The "Run-Down": George Fox XC Classic
It may have been a new name and location, but the end results were pretty much the same. Our dearly loved "Adidas Classic" at Fernhill Park has transformed into the George Fox XC Classic at Willamette Mission Park near Salem. Despite the changes, we produced many serious PR's and smiles on the faces of Panther XC runners.
Homecoming caused a few logistical problems, so several of our Varsity Girl Seniors (Hannah Wright, Megan Anderson and Sydney Hickey) opted to run in the Future Varsity race (very appropriate since they are definitely scheduled to return to Varsity next week). The pace started out fast and furious with several girls breaking 20 in the end. Hannah clipped a few more seconds off of her Senior Class Record (21:43.8) while Megan rebounded back to a healthy performance (22:36). Her unofficial twin surprised us with even another huge PR - her time of 22:46.1 has really moved her up in the league. More PR's came from Senior Gabby Harvey, Junior Emma Boyle (her 26:51 by 90 seconds!) and the biggest of the day came from Senior Bekah Luthi, by nearly 2 full minutes
The young men on our Future Varsity Boys squad fared nearly as well. A large PR of 31 seconds from Sophomore Isaac Harvey lead the way, and Junior Jacob Bowen shaved one more second off of his (19:00.3). Junior Nigel Little powered his way home on his first race, running touch enough to lose a little of his lunch upon finishing - many of us have done the same, so welcome to the club.
Our Varsity Girls race roster was trimmed down to our three Freshman Record setters over the past three years. Ironically, they sat in order on the bus, and they finished in the reverse order, exactly 30 seconds apart. Freshman Courtney Owens ran without restrictions on the first mile. We found out shortly after that 6:20 first mile was a bit too fast. She managed to hold her position well, though, and ended with a sub 21 performance (20:59), 10 seconds from the school record. Her PR along with one from Sophomore Meredith Collins (by 4 seconds) was enough to champion the girls in the PR battle of the sexes this week (14 to 12 was the score), and Junior Karina Miller ran her first sub 22 race of the year. The girls truly had a great week.
However, it was the Panther Varsity Boys that truly "ran away" with the headlines. Senior Thomas Normandeau was still not quite up to par, even though he squeezed out a PR. by two seconds. However, it was the Panther Pack of boys (led by Sophomore Bailey Duncan) that helped make history for the Panther XC Squad. Bailey's 17:26 was a 12 second PR, Junior Nicolas Velardi broke his by 27 seconds (17:37) and Freshman Aiden Pullen impressed his teammates with at 30 Second PR (17:42). The final blow on the Historic race for the boys was Senior Anthony Velardi chasing down the clock the last hundred yards to break 18 minutes. His 17:58 was a 28 seconds PR and marks the first time a Panther team had all 5 scorers under 18 in the same race! Sophomore Collin Manning showed he was back on track to rejoin the top five soon as he ran 18:24 for a 29 second PR.
Our boys place placed a very pleasant 6th in a fine field of 29 complete teams, most of them larger than us. We hammered Dallas, the team ahead of us at South Salem and pulled away big time from Seaside, the team behind us at Ultimook. We were six for six of the finishing Panthers in this race for achieving new PR's. Our performance today will turn the heads of many teams in our District.
Next week we plan to work hard (to increase our potential in November) then race on Friday at Alderbrook Park in Hockinson on the "Ultra Black Course" of the Finn Hill 5000.
Coach Terry L. Howard
Here are the line scores:
|
Varsity Boys |
|
Mile 1 |
Mile 2 |
5000 M |
|
|
Thomas |
14th |
5:06 |
10:30 |
16:34.6 |
PR |
|
Bailey |
53rd |
5:25 |
11:17 |
17:26.8 |
PR |
|
Nicolas |
62nd |
5:27 |
11:17 |
17:37.9 |
PR |
|
Aiden |
67th |
5:34 |
11:18 |
1742.0 |
PR |
|
Anthony |
87rd |
5:38 |
11:31 |
17:58.0 |
PR |
|
Collin |
111th |
5:39 |
11:43 |
18:20.7 |
PR |
|
|
of 204 |
|
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|
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|
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|
|
|
Future Varsity Boys |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jacob B |
20th |
5:58 |
12:15 |
19:00.3 |
PR |
|
Gabe |
35th |
6:02 |
12:34 |
19:56.5 |
|
|
Blake |
74th |
6:14 |
13:18 |
21:04.2 |
|
|
Jacob S |
83rd |
6:20 |
13:38 |
21:27.2 |
|
|
Isaac |
86th |
??? |
13:43 |
21:35.3 |
PR |
|
Nigel |
155th |
7:23 |
16:25 |
25:36.7 |
|
|
|
of 164 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Varsity Girls |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Courtney |
37th |
6:20 |
13:19 |
20:59.5 |
PR |
|
Meredith |
55th |
6:47 |
13:51 |
21:29.2 |
PR |
|
Karina |
74th |
6:59 |
14:13 |
21:59.6 |
|
|
|
of 167 |
|
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|
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|
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|
Future Varsity Girls |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hannah |
35th |
6:48 |
13:56 |
21:43.8 |
|
|
Megan |
66th |
6:57 |
14:27 |
22:36.0 |
|
|
Sydney |
70th |
6:58 |
14:27 |
22:46.1 |
PR |
|
Emma |
217th |
8:00 |
16:54 |
26:51.9 |
PR |
|
Gabby |
226th |
8:13 |
17:22 |
27:12.9 |
PR |
|
Bekah |
235th |
8:19 |
17:30 |
27:37.1 |
PR |
|
of 287 |
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