Braves,
It is always about the journey, not the destination.
Going in to the state meet Coach Magalei and I scored the boys side of the meet to see how it was projected to play out, based on the seedings of each team and individual. We were projected to get 30 points. That would be good enough for 8th place. We worked our entries to see where we could max our points out, with relays and other individual events and we figured we might be able to get over 40. We hoped that would put us in play for 2nd. Our boys ended up scoring 54 points- finishing in 3rd, 4 points out of 2nd. The team overachieved by 24 points. That really is an incredible feat; I've never seen anything like it. A combination of clutch performances and PRs got them that far, but in reality they earned that finish each day at practice. On the girls side we had some great performances, and that young team earned some valuable experience.
The boys had to massively overachieve to get where they were. For example, Tre improved by nearly 10 feet in the disc, and Nate improved by several feet as well to get 10 points where we were projected less than 5. On the girls side Lovely added a 5th place finish in the disc as well. All three of them are in the top-10 all-time at Bountiful High. It's not like they magically made those throws at state. Everyday I'd walk up to the track around 2:35 and they were already out at the discus ring getting ready to roll. You know who is least surprised by their results? Marv. He saw their work and knew what they could do; they earned it long before the state meet. Max threw a 2 feet PR in the shot to get 2nd when he was ranked around 8th. He came back to finish 3rd in the javelin, just ahead of his 4x100 teammate Noah, who was 4th. Max didn't just bomb a 52 foot throw at state because it was state. He was in the ring day after day working on that spin, throwing the shot out of our sector. Everyday on the field I had to be careful not to get speared by Max or Noah who spent countless hours with Dave throwing the jav. Without the time they put in all year these results don't happen. Lovely tossed a huge 2 foot PR in the shot put as well, and won the whole competition on her first throw. She could have left then and still won it. She is State Champ. She is a dedicated worker and is notorious for staying late to practice the shot put with her dad after everyone is long gone. In fact, when I first was started here at Bountiful, my wife and I came to the track last summer to get a look at the facility. Lovely was up there throwing the shot. I didn't know her at the time, but I knew that she was going to be special, if she was out perfecting her craft 11 months before the state championship. That sure paid off. Kristalynn finished 7th in the 100H after being ranked 9th headed in to finals. Afterwards she told me she also finished 7th as a sophomore. It would have been easy for her to have felt negatively about such a result, but she looked for the positive. What an awesome example of what this sport and team are about. She has worked so hard this year, and has been a model of coach-ability. Anytime I asked her to do something she was happy to do it. When I would give her instruction she was quick to follow it. Then there is Bridger who finished with a pair of 2nd places in the hurdles to get 16 points, while being a critical piece of the 4x100 making finals which was not projected to make it. And seriously, 2nd in the 110H!?!? I mean who first begins running the 110H as a senior and then finishes 2nd at state, .2s behind the winner, with the 4th fastest time ever at Bountiful High? And then in the 300H he goes from a 41 last year to a 38.58 this year, 2nd all-time at BHS. People don't just go from a 41 to a 38 that doesn't happen. Bridger put in work beginning during indoor last December to accomplish what he did. That is a testament to his athleticism, commitment, and hard work.
Though we have a lot of seniors graduating, we have a very promising group returning next year. Our entire 4x100 graduates this year: Max, Bridger, Marsaylis, and Noah (Marsaylis also jumped and ran the medley). But every other member of the relays this year, both boys and girls, is back for next year. They all gained some valuable experience at the state meet. Our boys medley made it to finals, being carried by 2 sophomores, Dallin and Blake, who did the longest legs - not to discount Mars' and Kohle's (who is a jr.) contribution - they put the team in great position headed into the 400m leg. Our girls 4x100 of Maia, Julia, Rachel, and Jazmin made it to finals as well running a top ten time ever at BHS.
The point I hope is being expressed here is that our kids performed unbelievably well this past weekend, but it isn't the result that made this season, but the road we went down. No matter what place we finished, the season was a success because of the journey we took. We compete to be the best we can and we shoot for high goals in order to help us reach our potential, which inevitably takes us on another journey. I hope we always remember that it is about the journey, not the destination, and it is what we do on the journey that makes the destination worth it. To get 3rd for the boys shows how much work they have put in all year. I could not have asked for a better first year here at BHS. I'm going to miss those kids who graduate this year, and I'm so happy to have the rest of you returning for next year. We had fun this season. We have some great kids; not just as athletes but as people. It is you that makes my job so rewarding, so thank you for being you.
There is so much more to be said on the matter, but I will save that for our team BBQ and awards, which will be this Thursday after school at the amphitheater (behind the weight room). We will be handing out lettering certificates as well as some team awards, so I hope everyone who was on the team makes it out.
Now that track is over we turn our attention to the summer sports. My wife Caitlin and I will be the cross country coaches this summer and fall. We are extremely excited to coach this group, and the new kids coming up. We hope to have as many kids come out as possible. All of you who are on the track team now, and aren't doing football, soccer, or another school sport this summer/fall we want you to come out for cross country. We are going to have a fun year. You sprinters/hurdlers should come out as well, it will help give you a base for next track season.
Our first meeting will be Thursday directly after the BBQ. The meeting will only be about 30 minutes. If there is enough interest we will also watch MacFarland USA after the meeting in the auditorium if possible, or in my classroom. The movie is legit. You'll love it. Invite your friends and everyone to come, it does not matter how fast of a runner they are. That's why we train, to get faster, not to show who is fast and who isn't.
Lastly, because XC (cross country- in case it was unclear) is a new season, I will start fresh with my email list. So if you or your child is interested in doing XC, please respond to this email indicating as much, so I can include you in next season's email group. I will send one more reminder out this week about the team BBQ to this group then I will start the next one.
Thanks Braves.
Coach Jacobson
