Staley LOVED being a part of this team.
Staley and I had cross country practice or a cross country meet 5 days/week from the beginning of August through last weekend.
Staley's time at the first meet of the year (which was also the first meet of her cross country career) was 16:28 for 2 miles.
Staley got her final PR of the season at the State Cross Country Championships where she ran a 14:09. A more than 2 minute improvement from the start of the season to the end of the season is pretty impressive!
Staley worked hard in the summer and throughout the season. She earned a spot on the varsity squad (top 7 runners) for the first meet and never relinquished her spot. She was typically the #5 or #6 runner for her team throughout the year.
I really enjoyed many aspects of helping coach this team, but getting to spend so much time with Staley and watch her work hard, improve, and love this sport that I love was by far the best part.
The team was filled with many of Staley's closest friends, and she grew closer to other teammates throughout the year. Some of the highlights of the season included...
Going to Wally's for dinner and fun after the meet in Pontiac
The girls' 3rd place finish at the Trojan Invite
All the Homecoming festivities like making shirts, decorating the float, and representing the cross country team in the parade
The muddy, messy chaos that is the EPG Invite (where the girls again got 3rd place)
Seeing friends from other schools at various meets, including NTA friends, Penguin friends, and church friends...
and cousins too!
A girl's first place team finish at the Conference meet
Team lunch and movie day before Sectionals...
where the kids watched 'McFarland, USA' and then got to have a Zoom talk with Thomas Valles, one of the runners highlighted in the movie.
The biggest season highlight...a 2nd place team finish at Sectionals, meaning that the girl's team qualified for State! Even more impressive, all 7 of the varsity girls plus the 3 alternates were all 7th graders.
Qualifying for State was a huge accomplishment for the team.
State prep week was just full of fun! We took a fieldtrip to Maxwell Park to run on the state course...
followed by dinner at Core Life Eatery.
There was soccer for practice day, State signs, the State send-off at school, State goody bags, State shirts...
and a night before State team dinner and movie night at our house for the boy's and girl's sectional runners.
The State meet day was chilly and misty/overcast, but the excitement about being there was enough to overcome the weather.
Staley was the only runner from our team who got a PR that day, but the girls still finished 15th as a team and hopefully got a taste for what they could accomplish next year as 8th graders.
So many team members, friends from school, and families came to support the state runners.
Although Grammie and Grandpa were out of town, Uma and Papa braved the cold to cheer on Staley...
as did Liam, Caroline, and Lucy (and their parents).
It was a great day and a great end to a great season!
Cross country was a full family affair this year. Zach, Adelie, and Briggs were at almost every meet. Zach was the ultimate supporter of the team, while Adelie and Briggs liked hanging out with their friends, getting to know kids on the team, and eating Kona Ice.
I learned a lot through helping coach this year. I really enjoyed the kids, the families, the head coach, and the whole experience.
I'm really proud of Staley and all she accomplished this year.
Hooray for cross country!!
