Braves,
This was a pretty busy with three meets in three days, even
though one of them was ultimately cancelled. We took a group to the super meet
at Davis high and had some outstanding performances. Invitationals like the
super meet are one of the ways that athletes can qualify for state. There are
two ways to qualify for state, by reaching the qualifying mark (a list of those
are on our website) in a “state qualifying meet” (aka invitational) or by
placing in one of the top 4 places at the region meet this may. I will include
a list of who has qualified for state at the end of each update.
We had 4 individuals qualify for state this week, some in
multiple events, and both our medley relay teams made it. Those medleys were
some crazy races. We knew going in that each runner would need to run a
personal best, or really close to it, to have a chance at qualifying. Hitting
the qualifying mark this early in the year is really difficult to do, because
the marks are set each year at state, when teams are stacked for great
performances, based on the 8th place team from the past few years.
Are girls team, Julia, Jazmin, Rachel, and Laurie got out and competed hard. If
you’ve ever seen Laurie run you won’t soon forget the expressions she makes
when she is determined to lay it all out there on the track. Her determination
boils over into a scowl that would intimidate Apollo Creed. I love seeing that
kind of drive and competitiveness, especially when you know she is doing it for
her team. All four runners ran a solid leg that gave each other a chance. They
ended up beating the qualifying mark by 0.4 of a second and placing second
overall.
The girls’ team ended the meet finishing 7th of
13 in a field composed of 1 other 4A school amongst 5A schools. The boys’
medley, Cooper, Hunter, Kohle, and Dallin, was almost the exact same story. We
needed solid performances from each runner and that is exactly what we got. After
Dallin got the baton, his first lap did not put us on pace to hit the mark, but
with 300m to go he turned on the burners, leaving the field in the dust and
blowing by 2nd place Davis to win the event, negative splitting his
800 (63-61) and saw his team through the line, making the qualifying mark by
0.25 of a second.
The relays were highlights of the meet because of the effort
of each teammate, and also the enthusiasm of the teammates who were there in
support. I love seeing our team excited for each other. It shows that we are
about something bigger than ourselves and that we are in this together.
Our first invitational of the season is passed, with many
more to go. As we look over the results we see the potential of a region
championship for both the boys and the girls. We have a solid core, but it is
going to take more from each one of us. We have athletes that are projected to
finish 10th, or 7th in an event. We need to put in the
work now to turn those into 8th place and 4th place and
get those lower level points to give us a bump up. What we do today determines
where we will finish tomorrow. As cliché and obvious as that is, I worry that
some of us don’t get that, or lack the foresight to understand what it takes.
Help your teammates when it looks like they are struggling in practice. Keep
after them and lift them up when needed. Stay positive even when you don’t feel
it. Enter the stadium each day determined to give all you can. When you walk
onto the track you should already know the effort level you’re going to give.
A few things to know for this week:
Practice on Monday will be at 10 AM for runners and jumpers.
Throwers will meet at 2 PM. Girls can pick up their new uniforms in my
classroom after practice. Bring the old one to exchange it.
The district championships are on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Entries will be finalized on Monday night. As with every invitational, if you
have been missing practice, do not expect to be invited to the meet. If you don’t
train with the team how can we let you race with the team? I said this to my
sprinters but I will say it here too: people who come to practice every day but
don’t score a point at any meet contribute more to our team than someone who
rarely comes but wins region. Your contribution to the team has little or
nothing to do with the points you score. It has everything to do with what you
bring to it each day in terms of attitude, effort, and commitment. On that
note, Thursday’s turnout to practice was horrible. Thank you to those who came
and were ready to work hard in spite of the conditions. Each of you got better
physically and mentally. Unfortunately there were a lot of people who went home
and got weaker. That cannot be what our team is about. Teams don’t get better
or win championships when we are afraid of the rain. It snowed for a solid 5
minutes of practice, and then the rain stopped after about 20. It’s days like Thursday
that make us wonder if we understand how close region is this year. If we are
going to win it is going to take us working at the next level. We are not the
favorites to win it, but we have the personnel to do it. We have to be mentally stronger if we are
going to have a chance. Keep in mind that spring weather in Utah is going to
have its ups and downs. We will have perfect weather at some races, and
torrential rain storms at others. It seems like the bigger the meet, the worse
the weather, so we better start getting used to it.
That being said, our team isn’t about condemning someone the
rest of the year because they made a bad choice one day (probably Thursday) to
miss practice. Each one of you is a valued member of the team. Your
contribution isn’t based on one day, if it was then you could have one awesome
practice and call it good. It is based on what we do day after day. So even if
you felt my rebuke was aimed at you, it’s ok, come this week ready to start
fresh and get better. That is the last I will say specifically about Thursday’s
practice.
We will send out an email tomorrow with information of who
is going to the district meet and when the bus leaves. Some of the distance
runners who were entered in the meet had to be changed based on number
limitations and practice attendance, so be aware of that.
Those who do not run at the district meet are still welcome
to come support. There will be a jv meet on Thursday or Friday, at bhs or
davis, and I will let you know as soon as I know the details. Everyone who does
not race at district will be invited to that meet.
Let me know if you have any questions.
