Walther Christian Academy Cross Country 2017

26th Annual Elmwood Park Cross Country Invitational

(Notice the temperature!)

Aside from the chilly start, it was a great day. Now it may not have looked like it if you were just judging runners based on their places only. We were the only 1A school out there and were surrounded by both 2A and 3A teams. But the truth is, it was a TERRIFIC day for the running Broncos and everyone should be proud of their accomplishment. In spite of the odds against us, four of our runners managed to earn themselves a ribbon. Way to go, team!

As usual, ladies first:

Today's varsity runners

There were 72 runners today.

And there go our two of those 72!!!

Tamron's situation is an example of how looks can be deceiving. Normally she runs in the top 50% of the field. Today she was in the bottom 50% but she got her BEST TIME EVER!!!!!! She was 34 seconds faster that her previous fastest race. Total time was 22:47.6. SUPER!!!!!!

Chloe's situation was the same. Surrounded by 2A and 3A runners, it would appear she had a "bad" day based on her placing (66/72), but the reality is that she had her BEST DAY EVER this year! Her total time was 25:03.3, which is one minute and 43 seconds faster that her previous race. FANTASTIC!

Time for the Varsity Boys:

Go Broncos!

Luis & Mitch stuck together most of the race, but in the end, Luis pulled ahead and finished in 19th place with a new PR of 16:57.5. This is his best time ever for both his freshman and sophomore years. AMAZING!!!

Mitch was not far behind. He finished in 24th place with a time or 17:06.3. This is also a PR for him! His next goal is to break 17 minutes. Do you think he can do it? (I do!!!!)

Eric and Jaylin were in our 2nd set of running partners. Eric was able to finish as the 3rd runner of the Broncos with a time of 17:09.0. He was in 27th place overall. Though not his fastest time of his career, it is a PR for this year and it was a minute and 9 seconds faster than last week's race. Keep up the improvement, Eric. It's so nice to see you back on the Varsity team!

Jose and David were initially our 3rd set of runners, staying quite close to each other for most of the race. David managed to pull ahead during the last mile and finished 4th for the team in a time of 17:36. Though technically it wasn't a PR when looking at mile paces only, it was a PR based on comparison to other 3.0 mile races. WOW!!!

Jaylin may have been thinking he was having a bad day because of how he felt, but he also achieved his PR today by breaking 18 minutes for the first time this year and finishing in 17:37.9. Superb!!!

Jose also achieved his PR (for this year and last year combined) by finishing in 17:49.3. Marvelous!!!

Jack, being carefully watched by Coach Goffron, completed the course in 18.52.2 He cut off one minute and 41 seconds from his previous best time! That's nothing to scoff at, Jack!!! Keep up that rate of improvement!

Steven also reduced his time significantly and achieved his PR by finishing in 19.14.7. TERRIFIC!!!!

Aaron continues to take time off his races and like everyone else achieved a PR today by finishing in 20:17.1. Wonderful!!!

Today's ribbon winners in the boys varsity race.

As a team, we got 6th place out of 11 teams. While that may not sound like much initially, when you consider the fact that we were the ONLY 1A team (everyone else was either 2A or 3A schools), that's pretty remarkable! This team is going places!

Final Race of the Day: Boys Open

Kobe headed straight for the front of the pack and was able to secure a position in the top ten, earning himself a 9th place medal with a time of 18:06.6. And you guessed it, it was a PR for him too!

James has been fighting a long infection, but returned to practice this week stronger than ever! In spite of his extended absence, he also got a PR today, finishing in 19:53.6, breaking 20 for the first time this year. Way to go!!!

Today was Steven's first completed race. He started out as a student manager, but has now been put on the running team and he did a GREAT job of getting out there and establishing a very respectable time for himself. His final time was 21:19.0. Great race, Steven!!!

Xavier shaved off a HUGE chunk of time today. He got his time down to 22:02.2, which is over three minutes faster than his previous fastest race!! Mind-boggling!!!!