Sectionals!!!

Hosted by Lisle High School

November 1, 2014

Considering yesterday's weather, today's was pretty good!  So we probably should not be complaining.

Friday night was the last official team dinner, so we'll start with pictures from there:

 The overflow room.

After dinner, the team sat down to hear a Berenstain Bears story, creatively narrated by Eric.  You're going to be a great dad someday, Eric!!!  (For those of you who weren't there, I'm serious.  This really happened.  The "tradition" was started last year when Matt S. read to the team.)

The group eventually dwindled down to three and the evening was finished with a game of Monopoly.

Back to Saturday...This is our second time back to Lisle this season.  Here are some pics from the course, for those of you who haven't been out there.

(And thanks to Mr. Morris for contributing some of the photos for this race.)

There are a few U-turns like this throughout the course!

At the foot of the infamous hill.

 Scenic views along the way (not that any of the runners are actually noticing or enjoying them!).

At the bottom of this hill, the course makes a sharp 90 degree turn to the right, making it a bit more difficult in light of the fact that they enter the turn with a lot of momentum from running down a hill!

We've seen this every year, but it made me chuckle because it looks like someone had a spelling problem and had to use white out to start over!

First race of the day:  Girls Varsity

                            

 Notice the socks and gloves...both gifts from Coach Goffron.

Pre-race Preparations:

 GO BRONCOS!

Our Walther girls got a good start out front.

There were 135 runners total.

Coming down the first hill...

      

       

 

Coming in toward the finish line...

(The places noted below are different from the tags the runners got at the finish line...I'm guessing  that is one of the factors leading to the delay of the stats' availability.)

Lauren came in 14th overall!!!  Her time was 21:06, which is her PR for a 5K.  This qualified her for next week's competition at State in Peoria!!!  What a great start to your first year in Cross Country, Lauren.  Way to go!

Ale came in 27th overall (compared to 43rd at this same race last year).  She took 16 seconds off her time compared to her last run at this course.

This was her last race for her high school career.

The team is going to miss you (and your cookies), Ale!!!

 This is Jenny's first time at Sectionals.  She was in 38th place, finishing in a time of 22:12, twelve seconds faster than her last 5K.  You've had a great year, Jenny.  Keep up the good work!!!

This is Tamron's 2nd time at Sectionals.  Last time she was 86th place.  Today she was 73rd!  She was 26 seconds faster than her last time at Lisle.  

Keep it up, Tamron.  You're really improving!

This was Chloe's first time at Sectionals.  She pushed herself through a second week of stomach pain.  Running is hard enough as it is, but add in belly problems and breathing difficulties and that brings it to a higher dimension. 

Kudos to Chloe for not giving up!!!!

(118th place;  27:59)

Overall, the girls earned 9th place out of 18 teams total.  The last time they ran as a team at Sectionals, 2 years ago, they got 12th out of 15th. 

 We're moving up in the world!!!

Our Varsity Boys on the sidelines cheering on the girls (or just acting strangely!)

A visit from another Walther alumni (the first of the Garcia runners who herself went to State back in 2008).

 Ale holding her nephew and possible future Walther runner???

And now for the Varsity Boys...

 "Ummmm...Mrs. Garcia, are you going to get out of my way???"

 Final instructions from Coach.

The boys also received socks and gloves (with green spiders!) from Coach Goffron.

 A sampling of our parental cheerleaders. Note the Bobbsey Twins on the left!  (I'm sure only the parents will understand that reference!)

And they're off!

 

 

 

Coming down the first hill...

 

 Notice anything wrong with these pictures???? (See below for an additional clue.)

 

                

 

Coming in toward the finish line:

Jack was our top finisher for the boys.  Last year he was 74th at Sectionals, but this year he was 34th!  His time was 18:16, which is a PR for a 5K.  Impressive!

Luis, the shoeless wonder, was 2nd for our team, finishing in 47th overall.  His time was 18:36.  He tied himself to his fastest 5K so far, but improved his Lisle time by 38 seconds.

A great start to his high school career!

Last year, Mitch was 94th place.  Today he finished in 52nd place!  His final time was 18:39.  This is 26 seconds faster than his last run at Lisle.

                    Way to go, Mitch.  Keep it up!!!

 Jaylin must have noticed that Luis was using only one shoe and decided to follow his example.  Did it work?  Well, last year, Jaylin was 129th (wearing 2 shoes).  This year he only wore one and was 59th!

Anyway, his time was 18:48, which is 23 seconds faster than his last race at Lisle.

With shoes or without, you've done great, Jaylin!!!!

 Kobe, hiding behind #1659, did well for his first Sectional, coming in as our final scoring runner.  He was in 100th place, finishing in  19:33, a new PR for a 5K.  Great job!

Jacob was 129th place as a sophomore but this year finished in 106th place.  His time today was 19:47, which is 42 seconds faster than his race last year at this same course.  Way to keep improving, Jacob! 

Jacob is another senior who will be graduating next spring; he will be missed greatly.

   

David finished 110th.  His time was 19:55.  This is a minute and three seconds faster than his last 5K!  He had a great first year as a freshman, working his way onto the Varsity team.  Way to go!  Hope to see you next year (Ha, ha!).

The boys were13th out of 21 teams.  This is an improvement from last year, when we were 15th out of 20.  We were just a point away from being in 11th place as there was a team with 250 points, and two teams (one of them Walther) with 251 points.  We were considered the "second" of the two because our times were slower, but had we passed two more people, the boys would have been in 11th place!

Sigh.  But overall, we are improving compared to last year and I expect that will continue into the next!

Waiting for the awards ceremony...

 Hmmmm...I think we've worn him out!

 COOKIE TIME!

 No, Jose, I don't think that's the best place to sit!

Congrats to Lauren...You've won a parking permit!!!!  (which means you've earned a spot at State, of course).

The cross country team should be proud of themselves.  We are the only fall sport to make it to Sectionals as a team (both boys and girls!!!) and to send someone to State.

Thanks to Coach Goffron for all that you've done!!!

*** 

Thanks to the Feltz family for the great party on Saturday evening.  No pictures, but plenty of great memories!