STATE!

Today's final meet was in Detweiller Park, Peoria, IL.  The 1A Girls ran first at 9:00 and the 1A Boys followed at 10:00.  The weather was perfect: sunny and relatively wind-free.  Typical chilly November temperature, but not unbearable, especially as the day wore on.

Both the Boys and Girls Varsity team traveled down with Ale and Kyle to cheer them on.

They're off!  (All 206 of them)

At about the 1/2 mile spot.

Coming up to the two mile marker.

Almost 1/2 a mile to go!

Enjoying a well-deserved refreshment!

Ale finished 66th overall in 19 minutes and 7 seconds,

her personal best for the season.

Her pace was 6:23.

That puts her in the top 32%.

And in relation to her peers, she is the

7th fastest freshman in the State of Illinois. 

Way to go, Ale!

Ale's cheering squad.

(I didn't get a picture, but if the girls turn around they spell out "Kyle"!)

Congratulatory hugs.

Team hug!

Starting off near the front of the pack.

Near the one mile marker.

Coming up to the two mile marker.

The last 1/2 mile.

Kyle with his family and friends.

Kyle finished 61st overall out of 208 runners (and 38th amongst his senior peers), which puts him in the top 29% in the State for 1A High Schools.  His time was 16:07, and his pace was 5:23. 

Not bad for a first year cross-country runner!

(And by "not bad" I mean "pretty amazing!")

In fact, if we narrowed down his category to "first year running seniors who were in the school play last night and didn't arrive in Peoria 'til midnight, getting only 6 hours of sleep", I believe that puts Kyle in the Number One slot!!!!! 

Way to do such a great job in spite of the circumstances!