Milwaukee Lutheran Concordia University Wisconsin Classic

Something new happened this year...fog!

Normally, I would take pictures of the campus and post them because it is a beautiful setting right next to Lake Michigan.  However, this is what the lake looked like this year:

 Beautiful, isn't it????? (Yes, that's the lake!!!)

 So let's forget about the view and get on with the team pictures.  Warning: I don't have a "fog" setting on my camera!

Jack & Eric were our "unwilling" support team.  Not that they weren't willing to support the team, but they're not too happy that they can't be out there running today.  Hopefully soon, guys, but glad you were with us anyway!

Part of the trail before the runners got to it.

Mr. Goffron was actually our first competitor of the day.  He ran in the Open race at 9:30 (also a 5K).

In case anyone is wondering if he caught up with the other guy...YES, he did!!  At the very last moment.  Way to go, Coach!!!

The girls were up next:

By the way, welcome to Demaja Olivares, who has joined the team since our last race in August!

Everyone gathered around for prayer and the team cheer.

Tamron did not run this course last year, so there's no time to compare with, but she finished first for our team and 32nd out of 63 total with a time of 26 minutes.  Great job, Tamron!

Chloe is going to be titled "Most Consistent" runner.  She got 41st place (same as last year) and finished in 28:08 (only 8 seconds slower than last year!).  Not bad considering that she had to sit out a lot already this season due to an injury.  
Way to go, Chloe!!!

 

 Claudia did amazing!  She finished in 28:43, which is more than five minutes faster than her time on this same course last year.  What an improvement!

Welcome to the world of 5 K's, Demaja!  It's not an easy way to be initiated into the world of Cross Country, but hats off to you for finishing strong!  Demaja completed the course in 37:40.  Kudos!

Next up, the boys...

Drumming up enthusiasm, led by Eric.

Go Broncos!

And out of the mist they came...

Luis pushed his way to the front of the team, finishing 15th/16th overall.  He was listed as 16th on the results sheet, but his time, 18:14.00, was exactly the same as the #15 runner.  (So Luis, you earned a medal even if you don't have it in your hand.)  Even more importantly, however, he took off 1 minute & 59 seconds from his previous time at this course.  Way to go!

Jaylin also finished impressively in 18:31, cutting off 1 minute & 15 seconds from last year's time at this course.  He was 22nd overall.

Mitch also took a chunk of time off his previous run at this course, improving by 1 minute & 29 seconds, finishing in 18:54.  Super!!!  He was 27th overall.

Kobe was right behind Mitch in 28th place, finishing in 18:56, which is 37 seconds faster than his previous 5K last year.  Impressive!

David was in the final scoring position for the team, coming in  32nd overall.  This is a huge improvement from last year (64th!  See what happens when you try, David!).  His time was 19:17, taking off 3 minutes and 23 seconds.  Fantastic!!! (All this in spite of falling down at the beginning of the race and being trampled!)

Gus took off a whole minute off from last year's time, finishing in 20:52, in spite of running with an injured ankle.  Way to keep pushing on, Gus!!!

Jose was 7th for the team, finishing up in 21:06.  Not bad considering that he just rejoined the team this week and he fell over David at the starting line, also getting trampled by someone with spikes.  Ouch!!  Welcome back, Jose!!!

Sometimes it helps to run together!

Julio fought through the pain and finished his first 5K in 21:45.  Great job, Julio!

Steven also did a fantastic job on his first-ever 5K, completing the course in 21:54.

James was only 1 second behind Steven, finishing 21 seconds faster than last year's course.  Wonderful!

Aaron wasn't far behind.  He finished in 21:59.  This was 3 minutes & 34 seconds faster than his last 5K. Wow!!!!!

This was Daniel's first 5K also.  He did a fantastic job as well, finishing in  24:43.  Way to go!

Kevin finished his first 5K in 27:13.  Superb!!!

Traivon was also running his first 5K ever.  He completed the race in 27:33.  Great job!

With the races over, all there was left to do was eat the free lunch and wait for the results.

The boys got 4th place overall out of 11 teams.  That's very good considering that we were short two of our better runners.  Had we passed two more people, we would have been in 3rd place.  So the boys will be a team to contend with this year (if we can stop tripping over each other!).   

Next race on September 12 @ ICCP.

See you there!!!