Senior Day

Its hard to believe the cross country season is nearly over.  We are down to the last few races and all the hard work and will be put to the test.  This week was the Pocatello City Meet.  This is a different race from all the other previous meets since it involves just the schools from Pocatello and it is a night in which all the schools recognize the senior runners.  The atmosphere is more laid back from other events, but there still is a little competition for bragging rights in the city (Highland, Pocatello and Century).  Raegan ran a 20:15 good enough for a 4th place showing.  The Girls also won city with a score of 25 over Pocatello (30) and Century (85).

Start of the Pocatello City Meet

A nice setting for the race at Ross Park.

There are two aliens in the picture...   Can you find them?

First 800m running down  S. 4th Ave on the edge of "upper" Ross Park.

Back up the hill transitioning from "lower" to "upper" Ross Park.

Notice the tan line from Raegan's watch.  Many miles put in over the last five months to get the coveted "watch tan line"!

Coach Gulden giving Raegan a little "encouragement"

Last 50m.........

Raegan's teammates cheer her on.

Celebration is on.

Coach Gulden and Raegan

Mom and Dad are proud!

Highland Seniors

Sky is the limit!

Seniors from Highland, Century and Pocatello High School's

Coach Parrish, Raegan and Coach Gulden

Pocatello City Meet

This week all of the local schools participate in "City Meets" for cross country.  The middle schools ran their race this past Wednesday (Oct 10).  The middle school race was held at the Centennial Course at Idaho State University.  The middle school kids run a 2.5k version of the course.  The course has some pretty good elevation changes and is a real test for middle school kids.  Kennedy was not real excited to run on it, but did a great job.  She has been real busy with cheer and not able to make it to all the practices this year.  Nevertheless, she was able to run her personal best for this course with a time of 14:52.

Start of the Pocatello Middle School "City Meet"

A thundering heard......

The course takes the kids down the hill for about a half mile before the long run back up.

Raegan and the Highland Team was there to cheer them on.

About a 100m left.  Raegan cheering Kennedy on.

One eye on the finish line.......

Holding of the challengers

Marilyn cheering Kennedy along.

Made it.

Bob Conley Invitational

Highland's "home" cross country meet was held this week. The Bob Conley Invitational is named after (obviously) Bob Conley who was the cross country coach at Highland High School from 1981-1990. Coach Conley won 10 state championships (9 boys, 1 girls) during his career at Highland High.  His boys team won 1984 National Cross Country Championship (XC Legacy series published through Milesplit.us)

The meet was held just three days after the Dani Bates Invitational so the kids were a little worn down. Attendance was light this year due to some uncertainties about race even being held. We had a coaching change this year and our new coach was hired very late (a couple of weeks before the season).  Because of the late change, most teams who normally attend the meet had made other plans. Coach Gulden split his team (Black & White) to compete against Bear Lake and American Falls.

Coach Gulden used this race to start preparing for District's which are to be held ten days. He instructed the kids to work on their pace and actually held a workout after the race. Times were not that great.  Raegan took 3rd with a time of 21:29 which was about 30 seconds off her time two days prior.

300m into the race.  Looking more like a "fun run" today.  Coach Gulden split the teams into Black and White....

First time up the hill.  This is a pretty steep incline.

1800m into the race

Heading down the hill in the first of two loops

Second time up the hill

Last time down the hill

1000m left

Final 50m

Marilyn and Raegan discuss the race

Marilyn and Raegan at the Bob Conley Invitational

Top 15

Raegan with Coach Conley

Practice after the race...... Notice they are all hitting the timers on their watches as they time their 400m splits

"Carb Loading"

One of the traditions of the Highland Cross Country Team is the "pre-race dinner"  The night before every meet the kids will gather at the home of one of the team members for a pasta dinner "carb loading".   Traditionally we have taken the night before the Bob Conley Invite.  Its a lot of fun having  a house full of hungry teenagers........

Justice, Bryan and Remington filling their plates

We watched slide shows from previous races

Presli is always giving "the look"!

Patriotic Extravaganza

On Friday, Kennedy participated in the annual "Patriotic Extravaganza" held at half time of the Highland/Skyline football game. All the schools from the Pocatello area were represented.

Local veterans are honored

Kennedy "naturally" has a smile on her face when she performs!

Dani Bates Invitational

October is upon us and the cross country season is in full swing.  This week we attended the Dani Bates Invitational in Twin Falls, Idaho.  The race is held on the Canyon Springs Golf Course which provides a picturesque setting for the race.  With district and state races just a few weeks away, this is a good test to see where everyone is at.  Highland's district rival Idaho Falls was at the race, which added to the excitement.  This race could be a preview of the possible outcome at district in a few weeks.  The Idaho Falls girls team has beat us the last two times we have met.

Raegan really likes this course.  I think its because this race is held in early October and the cooler temperatures make for ideal race conditions.  Gone are the hot late summer afternoon races!

Raegan ran a personal best time of 20:56 breaking that illusive 21 minute mark!  She finished 17th overall (110 runners).  The girls finished 2nd (56pts) behind Soda Springs (49pts), but they soundly beat their rival Idaho Falls (83pts).  I think the Soda Spring girls team is one of the top teams in the state which is impressive given the size of their school (2A).  Our boys team took 3rd and where beat by Idaho Falls which wont help their current state ranking (4th).  Our girls are still considered a "bubble team" to place at state (5A).

Canyon Springs Golf Course from the bottom of the Snake River Canyon.  The Perrine Bridge stands in the background.  The bridge is a popular base jumping site.  It is/was also a longstanding tradition for our family to cross the bridge on foot anytime we went to Twin Falls.  The heavy traffic and "flexibility" of the bridge made for an exciting walk if you don't like heights!

This is the view as the kids make the turn and head back to the finish.  Its an uphill push and then a 2k sprint for home....

Our girls warming up before the race.

They're off........   The race starts and finishes on the #16 Fairway

I think the first 200m of the race is a pretty exciting time.  Just picture 100+ kids sprinting to get to that first bottleneck in the course.

Our girls had the inside starting gate which was an advantage in this race.

Coach Gulden said if this was a 400m race, our girls would have won.  I think he was nervous they went out too fast!

800m into the race.  Things are starting to spread out and our girls are in a good position.  Raegan is at the top of the slope.

800m in!

About 1500m to go.  Raegan looking strong.  Note the two Idaho Falls girls in orange.  Finishing ahead is key!

1500m left!

Coach Gulden giving a little "encouragement" to Raegan!

I'm sure Raegan heard everything he said.....

Coach Parrish helping Raegan along...

400m to go.  Note Raegan's teammates in red on the right and Blake on the left shouting out support.

Almost home......  Marilyn is standing by on the right.

Nice Job Girls........   Raegan made the medal stand!

Raegan, Presli and Allie hanging out after the race.

Highland Cross 2012