Left: Audrey Summers had her best race of the season at Sections when she finished in 22nd place with a new personal best of 16:50 for the 4k race. Above: Ben Seaton (with a slight lead over teammate Joey Chmelik) placed 29th at Sections with a new personal best of 18:08 for 5k (3.1 miles). Chmelik finished 53rd out of the 180 runners with a fine time of 19:09. Right: Mara MacDonell placed 84th in the Girls’ varsity race with a new PR of 20:24.
For those who have followed this year’s cross country team, I’d like to close the season by taking you on a journey of the Section 7A race through the words and thoughts of the coaches and runners. For new readers, a little background. The successful Viking running team lost 10 of 14 varsity runners from last year’s team, including the top three boys and top three girls. Head Coach April Wahlstrom and I agree on the goals of having fun, building a team and improving. Improvement for our 16 returning runners and 10 new runners has been a steady mantra. We are still a ways away from returning to top tier of the section individually and as a team, but this year’s progress has been one of the best in the last 13 years. Our team goal at Section this year was to be in the top half of the 20 teams entered. Here are a sample of our words and thoughts from this year’s meet.
What are those girls thinking?
Coach to Audrey Summers: Go for it. You have moved up steadily all season with average improvement of about 1:30 per race. You have a great endurance base and have never blown up, go for it.
Audrey to Coach: Okay.
Audrey’s thoughts on the run: I went out hard, but there are still a lot of people in front. This is too hard; need to slow down a little. Now it’s good. Oh yeah, remember to sprint in from the tree. Hey, nobody caught me in the sprint! 22nd in 16:50 is super. Where’s Matea?
Coach to Matea Acero: Stick with Audrey.
Matea to Coach: I like that plan. I’ve done that every meet. Hey, where did she go? It’s crowded in the 120-runner field, and I can’t find Audrey yet. Oh there she is, we’re slowing a little but catching a lot of runners. Hey, lots of the boys are cheering for me – great! Audrey is just 4 spots ahead in the finishing line and I beat 17:00 for the first time. Alright! (with a little Texas twang).
Coach to Sarissa Falk: Find your pace and kick in that big sprint.
Sarissa to Coach: I’m very excited and a little nervous.
Coach to Sarissa after one of two laps: Feel ok?
Sarissa: Yeah.
Coach: Then start moving up, you’re way back!
Sarissa: Okay. (And she did.) He said sprint from the tree; I’m watching it closely. Go! Now this is fun; gonna get that whole group ahead; broke 18 for the first time in 47th place. Hey, Abby Seipke is right in front of me; how did that happen?
Coach to Abby: Go out with Sara.
Abby to Coach: Huh? Oh yeah, that’s easy. (Abby gets excited on the first lap and forges ahead, into new territory.) Lots of cheering and this running isn’t so bad after all. Hey, Sarissa is right behind me, that’s cool.
Coach to Sara: Ready to go?
Sara to Coach: I always am. Hey, where did Abby go? Oh well, Abby’s very good when she wants to be. 62nd in 18:27, about 45 seconds faster than last year, Mom and coach will be happy, or at least won’t bug me.
Coach to Emma Olfson: Try to stay with Sara.
Emma to Coach: I’ll try, but I doubt it. Besides this is as hard as I can go. Lots of people behind me and in front of me. Spiked myself again, now I’m back to normal. 19:00.2, wanted to break 19, but still my best by a minute. Next year!
Coach to Mara MacDonell: back on varsity after a three-year absence.
Mara to Coach: Yippee. I’ll run the only way I can, hard all the way. Ignore that asthma; this medicine seems to be working a little better. Hey, sprinted and caught someone! And finally got a PR this year, 20:24 in 84th.
Hugs and pictures, the girls were 7th in the team standings.
Thoughts from the boys
Coach to Ben Seaton: What are you going to do?
Ben to Coach: Run 5:50 miles and beat David’s time from last year?
Coach: How about go out hard, but expect to be pretty far back. The boys’ field is stacked with 3 teams rated in the top 10 in state, and a couple more dark horses.
Ben: Okay.
Coach, half way through, in 50th: How do you feel?
Ben: Grimace. Moving up, this is hard. Hey 29th in 18:08, 10th on the Viking honor role – 5:50’s like I said, Coach!
Coach to Joey Chmelik: What are you going to do?
Joey to Coach: Go with Ben. Hey, where did Ben go? This is hard, as fast as I can go today. Just keep working. 19:09 in 53rd of 180. I was hoping to do a little better. Next year! I’m going to run more in the summer.
Coach to Alex Ditmanson: Great to make it to Section in your senior year.
Alex: Yeah, I’m going to hang with Will and the guys, and drop them on the last lap. And I did, I think. 20:15 for 5K, a nice PR in my last high school race.
Coach to Will Seaton: What are you going to do?
Will to Coach: Beat Pete.
Coach to Pete: What are you going to do?
Pete: Beat Will.
What did they do? Ran together, pushing each other to PR’s of 20:19 and 20:21. Will won this one.
Coach to Sean MacDonell: Great season, a fantastic season moving from the middle of the junior high field to the varsity section team.
Sean: Thanks, and I’m going to stay with Will. Hey, where did he go? This is harder running without any teammates. Well, it will end in 20:56, my best time of the season, but I still wanted to stay with Will and Pete. Next year!
Coach to Nate Carlson (who just made the section team by 1/100th of a second): What are you going to do? Nate to Coach: It’s a secret.
Coach: Okay. What is he doing way up in the field on the first lap? When is he going to die? Hang onto those Ely guys. He did. A monster PR of 19:46, and 65th place. Wow!
Boys after very tired highfives: What’s to eat? 11th place, not too bad, 3 points behind Ely and our 10th place goal. Oh well, next year.
Ben to Coach: How do I get to state next year?
Coach to Ben: Duh, about 40 miles per week next summer.
Coach to Audrey and Matea: You need to catch April or me, whoever isn’t injured, at every practice next year to get to state.
Girls to Coach: Oh.
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