NUMBER 20!!
The Cross Country Season Started out with 120 teams fielding full teams at the 2A level in the State of Florida. Tampa Catholic had never earned the right to race with the top 24 at the State Championships.... until this year.
I was amazed, as we went from Districts, where we finished 2nd, and were almost as good as the team that finished first, to Regionals, where we finished 5th, and were almost as good as the team that finished 3rd, to States, where we finished 20th, and were almost as good as the team that finished 14th, the competition got much better. It may sound simple, but I figured if we ran a little faster we could hold our spot, but we ran very well, and we kept losing places.
The race was great though, it gave me some clear goals for next year's team. I would love for us to:
#1 win Districts
#2 top 2 in Region
#3 top 10 in State
Our program is very close now to that of the Academy of Holy Names, coached by my friend, and a great man/coach Ray Rodriguez. Academy's two year progression went like this:
Last year: This year:
District 2 1
Region 3 3
State 22 14
Ray does a great job with them, and is a class guy all the way. He and his team invited us out to breakfast after they trounced us at Regions this year. We all had a great time. If we can follow their model, we can really grow.
We should be able to, 8 of our top 9 ladies (and all of our top 6) are coming back next year. The scary part is, that means coaching could actually make a difference, yikes! I hope Coach Morejon and I are up to the task, I know we'll be trying!
Enjoy your two-week break girls, and then it's train on!
I was amazed, as we went from Districts, where we finished 2nd, and were almost as good as the team that finished first, to Regionals, where we finished 5th, and were almost as good as the team that finished 3rd, to States, where we finished 20th, and were almost as good as the team that finished 14th, the competition got much better. It may sound simple, but I figured if we ran a little faster we could hold our spot, but we ran very well, and we kept losing places.
The race was great though, it gave me some clear goals for next year's team. I would love for us to:
#1 win Districts
#2 top 2 in Region
#3 top 10 in State
Our program is very close now to that of the Academy of Holy Names, coached by my friend, and a great man/coach Ray Rodriguez. Academy's two year progression went like this:
Last year: This year:
District 2 1
Region 3 3
State 22 14
Ray does a great job with them, and is a class guy all the way. He and his team invited us out to breakfast after they trounced us at Regions this year. We all had a great time. If we can follow their model, we can really grow.
We should be able to, 8 of our top 9 ladies (and all of our top 6) are coming back next year. The scary part is, that means coaching could actually make a difference, yikes! I hope Coach Morejon and I are up to the task, I know we'll be trying!
Enjoy your two-week break girls, and then it's train on!
3 comments:
to quote someone ... "Winning isn't the only thing. wanting to win is."
It feels good to win a race but at times it's more satisfying when the kiddos under your tuteledge make good. Congrats on the placement, just think in some venues 20/20 is perfect. This is not an attempt to make you look bad, but my girl's squad just finished 12 in the SC states and the boys...THIRD. Like your crew, there are many youngins so the future looks bright and I'm wearing my shades. Maybe you should don a pair for good measure.
We'd invite y'all to lunch but it's a long commute. Any of your crew competing in FootLocker South this Saturday up in Charlotte?
Chase, Great quote!
Amy, hey, we were 20 or 24! But really, this only our second year, and we are heading the right direction. The boys here are 1 1/2 years behind the girls. It wasn't till late in the season that our top boy could be our top girl. And we only have one boy under 20 minutes. The average time of the winning team at our level, 16:20, we've got a ways to go.
As for Footlocker, we have one, Meghan that may go. But we are looking at Sumer camps, any suggestions?
Congrats on your teams! We'll be up there next year!
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