Very Busy Saturday

The day started at 5:00 am getting Marissa and Devon ready to catch the bus for the XC meet at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY.  Mark drove them to school while Betsy went back to bed.

Marissa's bus left at 5:45.  They are the first to race at 9:00.
Devon helped load up his bus, and they left at 6:45.

Mark, Robert and I left the house around 7:20.  Mark left a few minutes earlier because he had to drive Jessica's car (see other post as for why).  Robert and I left in Mark's car after we gathered up everything he would need for his soccer game later in the day.

It was a complicated day.  First we'd drive to Lexington to see Marissa and her team run, and Devon and his team run.

Betsy was there, camera in hand ready to get as many photos as possible.  Robert was my shadow - I didn't want us to get separated since we were going to have to make a run for the car as soon as Devon's race was over.  The course is great in that you can see almost all of it, it's terrible in that it is in a horse pasture - horse droppings everywhere.  Robert and I had to really watch where we were stepping.

Always a smile - she loves running

Marissa ran in the girls Varsity at 9:00 am.  It is a very difficult course full of hills, horse droppings and narrow avenues to run.  She did excellent.  She ran side by side with Caitlyn Beyea for the entire race - sometimes ahead, and sometimes behind, but always within a second of her.  She finished at the same second as Caitlyn earning another PR at 11:49 in 66 place.  

Caitlyn and Marissa leading the way

A strong finish

Go MARISSA!!!

Friends and Teammates:  Morgan, Brittani, Shelby, Erin, Marissa, Emma, Caitlyn and Christina

Marissa and Katie:
Running buddies and car pool mates  

Devon ran in the boys JV at 10:10 (which started late - having a domino effect).  He has a rough race.  He is allergic to horses and didn't take any allergy medicine.  He finished the race, coincidentally, in 66th place with a time of 19:36.  It wasn't a PR, but close to other teammates.  He really wished he could have done better for his team, but he was just struggling too much with the breathing.  As soon as Devon's team finished, Robert and I had to RUN (and I mean RUN a long way) back to the car to get him on the way to his soccer game north of Cincinnati, OH.  Robert and I made excellent time on our way to Mason, OH for a soccer game that started at 1:30 (be there by 12:30 pm).

Devon working hard

Devon with only 600 meters to go

Devon running hard at the finish 

Robert and his team had a great game.  They controlled the movement of the ball 95% of the game.  Working the ball forwards and backwards maintaining control.  Robert played wide mid, he had several close attempts at scoring.  We eventually won the game 1-0.  It was nice to have a victory.  This was the first Conference game of the fall season!

Robert and I then had a 2 hour drive home.  Poor Robert hadn't had enough food and started to feel car sick just as traffic got back (construction).  We stopped and ate at Fazolli's.  We finally reached home around 6:30.  What a long day!

Shelby County Meet

Marissa's cross country team ran in the Shelby County meet on Saturday, September 3 - the Saturday of Labor Day weekend.  The temperature was extremely hot.

The Varsity girls ran at 9:00 am with a temperature of 99 degrees F.  There were two girls that didn't finish the race and one of those girls (the one from Male) had to be taken away in an ambulance.

Marissa was running in the JV race at 10:30 am.  By that time it was 103 degrees F.  I personally believe they should have called the race but they didn't.  I emailed Mark at 10:00 and asked him to cover Marissa's head with ice water - cool her down before she runs so that keeps her temperature down as she exhorts exercise.  It worked!

Marissa ran a 5K in that heat and did FANTASTIC!  She was the lead runner at the beginning of the race and maintained her position in the top 5 for the entire race.  As a matter of fact she was in 3rd place the whole race until the last few seconds before the finish.  She finished in 4th place with a PR of 23:20.  AMAZING!

After the race was over Marissa needed water, but the girl that finished just before her passed out after crossing the finish line.  There were four girls that didn't finish the JV race, and several that needed ice baths or to be treated by EMT.  It was a very dangerous race because of the heat!.

We are so proud of you Marissa - you took the right pro-cautions and ran a fantastic race!

Jessica 4th fastest in the mile in the state of Kentucky

Jessica in the lead on the back stretch

Jessica's second event at State was the 1600 Meter run, or more commonly called "The Mile".  She started out pacing herself, but it is so hard for her - she likes to be in front.  In the picture below you can see her in front.  The second girl is the one that came in 1st place.  Her name is Katarina Karas and she ran a 5:17 mile.  She has been running this event for years, whereas Jessica is running it for the 6th time in her life today at the State Championships.  This is such a thrill for us to watch.  This also is Jessica's favorite event.  She really wants to do well today!
 As Jessica continues the race, she looks cool and confident.  She settles in for a good pace and pushes herself to stay in the front (1st, 2nd or 3rd).

Jessica a face ahead of the first place winner and the 3rd place winner

Inching out into the lead on the last lap.

Jessica on the last 100 meters, but she doesn't realize someone is on her heals until...

This girl gave Jessica the run of her life in the last 50 meters, passing her just before the finish line.

 Jessica ran an amazing race - finishing 4th in the state, breaking her own best time for a PR of 5:27.99 and breaking her own school record!  Mom and Dad were there to congratulate her after the race!  I can't even imagine running a 7:00 minute mile and she does it in 5:27.

 Jessica was later called to the podium to receive her medal for the 1600 Meter Run!

This is Jessica's favorite race.  I think she will try to run for BYU's track team.  She has the skill and the talent.   It's amazing to think, this is her first year running this event and she came in 4th in the STATE!

Congratulations Jessica!!!

Jessica's 4x800 meter team = 2nd in the state! STATE!

Sarah Redel, senior 

May 26, 2011 - the biggest day in Lady Mustang Track and Field to date and these girls don't know that they are the very start of it.  The 2A State Championship meet started at 1:00 p.m. at the University of Louisville Track with the 4 x 800 Meter Relay.   Sarah Redel, a senior on the team, is the first of the four girls to run.  She runs two laps and then hands the baton to Ally Hall.  While Sarah is running, Ally is on the line in anticipation of the place she will start her leg.

Ally starts out strong, does her two laps and passes the baton to Hannah Gray.  Hannah Gray is a super fast runner and the third person on the 4 x 800 Meter Relay team.  She runs a strong two laps and has us in third place when she hands the baton to Jessica Lowe.  

Jessica is the anchor for the 4 x 800 Meter Relay team.  She is strong and determined.  She takes off like "a bat out of …" and closes the gap between 2nd and 3rd place.  On her second lap she makes her move on the back stretch, starting her sprint sooner than she usually does.  It pays off, she not only is able to stay ahead of South Oldham (the State Champs for 3 years), but she also passes the 2nd place runner to take 2nd place in the State, and (yet again) breaks the current fastest time at NOHS to set a new school record of 10:01:16.  They are State Champion Runner ups!

Ali Hall, Jessica Lowe, Sarah Redel and Hannah Gray

Coach Grimm, Coach Yanke, Sarah, Jessica, Hannah, Ali, and Coach Sykora

These four girls are amazing together!!!

The girls are called up later to receive their medals and take their place on the podium!  We all, coaches, parents, teammates and friends are so proud of them.  They started the meet off with 2nd place and lead the team to great accomplishments!