Reflections of the 2009 Cardinal Classic

At the conclusion of the 2009 Cardinal Classic, my beliefs were further strengthened...Cross Country is truly an amazing sport!! One might say "it's just running, how hard can it be?" and on the surface, they are right, but if you look deeper, you can see individual battles that every runner is going through as they work toward their individual and team goals. You see them fighting that little voice that is telling them to "quit" or "take a break" and you also see the satisfaction when they beat that voice and do things they never thought possible. These battles happen with everyone and not just the top runners. These battles teach life lessons that can be applied long after a Cardinal Harrier laces up their shoes to run that last race.

On Saturday, I saw many of our runners prepare for and fight those very battles. I heard of one young lady with tears of happiness because she ran the entire race without walking. I also watched one young man battle not only the voice inside his head, but battle an injured body that was not quite up to the challenge of racing at the top level he is accustomed to; I know he will be alright and today was just a stepping stone to bigger and better days.

To me, this is what Cross Country is all about and I'm continually impressed by the efforts of our runners here in Soda Springs. I am also grateful to have the opportunity to work with such great young people...Keep up the HARD work, your efforts are appreciated!!!

Thanks...Coach H

RACE RECAPS:
Middle School:
The Middle School runners definitely didn't give the new uniforms a bad start. A perfect score for the girls and a second place for the boys was a great way to start the 2009 season. K. Yamauchi 2nd, D. Siepert 3rd, J. Nielsen 5th, G. Plakke 6th, H. Call 7th, H. Farnes 8th, and S. Clark 10th made it 7 in the top 10...trying to live up the the High School girls at the 2007 State Meet. J. Bowman 8th, J. Balls 12th, J. James 13th, and L. Young 15th gave the boys 4 in the top 15. GREAT JOB MIDDLE SCHOOL RUNNERS...YOU ARE THE FUTURE OF CARDINAL CROSS COUNTRY!!!

Strength in Numbers. The middle school currently has 41 athletes participating in cross country! WOW!!!


Middle School girls sporting their new uniforms. Nice Pack!!!


Middle School runners at the lower pond.

J. Bowman leading the TMS boys!

A trio of TMS runners.

Another great pack!


A very determined J. James pushed to the finish.

High School Races:
J.V. Girls:
C. Olson...you are a stud or studette...but what ever you are, you ran awesome today...way to rise to the challenge 4th place overall you will be pushing for a varsity spot if you keep this up. M. Stein, A. Camptell, J. Berg (1st XC race) and S. Lloyd...WOW...you ladies ran awesome and helped lead the J.V. girls to a second place finish...great job. 5 in the top 21!!!


A little prerace instruction from Coach Siepert.


C. Olson leading the way for the Lady Cards...4th place in J.V. Girls Race.


A time to reflect...J. Berg and A. Camptell chase their reflections in the lower pond.

J.V. Boys:
D. Camptell great job leading the J.V. Boys today...S. Torgesen, you are starting to figure things out...keep it up, we are a little green, but if you guys keep working hard you will see the results as the season progresses.


D. Camptell leads a group up Heartbreak Hill!!!


L. Franson in another lower pond picture...great photo op.


Is that Buddha? No just J. James relaxing after a great run!

Varsity Girls:
You guys continue to impress me...we finally earned a little "bling" from our own meet...2nd place! Great job, Bay...way to work the second half, you moved up a ton. C. Williams...way to dig down the entire race, you were the tie breaker today and you won the tie by 3 spots and 11 seconds, a lesson to us all...EVERY RUNNER COUNTS and EVERY SECOND COUNTS!!!


Start of the Varsity Girls race...Soda 2nd place behind a very tough Bingham, UT team.

Varsity Boys:
We still have some "kinks" to work out, but keep working hard and I'm confident that you guys will have success. M. Bowman...another great race...those summer miles are paying off. K. Meyers hang in there...we'll be alright. You guys met the goal that we talked about on Wednesday...now we need to improve on it...KEEP UP THE HARD WORK!!!


K. Meyers races in his first XC race of the season.

Coaches L. Siepert (left) and S. Clark (right) get a few miles in cheering for the teams. Thanks to all the parents and community members that helped pull this meet off, another great meet!!!