Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Combining the races...
Oh, and running spreadsheet nerd that I am, I wondered what this would look like, so I took a few minutes and put all three classes of boys races together and scored it. When two athletes had the same time, I favored the athlete from the higher division (I know, I know, but there's no perfect method for such an imperfect idea).
The Potters rock the State meet
I'll second most of what Dave said. Saturday was a long time coming. It's been great watching the Potters improve each year, culminating in what we saw on Saturday. The men placed 9th as a team led by a PR from Nick Piper, and Caitlin Pribble ran a blazing time to narrowly miss all-state. While many athletes from the EP Sectional appeared to have left their best race in EP last week, and were content just to be at Detweiller, the Potters went out and ran with purpose, placing high in their first appearance at the state meet as a team in 50 years.
50 years! Some of the athletes may have grandfathers who were too young to be on that team. All the history you hear about Detweiller Park and Illinois cross country, Craig Virgin, etc....all that happened after the last time a Potter team was at state. I'm not sure how far they were running back then, but they definitely weren't at 3 miles at that point.
A few years ago you had a few athletes who started with the notion that they could maybe get to the state meet if they worked hard enough. Then last year they almost did it. This year, they wouldn't be denied. What excites me most is that now we have 3 juniors and 2 sophomores coming back next year who expect to be at the state meet. They won't accept anything less. And as they lead the team, traditions will be born.
So a big congratulations to all the Potters, especially those who qualified and raced their heart out at Detweiller. And a job well done to Coaches Zehr and Conklin and to all our outgoing seniors, especially Nick Piper and Joe Zeller, who have lead and shaped this team into what it has become.
Pictures from all 6 races are up at FartlekPhotography. The Illinois Valley Striders have all the results, including splits, though the listed 2 mile splits for the guys 2A race are clearly screwed up. This weekend, if you want to see some more big time competition in Peoria, the NCAA D1 Midwest Regional is at Newman Park on Saturday. Area D1 teams like ISU and UI will be there, along with #1 nationally ranked Oklahoma State.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Congratulations from a former Potter
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today I was proudly treated to one of the best spectacles of my life. The two hour round-trip journey that I made from Bloomington to Detwieller Park in Peoria was well worth each cent of gas money. Today, I got to see history made.
When I ran for the Potters three brutally short years ago, the thought of running at the State Meet in November was on the same mythical status as Theseus and the Minotaur*. However, by the end of that year, because of the unbridled enthusiasm of older mentors (many of them Creators of this very blog), we realized that running had the ability to take people places (physically and metaphorically). As we achieved success on the course and the track, our confidence increased and our desire to work grew. I felt like the team as a whole had surpassed a mental barrier; we now thought that we could be great. Unfortunately, I graduated, and all of us Seniors left, leaving behind a seemingly half-finished building that had a solid foundation, but not a whole lot of exterior decoration. That was three years ago.
Today I saw that building completed! Today the finishing touches of glory were painted onto an edifice that now stands as a colossus of achievement for others to perceive. Today, Morton Cross Country went to State! If you had told me, three years ago, that 9 individuals form the Morton Cross Country program would race at the state meet in 2010, I would have laughed at you and said, "You're dreaming!" However, because of the passion, effort, and belief put forth by these individuals, that dream has become a reality.
I have never been so proud to have been a Morton Potter, and I can't explain in adequate words how proud I am of each one of you who raced today. So, to Nick, Walter, Austin, Joe, Grant, Caitlyn**, Luke, Ashley, and the other Nick, I want to extend you my heartiest congratulations on taking Morton Cross Country to a place it's never been before; competitors at the IHSA State Cross Country Championships! But, above all that, I want to thank your head coach, Joel Zehr, for the outstanding job he has done in moving this program forward. You guys should be so proud of what you have accomplished!
Because I'm a sucker for nostalgia, I couldn't help but take a look back to the past tonight just to see how far this program has come in 3 short seasons.*** Thus, here is some of the footage from that season. I'm sorry for the terrible quality, but the music makes up for it:
*- look it up. Great story.
**- spelling?
***- Joe, I must say, you've come a long way from holding your watch vertically in your hand while racing.
Today I was proudly treated to one of the best spectacles of my life. The two hour round-trip journey that I made from Bloomington to Detwieller Park in Peoria was well worth each cent of gas money. Today, I got to see history made.
When I ran for the Potters three brutally short years ago, the thought of running at the State Meet in November was on the same mythical status as Theseus and the Minotaur*. However, by the end of that year, because of the unbridled enthusiasm of older mentors (many of them Creators of this very blog), we realized that running had the ability to take people places (physically and metaphorically). As we achieved success on the course and the track, our confidence increased and our desire to work grew. I felt like the team as a whole had surpassed a mental barrier; we now thought that we could be great. Unfortunately, I graduated, and all of us Seniors left, leaving behind a seemingly half-finished building that had a solid foundation, but not a whole lot of exterior decoration. That was three years ago.
Today I saw that building completed! Today the finishing touches of glory were painted onto an edifice that now stands as a colossus of achievement for others to perceive. Today, Morton Cross Country went to State! If you had told me, three years ago, that 9 individuals form the Morton Cross Country program would race at the state meet in 2010, I would have laughed at you and said, "You're dreaming!" However, because of the passion, effort, and belief put forth by these individuals, that dream has become a reality.
I have never been so proud to have been a Morton Potter, and I can't explain in adequate words how proud I am of each one of you who raced today. So, to Nick, Walter, Austin, Joe, Grant, Caitlyn**, Luke, Ashley, and the other Nick, I want to extend you my heartiest congratulations on taking Morton Cross Country to a place it's never been before; competitors at the IHSA State Cross Country Championships! But, above all that, I want to thank your head coach, Joel Zehr, for the outstanding job he has done in moving this program forward. You guys should be so proud of what you have accomplished!
Because I'm a sucker for nostalgia, I couldn't help but take a look back to the past tonight just to see how far this program has come in 3 short seasons.*** Thus, here is some of the footage from that season. I'm sorry for the terrible quality, but the music makes up for it:
*- look it up. Great story.
**- spelling?
***- Joe, I must say, you've come a long way from holding your watch vertically in your hand while racing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)