Conference Meet

Marmion Academy

Aurora, IL

It's time once again for the...

  

...Conference Meet at...

...Academy.   For those who have gone before, it's the place with the...

  ...and it's also the place known for having bad weather on the day of the meet.  
Sadly, as you can see by the wind-blown flag below...

...today was no different.  The day started with wind and clouds, which would have been fine had it not changed; but by the time the JV ran, it was fluctuating between sprinkling and downpouring.

Hats off to our JV and Open Runners who finished strong, in spite of the uncomfortable temperature and dampness.  Hopefully, ending on this note will not keep you from joining the team again next year!!!

Due to the incoming threat of rain, the  
Varsity Girls 
ran first today.

Final words of encouragement to each other.

The traditional prayer, followed by the unique Bronco cheer.

Ready and waiting.

(Sorry, Anne, you got lost in the crowd, so I barely got you coming away from the starting line.)

Interesting socks, gals.

 

 Coming down the hill for the first time...

Sometimes you just have to use those arms for balance!

 

Sonja led the team home with a final time of 21:33, 47 seconds faster than her last 5K (and even though she has bronchitis!!!)

Finishing her first 5K of the year in 22:35 (which is actually 1:48 faster than her 3 mile run last week...and this is with an ongoing hip injury!)

Finishing in 23:57, cutting off 44 seconds from her last 5K.

A big finish at 24:02, which is 3-1/2 minutes faster than at Lisle.  Way to go, Nessa!!!

24:22, a 22 second improvement, even with an injury!!!

 

 









 Everyone came in with a strong finish,
in spite of various obstacles.

Great job, ladies!

 ***

Next up, Varsity Boys.

It's still windy, but at least it's still dry.  

For the moment!

 

 

18:10 (cut off 44 seconds)

18:44 (cut off 54 seconds)

19:57 (cut off 48 seconds)

20:08 (cut off 46 seconds)

20:43 (cut off 36 seconds--in spite of stopping for a cramp!)

21:01 (1st 5K of the year, but faster than his last 3 mile race!!)

21:46 (cut off 2 minutes & 13 seconds!!!)

 JV BOYS were next.   

Hmmmmm, wasn't it last time their race was cancelled due to a lightning strike?  Well, I bet a lot of people were hoping for a lightning strike during this race, but we weren't that lucky this time around and instead had to stick it out in the rain.

22:44 (his first 5K, but faster than his best 3-mile race)

 

23:38 (cut off 1 minute 6 seconds)

In the meantime, back at the tent...

If you look closely, you'll notice that their hoodies are darker than normal because they are completely saturated with rain from the downpour.

 

Notice the water line on the pants!!! (At least my shoes got clean!)

 FINAL RACE:   OPEN (Boys and Girls)

 

 

22:01 (cut off 1 minute, 30 seconds)

Yes, that's the rain on my camera lense!
Final time: 25:25, (cut off 1 minute, 14 seconds)

Great job, everyone.  EVERYONE got their PR today.  That's quite an achievement, as individuals and as a team.
And congrats to the those runners who finished up their season today.

Next up:  Regionals!!!