The "Run-Down": Ultimook XC Race

Our debut race of 2013 will provide many strong memories for years to come. For the guys (at least in my van) they will recall four "Heart Breaker" events - two from Pat Benatar, one from the Rolling Stones and the final one from the hill at 2 miles. Our first opponent was the rain when we got to camp and set up our tents. The Prefontaine movie was replaced with a game of Truth or Dare with Lebanon, Oregon's XC team being our next opponent; I am not sure how you tell which team won.

The campout sleeping was a little rough for some on the team; I am wondering if they were concerned about a Sasquatch visitation. Well, that did not happen, but the clouds rolled away by the late night hours to allow any that needed to take a midnight pit stop to see the wonderful array of stars in the rural coastal sky.

After waking up at the crack of dawn to breakdown the tents and grab a quick breakfast, the first group to hit the finish line was our Future Varsity girls. With two newcomers to the sport of XC from Washougal, there were 53 others that lined up with them. Much to our surprise, only one of those 53 beat Freshman Lydia Lyall to the mud pit at the mile mark. We were hoping that she could crack the top ten, but she confidently ran with the leaders. She held her own and finished an award winning 4th. Junior Emma Boyle found many a challenge and delight in conquering them, placing right near the middle of the pack in 30th place. We found out quickly that times were hampered by the mud, river crossings and the hill comparable to Champion Mountain.

Following the girls was are Future Varsity Boys. Junior Jacob Smart was our first FV runner to hit the mud pit. A few steps in, he lost his shoe, which must be retrieved and replaced as per this race's rules. That slowed him down some, but got caught "Double Dipping" half way through the pit which cost him serious time and places. Our other Junior Jacob (Bowen) and Freshman Gabe Groom took control from there out for the Panthers as they past people left and right (or is it Left "or" Right going through the corn maze?); they both managed top 20 finishes in 12 and 15th places. Junior Blake Roberts used his patented 800 Meter runner kick to move into 34th the last few hundred meters. Smart ended in 49th and newcomer Sophomore Tristan Hoyt landed in 72nd out of 129. Our team placing at this level was 8th of the nearly 30 teams - nice job!

Next up was our Senior filled Varsity Girls team. 143 girls toed the line for this race. Our ever-steady Senior Hannah Wright moved up through the race in epic fashion passing a couple dozen in the last two miles to claim 15th slot. Fellow Senior Megan Anderson was far from ecstatic about her performance; however, she is miles ahead of her first race from last year. Falling short of their usual performance level, Senior Brooke Croeni and Junior Karina Miller vow to rebound back into normal fashion in the next few weeks. But our brightest spot at this level was Freshman Courtney Owens. She was the 2nd Panther across the line, and the second Freshman in the whole race, just 5 seconds from the first freshman. (By the way, Lydia was the 4th fastest frosh over all in the girls smaller school division.) Senior Sydney Hickey had a solid performance and was one of the scoring 5 for the Panthers in the first time of her career. The girls claimed 7th place of the 30+ teams in our division.

To finish up the day, our boys glistened with confidence as they had realistic ambitions of winning our division. We felt that Tillamook was the favorite coming in from their performance the week before. But we were surprised to find the lead pack through the first mile full of orange and black, but not from the Panthers, but from large school of Battle Ground. They had a commanding lead going into the mud pit, but faded behind Tillamook shortly thereafter and within striking range of the Panthers. The Washougal boys finished a formidable third; very impressive since they lost two All-State runners from graduation.

Senior Thomas Normandeau invoked "oohs" and "Aahs" from the crowd spectating around the mud pit as he entered about 5^th -6^th, but emerged the temporary leader taking advantage of his elongated strides as he was the 2^nd tallest runner of the 172 athletes in the race. Thomas found a way to stay on the podium (huge tree trunk stumps) in 5^th place. At least as impressive Panther performance came from junior Nicolas Velardi. Struggling in workouts the week before, he broke out of his physiological prison and ran free and clear - capturing 18^th place. Sophomore Bailey Duncan was just seconds behind in 20^th. Sophomore Collin Manning showed his new level of strength and fitness, easily finishing in the upper 20% of the race in 27^th. Senior Anthony Velardi gave himself a fine 18^th birthday present placing 43^rd. In his first XC race, Freshman Aiden Pullen demonstrated true promise as a future XC star as he was the 8^th freshman across the finish line, capturing 50^th place. The tangible prize the Panther boys were granted to take home for their effort? A 20 pound slab of wood, engraved with the 3^rd place phrase. This is definitely the heaviest trophy any of my teams have ever won!

We wrapped up our successful wilderness excursion with Tillamook Ice Cream at the Cheese Factory. This appears to become the perennial choice of refreshments after each trip to the Ultimook XC Race for many years to come by the Panthers.

Coach Terry L. Howard

Here are the line scores:

Varsity Boys		5000 M
Thomas	5^th	18:40.7
Nicolas	18^th	19:48.0
Bailey	20^th	19:51.4
Collin	27^th	20:09
Anthony	43^rd	21:10.7
Aiden	50^th	21:22.8
	of 172

Future Varsity Boys
Gabe	12^th	22:49.8
Jacob B	15^th	23:11.3
Blake	34^th	24:45.8
Jacob S	49^th	25:39.0
Tristan	72^nd	27:07.1
	of 129

Varsity Girls
Hannah	15^th	25:02.1
Courtney	29^th	26:26.0
Megan	54^th	27:49.8
Sydney	69^th	28:23.0
Karina	75^th	28:33.8
Brooke	77^th	28:38.6
	of 143

Future Varsity Girls
Lydia	4^th	27:28.8
Emma	30^th	34:17.7
	of 55