District Champs!

Long gone are the warm afternoons of September...........The District 5/6 Cross Country Championships were held today at Freeman Park in Idaho Falls. This is the same course used for the Tiger/Grizz Invitational soour team is very familiar with the layout.  This will be the fifth time Raegan has run this course.  The Tiger/Grizz Invitational is run in early September when the temperatures are still pretty warm and the kids are trying to figure out were they are at.  Today, its different.  Its cool, the leaves are starting to drop, the sun is low in the late afternoon sky and they have a "few" races under their belt.

This is the race that everyone has had their eyes on since they started training back in June, a few weeks after the conclusion of the spring track season.  They have put in hundreds of miles over the last few months.  There are now five schools in the district (Madison and Hillcrest joined this year from 4A), Highland, Idaho Falls, Skyline, Hillcrest and Madison.  Highland and Idaho Falls are the contenders for the District Championship and both teams should advance to the State Championships to be held next week. The District Title is what everyone wants this week.

The course at Freeman Park is mostly grass and hard dirt trail run on rolling terrain.  I think it is a challenging course because there are a series of hills between the 2000m and 3200m mark which will test everyone. 

Freeman Park Cross Country Course Map

Girls huddling up before the race.

The Highland girls team in white on the left.

Go!

Raegan is far left......

First 50m

The first few hundred meters is pretty intense.  Everyone is trying to make some space.  Our girls do a pretty good job of getting out front.

Raegan is in there somewhere.  Just to the right of the people in green......  

1.5km into the race

Hanging in about 2.5km into the race.  This is the beginning of a series of hills.

Up the hill and back down again!

Keeping pace.....

Two hills down, two to go!

About 3200m into the race.  Raegan running with the "enemy" :>)

1000m to go!

Gut check time.

50m to go.  All slightly up hill which makes it tough.

Finish line in sight.....

Not easy!

 The girls ran well today winning the district championship beating out Idaho Falls.  Highland (43), IF (54), Hillcrest (62), Skyline (73), Madison (99).  The I.F. team and Highland girls teams were pretty evenly matched all year long.  Raegan ran well with a 21:28.  Congratulations Girls!

DISTRICT CHAMPIONS!

BOOM!

Boys are also District Champs!!

Everyone is happy