NOHS Girls take 3rd Place at State XC Competition

It is a beautiful fall Saturday - perfect for the State Cross Country Meet.  It's November 10, 2012, a day much anticipated by Marissa and her parents.  We are so excited for the prospects of the NOHS girls cross country team.  They are predicted to take 3rd place, but they have a goal to take 1st or 2nd.  Highlands looks really good with their extra 8th grade runner (which I consider competely not fair).  

Good Luck Marissa!

Marissa and her friends are stretching and warming up as Mark and I arrive at 10:45 am.  They will race at 11:30 am.  Marissa looks ready and confident.

At 11:30 am the gun goes off and the girls race out for a quick start.  Erin was in the front with Maggie and Marissa right behind but with several other fast runners with them. 

Marissa is running side by side with the lead runner for the Highlands team.  She has run against her at track meets.  She is very fast.

The runners start coming up hill then turn right and then down the hill just a short bit before heading more right to the other side of the finish line.  Then they run down the entire hill, accross the bottom of the field and then back up along the fence.  This is just about 100 meters in front of the 1 mile mark.  Marissa is in a great position right now.  She is ahead of all three South Oldham runners but behind three Highland runners.  The Highland team is running shoulder to shoulder - it will be hard to break that up.  

Marissa is in front of their biggest competition Grace Whitworth, Keightley Dudgeon and Erin Wilson from South Oldham.  

Coming back from the far side of the course Marissa looks super strong and confident.  Grace has passed her but she is still holding off Keightley and Erin.  She is in the top 15.

Marissa had a fantastic last 1/2 mile racing to the finish.  She finished in 13th place which is two places before her expected spot.  She is the second runner for her team and she accomplished her goal of breaking up the South Oldham team.  Grace finished before her but Keightley and Erin came in after our third runner, Maggie Fiorito.  It is the perfect set up to take 2nd place away from South!  Everyone is so excited.

That is until the time comes when we should be seeing our 4th runner, Shelby Adams, but she doesn't come.  She actually was passed by the 4th and 5th South runners and the 5th runner for our team.  Alli Keeler finished 47th and Shelby Adams finished 56, a whole minute behind her expected time.  That took that 2nd place out of our hands, but the North girls should be very proud of being 3rd in the STATE!

That's an amazing accomplishment.

Erin, Maggie, Christina, Mustang, Marissa and Alli K
not show:  Shelby Adams

Marissa with her parents - we are so proud of you!

Runners and Coaches recieving their trophy!  Erin Edmondson was awarded for 3rd place, and Marissa for 13th /top 15.  In the photo:  Back row:  Coach Sykora, Erin, Marissa, Christina, Morgan, Emma, Charlotte, Coaches Phillips.  Front row:  Maggie, Ally H., Shelby and Alli K. - all seniors.