Clay Eagle Invitational Recap

P.Schwan 2015, Race Recap
Kennedy keeps pace on the way to a new girls middle school record.
Kennedy keeps pace on the way to a new girls middle school record.
Ben surges in the final 800m to set a new boys middle school record.
Ben surges in the final 800m to set a new boys middle school record.

Recap:

This was true Cross Country weather: a chilly, overcast morning in the low 50’s that turned into a near-constant drizzle that soaked everyone to the bone.  Lousy weather for a spectator, great weather for a runner!  This meet was all about overcoming the mental challenge of the conditions and seizing on opportunities, and some of our runners were able to take a huge leap forward.

The high school team got the worst of it as the mist changed over to a heavy drizzle driven by the wind.  Grace took full advantage, running nearly even splits (7:18, 7:21, 7:20) and smashing through her lifetime PR by 12 seconds.  Leah and Lilly set out with a strategy of working to pace and push each other through the race, and it brought a strong finish for both of them.  By the time the boys ran, the weather was at its worst and it was enough to throw off the pace a bit for everyone.  Brendan and Phoenix both ran very even splits and were within about fifteen seconds of season PRs. Unfortunately, the official results excluded Pete so we are working to get corrected results and will update when they’re in.

Leah and Lilly, soaked to the bone and nearing the finish
Leah and Lilly, soaked to the bone and nearing the finish
Grace tries to dodge the raindrops while turning in a lifetime best.
Grace tries to dodge the raindrops while turning in a lifetime best.
Pete battles the elements on a fast Clay course
Pete battles the elements on a fast Clay course

Here are the results for the High School:

Last Name First Name Finish Place
VanOstrand Phoenix 20:05 62
Miller Brendan 21:12 93
Ruth John 24:40 133
Mitchey Jared 25:52 137
Simon Pete  * *
Bryson Grace 22:44 23
Kuszmaul Lilly 24:37 61
Schwan Leah 24:42 65
McCormick Alexis 31:30 94
Klebold Hannah 32:47 95

*Due to a timing issue, we’re still waiting on official info from the meet organizers

Savannah turns for the finish and turns in a new 8th grade girls record.
Savannah turns for the finish and turns in a new 8th grade girls record.
Evan battles at the turn to the home stretch
Evan battles at the turn to the home stretch

For the middle school, it was another avalanche of new PR’s and school records. Kennedy and Savannah both went out at a controlled pace and then attacked the second mile on their way to taking down the 7th and 8th grade class records and school record.  Savannah continued her consecutive streak of PR’s, taking another 18 seconds off, and Kennedy continued her streak as well, this time taking off an incredible 56 seconds in setting the new girls school record!

Ben followed the same pattern in working the pace of the field in the first half before turning it on in the second mile to finish 6th overall and set a new boys school record.  Evan crushed his lifetime PR in this race by 41 seconds, and Chris bested his PR by 17 seconds.  Unfortunately, we’re still working with the meet organizers to get the boys middle school results corrected. Ben’s unofficial time of 11:50 gives him a 19-second PR; the official time of 11:16 would be a 53-second PR, but was definitely not accurate. All of the boys’ times were significantly off, and Evan was not even listed in the final results, so we’re hopeful that corrected results will be made available soon.

Here are the results for the Middle School (with unofficial times; official times included in parentheses):

Last Name First Name Finish Place
Keller Kennedy 14:02 21
VanOstrand Savannah 14:12 23
Schwan Ben 11:50 (11:16) 6
Ruetz Shane 12:43 (12:09) 33
Pennington Evan 14:35 ???
Ruetz Chandler 15:43 (14:31) 156
Harzell Chris 16:37 (14:58) 171

 

Full Event Results are available on Baumspage.