Rough Run at Regionals

Saturday morning at 9:30 AM the girls load up the bus and head off to the Regional Meet at Collins.  Marissa had her regular routine of grilled peanut-butter sandwich for breakfast with a banana, but she feels tired.

The weather is terrible - 40 degrees and with a wind chill at 31 degrees.  The boys race first - NOHS looks amazing!  We are front runners by far.  The finish goes:  Alex McClarty - 1st (yes, he beat Trenton), Trenton - 2nd, David Terkula - 3rd, Logan Otter - 6th, Aaron Kay Anthony - 7th, Mason Beard - 10th, and Adam Zimmerman close behind at 18th.  It was awesome!  The boys swept into 1st place with ease!!! 

NEXT UP:  The girls run next - Marissa has her regular meeting with dad just before the race, but something just doesn't seem right.  I thought it was because she is wearing ankle to neck Underarmor - I'm just not used to seeing her like that.  The girls all look excited for the race to start but for some reason it took a long time for them to fire the gun - off they go!!!  Erin is up front as expected, followed by Avery, then 2 CAL runners with Marissa closely bright behind them.  Then there were 2 more CAL runners then our pack of 4 runners.  We need those 4 NOHS girls (Caitlyn, Emma, Jesse and Christina) to get infront of the CAL girls.  As the race continued you could see Marissa was giving it everything she had, but she was losing ground.

staying ahead of the competition

going strong

As the race drew to the finish line Erin Edmundson was in 3rd place but was passed just at the finish - she took 4th at 20:08 (I don't think she's ever been in the 20s) and Avery took 6th with a time of 20:51.  Then  Marissa comes around the corner with a CAL runner in front of her and a CAL runner behind her.  She is fighting to pass the CAL runner in front of her but then just 10 feet from the finish her ankle buckles (I saw her sway) and the CAL girls both took advantage of that one second delay.  Marissa finished in 10th place with a time of 21:21 - but what was so concerning is she COLLAPSED to the ground the second she crossed the finish line.  She was spent - exhausted - gave absolutely everything.  She couldn't get up!  

Marissa was exhausted and sad after her run 

Mark rushed over to her and helped her get up.  She was in tears!  She felt she had let her team down.  She felt terrible!  I rushed over after the other 4 NOHS runners crossed the finish line.  Christina Ausley was 18th with a time of 22:30 with Caitlyn Roberts right behind her in 19th place.  Emma Brazeau was in 22nd with Jesse Sanders immediately behind her in 23rd.

They were hopeful that they took 1st place, but in their hearts they know it didn't happen today.  They were all great sports accepting 2nd place in the region.  I'm so proud of all the girls.  They advance as a team to STATE - I hope they all get well rested and prepared for STATE!

Even though they took 2nd in the Region - they did GREAT!!!!