Championship Season Underway

Any chance to race in the SPC Championship is an honor. The conference has improved by leaps and bounds the last handful of years. Good competition means you have to be at your best. Last week the team ran very well at Lakes, and then it was homecoming weekend, it felt like the group never really got their legs back this week. Most of the athletes said they felt flat and just didn’t have good pop in their legs. But that also means an opportunity to learn how to race hard when you are not feeling your best.

The frosh/soph girls were led by Lydia Velazquez. She was shoulder to shoulder with Sylvia Magemeneas for the first half the race, Lydia continued to move up through the field and was able to finish with her 2^nd fastest time of the season. The rest of the girls battled tough and the result was an 8^th place finish. This is a young crew that has seen tremendous improvement throughout the year, the future is bright with this crew.

The frosh/soph boys took a very aggressive approach to their race. At the half mile mark Luke Adair and Tyler Weir were in the top 5. Unfortunately, unlike last Friday this week the legs were just not their for the front end of the race. Adrian Castillo ran a more calculated race and moved up well throughout to finish at the top Wildcat in the race. A big shout out to Diego Arce who ran a lifetime PR and was able to break 20 minutes for the first time. The boys finished 9^th overall as a team, and just like the girls young crew, these guys have seen huge growth this year and the next few years will have some great performances from this group of Wildcats.

The varsity girls found the right mix of getting in position early but also not getting out too fast. Hannah Kilday led the way again, running her second fastest time ever. Bridget Kemp made a more aggressive move to through the field around the mile mark and it led to a season best time and tying her lifetime best. The rest of the girls battled hard and helped to secure an 8^th place finish. Moving forward for next week at Regionals the team will know what needs to be done to advance on to Sectionals.

Tyler Schick led the way again for the varsity boys. Finishing 27^th and just a few places outside of all-conference honors. The boys had to respond mid-race as our typical number 4 runner was a DNF as the illness he had been battling all week reared its ugly head again. The boys finished 8^th overall, and just like the girls got a good look at the teams we will need to battle for a chance to move on from next week at Regionals.

The open races saw a few big breakout PRs. Allison Behounek ran a strong aggressive first mile and kept the pedal down the rest of the way, she moved with confidence and power the entire race and it paid off with a life time best and breaking 23 minutes for the first time. Slay indeed! On the boys side Gabe Ibarra also ran a strong 1^st mile and then closed really hard to run a lifetime best just outside of 21 minutes. Bryan Underwood also ran a lifetime best as he and The Ranger ran shoulder to shoulder for 2.5 miles before Bryan pulled away.

The frosh/soph boys get one more chance to race on Tuesday, for the varsity crew its on to Regionals, for the rest of the team now it is Time Trial Season!