pushing hard up the hill and down into the finish, passing people left and right. What's really great to see is that you were only 10 seconds behind your time from state last year, which means you're in a great spot. Keep working hard and you'll have a big PR next weekend!
Kylie – One mile: 10:00. Two Mile: 21:23. Finish: 35:52, 29th place. Average: 11:34.
Kylie, congratulations on your first 5k! I know your ankle has been bothering you but I’m glad it's starting to get better. As it continues to heal and you are able to complete more workouts, each race will feel better. You went out pretty fast so let’s focus on finding your pace early in the race. I think a slightly more conservative first mile will really help you in the second half of the race. Keep up the good work!
Lena – One mile: 6:21. Two Mile: 13:32. Finish: 22:00, 3rd place. Average: 7:06.
Congrats on your first 5k Lena! That was a tough race and tough conditions. You went out pretty fast, and you definitely slowed down through the second and third miles. That's ok! It can be challenging to figure out your pace in the longer races, which is why we have a few chances to practice. A more conservative start will pay off big time down the stretch, as you'll feel really good when others are feeling really bad - keep that in mind and keep working hard!
Elsa – One mile: 6:55. Two Mile: 14:55. Finish: 24:20, 5th place. Average: 7:51.
Nice job Elsa! As you anticipated you got out pretty fast in the first mile and found yourself leading the field. Next week, let’s aim for around 7:10-7:20 for the first mile. I think this pace will set you up to feel better in the back half of the race. It can be scary to find yourself leading a race and I think it freaked you out a bit. When unexpected things like that happen, remember to take a deep breath and focus on running your race. You are fit and ready to run a great race so let’s shake this one off and refocus going into 509. Cooler weather and races are on their way (hopefully)!
Nina – One mile: 7:06. Two Mile: 14:30. Finish: 23:07, 1st place. Average: 7:27.
Wow Nina! You ran with such confidence and power which was a lot of fun to watch. Even under the tough conditions you ran faster than your first 5k at Wenatchee last year which is a much faster course. That’s awesome! I think going out slightly more conservative in the first mile (~7:10-7:15) will help you stay consistent and have more energy in the second and third miles. Keep running like that and your times will keep dropping. Great work!
Tova – One mile: 7:30. Two Mile: 15:45. Finish: 25:27, 7th place. Average: 8:13.
Congrats on your first 5k Tova! It was a tough day with tough conditions. I don’t think this race showed exactly where your fitness is - that’s ok sometimes those races happen. I think your first mile was actually right on pace for where you want to be and on a different day you will be able to hold that pace. Running with Ava also seemed like a good strategy as it helped you both keep pushing through the race all the way up the big hill. Shake this race off and keep working hard!
Sisu – One mile: 7:02. Two Mile: 14:40. Finish: 23:38, 2nd place. Average: 7:37.
Way to go Sisu! Continuing your 5k PR streak from last season! Like almost everyone on the team your first mile was pretty fast and you definitely slowed down over the next two miles. That’s ok though! We are still figuring out our pacing this early in the season. Remember to keep your shoulders relaxed and drive your arms - this will help you run efficiently in the later stages of the race. You are definitely ahead of where you were at this point last year so keep up the hard work! Great race!
Liam – One mile: 6:19. Two Mile: 13:06. Finish: 20:52, 43rd place. Average: 6:44.
Great work Liam! First off, your first 5k this year was faster than last year, even though it came in sub-optimal conditions. That's awesome! Second, you were feeling a bit sore, and that likely made the long hill all that more difficult, but you found a way to push through. As we settle into the season, we'll spend time finding the right pace for you to go out. With some consistency and patience, I think you'll be blowing past the 19:00 mark in no time!
Aidan – One mile: 5:17. Two Mile: 11:03. Finish: 17:26, 4th place. Average: 5:37.
Congrats on your first 5k Aidan! It's a very different race, and yet you found a way to string together three solid miles, especially the final one going up and over the hill. With the 5k, a slightly more conservative first mile can really pay off down the road as you feel good in the middle sections of the race and can move through the field. Plus, you have such a strong finish that you'll blaze past anyone going up hills. All of that will come with more experience with the race!
Maren – One mile: 7:05. Two Mile: 14:42. Finish: 22:52, 6th place. Average: 7:23.
Excellent race Maren! Even though Saturday was run under much tougher conditions, you were almost equivalent with your first 5k last year at Wenatchee (a faster course by quite a bit). That's great! You're such a tough runner, and your pacing is ideal. I think continuing to go out in that 7:00 area (especially with a teammate or two) will benefit you as we bring down the second and third mile times. Keep up the good work!
Sutherland – One mile: 8:17. Two Mile: 16:50. Finish: 26:57, 11th place. Average: 8:42.
Great first 5k Sutherland! This was a tough course for your first 5k and you handled it like a pro. You looked strong and in control throughout the race. To top it off you had one of the best finishing kicks of the day! You slowed down a bit over the second and third miles but that’s ok! We are still figuring out pacing especially at this new distance. A more conservative start will help you hold the same pace over the whole race - keep that in mind for the next race. Great work!
Crispin – One mile: 6:37. Two Mile: 13:50. Finish: 21:38, 52nd place. Average: 6:59.
Way to go Crispin! You handled the varsity race with poise, which isn't easy to do in your first one ever. You went out a little fast, and definitely slowed down in the second mile. Then you found a way to speed up on the hardest mile of the course. That's not easy to do! Even with all that you still weren't that far off from your Wenatchee time last year, which is a much faster course. Keep chuggin!
Luke – One mile: 6:58. Two Mile: 14:40. Finish: 23:40, 59th place. Average: 7:38.
Nice race Luke! That was a great first 5k of the season. It was a tough course and you didn’t have your pacing buddy, Crispin, but you looked strong the whole race. I think that was a good pace for your opening mile and on an easier course you will be able to hold that pace for the rest of the race. Great job staying tough and powering up the big climb in the last mile. Keep up the good work!
Ava – One mile: 7:30. Two Mile: 15:45. Finish: 25:37, 8th place. Average: 8:16.
Great job Ava! It’s been a weird start to your season with being sick and missing the first week of practice but I’m glad you are starting to feel better. Each week you are looking more like your normal running self. You looked strong running with Tova for the first 2+ miles. Running with teammates always helps during tough races. Not sure what happened on the final climb with your body going cold but hopefully it’s just a sign of how hard you were pushing your body. We will keep an eye on that this week. Keep up the hard work and I have no doubt your times will start dropping!
Cassius – One mile: 7:02. Two Mile: 14:48. Finish: 23:27, 55th place. Average: 7:34.
Great first 5k Cassius! A 5k is a very different race than 2-miles but you handled it very well. Plus, this course was especially tough for your first 5k. You went out pretty fast, and you definitely slowed down in the last two miles. That’s ok though! It’s tough to find your pace in the longer races when you don’t have experience. I bet with each 5k you will get more comfortable with pacing. And wow you had a killer finishing kick! You were driving your arms and pushed all the way through the line. Keep truckin’!
Alice – One mile: 7:05. Two Mile: 14:42. Finish: 22:48, 5th place. Average: 7:21.
Congrats on your first 5k Alice! Running with Maren seemed to be a productive strategy, as you two got out at an excellent pace and pushed hard through the tough sections of the course. What is really exciting to think about is how you two can maintain your speed through the second mile, which will really help your overall time. Running with a teammate makes the slog so much more bearable. Keep it up!
Bhavana – One mile: 9:37. Two Mile: 20:40. Finish: 33:27, 28th place. Average: 10:47.
Nice job Bhavana! This was a tough race but in typical Bhavana style you looked calm and in control the whole time. You did a great job pushing yourself even when you found yourself in no man’s land. You slowed down in the second half of the race but that’s ok. We are still getting used to the 5k distance this year and the last mile had that tough climb. Great race - keep up the good work!
Ingrid – One mile: 6:43. Two Mile: 14:42. Finish: 23:32, 9th place. Average: 7:35.
Way to stick with it Ingrid! That one is out of the way, and I think it's safe to say that was a fluke. Sometimes things crop up, and getting them over with is all you need to do. However, there were some great things in that race! You went out at a good pace for the first mile, and I think that's exactly where you want to be. Next weekend you'll have a chance to show what you can do!
Madison – One mile: 8:22. Two Mile: 17:20. Finish: 27:43, 14th place. Average: 8:56.
Well done Madie! Your first two miles are basically the same as your first 5k last year (Twilight) which is awesome since this was arguably a much harder course. I think that final climb got to you a little bit but you found another gear at the top and pushed through the finish. I’m glad it seems your knees aren’t bothering you as much this year. With some more races this season, I bet you will see a new PR in no time. Keep it up!
River – One mile: 5:28. Two Mile: 11:21. Finish: 18:13, 12th place. Average: 5:53.
Congrats on the new PR River! You went out at a slightly faster pace with Soren, but the two of you were able to work together and hold on through the second mile. Then when you got to the hill you powered up and over, speeding through the finish. Plus, you were 13 seconds faster than where you ended last season, which is awesome! Keep running with Soren, and your times will drop more and more.
Zoie – One mile: 7:27. Two Mile: 15:20. Finish: 24:02, 4th place. Average: 7:45.
Great race Zoie! And congrats on your first 5k! You ran a smart and well executed race. You were worried about going out too fast and even though you slowed down a bit in the second mile, I think your first mile is right where you want to be. Then when you got to the final mile you powered up and over the hill, reeling in Elsa, and cruising through the finish. Keep it up!
