State Track and Field Meet

Well, looking back at the State Meet, you always find things that you would have done differently in hind-sight.  Here's a brief overview of how the meet unfolded.

BOYS:
We just had a 4x800 at the meet (well, a medley, too) that I thought would do pretty well.  We had previously run 8:45 at the Region Meet, but I assumed we would run much better at the State Meet as these guys we still absorbing some of the faster work we had introduced.  The guys ran so well; 8:36 and just out of the medals in 9th place.  They were very competitve in the slow heat (won by Madison, we were 2nd) and I think it was a good experience, as it was the first state meet for three of the guys and out lead-off guy ran the 800 for the first time this season, so I think this quad will really post some nice marks next season.

 

GIRLS:
The weather was hot.  I should not have run Jessica McDonald in so many races; with prelims and semi's, she ran a total of 7 races... that's too much.  We had an outside shot at the Top 4 as a team and the girl's wanted to make a run at it...so we did.  We ran our best time of the season (10:00) in the 4x800, but not a collective best; I think we were a little tight and nervous.  However, Mariah Asheim ran great, splitting 2:28 on the lead-off, her best career run.  We were 3rd overall and I do not know if we would have gave Canton a run, even at full strength.

400 Prelims: J. Mac ran a season best- had her best first 80m of the season and looked fantastic.

800 Finals: Kala McDonald is good.  She is really still just learning what she has in her tank.  She hung out in last place for much of the race, but had a great final 200 meters (100m, particularly) and ran a huge PR of 2:23.07- she wasn't happy about her placing- she's competitive, which is awesome- until she saw the nice PR and excellent time coming off a the other side of a double in hot, windy weather.

200 Prelims: Jessica snuck through into the finals; she was fatigued to say the least....and still had the 4x400 prelims to go- I really wish we could have had one more 62-63 girl to replace JMac in the prelims!

4x400 Prelims: We ran a season best 4:08 mark- Stephanie Qualm and M. Asheim really ran well in this race, hitting 62 low's.

Class A Finals @ Historic Howard Wood Field: 

We were entered in four races today; the 200-400-1600 and 4x400

1600m finals: Kala McDonald was entered into this race as a risky shot that she would score more points in the 800/1600 double than just in the 400m alone.  The 400/800 double would be too tough with the 4x800 and 4x400 also on her plate the say before and the 400/1600 double is virtually impossible as they are back-to-back races on the final day.  So, after two weeks on sleepless nights going over the pro/con list, I entered Kala in the 800/1600.  Kala ran exceptional- looked like she was just jogging with the lead pack through three laps.  Somehow, though, in the excitement of feeling fantastic in the lead group, she miscounted laps! Kala sprinted the final 100m of the third lap like a champ...crossed the line, jogged, stopped and BOOM...the gun shot for the final lap.  I felt so bad for her having to continue to push through the last lap, but she was tough...finishing in 6th, outkicking Laber at the end and setting our school record in 5:32.  Had she not kicked early, I really feel she would have won the race.  That's no disrespect to the winner, but Kala really looked that fresh.

400m finals:  After the first 80 meters, I knew I had made a bad decision in putting Jessica in as many races as I did the day before.  I don't know what I would have held her out of.  They wanted to defend the 4x800 title, so that was out of the question...I still don't know about that one.  Jess was in the race again, though.  She's flat-out tough- and was 4 tenths out of a repeat win.

200m finals: Jessica was tanked; my fault as a coach.  Finals of the 4x400 looming as well...

4x400 finals:  We competed very, very well into the last leg and Jessica was just too fatigued.  Her 7th race in unseasonably hot weather and her body just wouldn't respond to her determination. 

Overall, I was just very, very proud of the effort these guys and gals put forth.  Although I won't be in Hill City next season, I am still very excited to see the results this group of athletes pop off.