Yesterday's wins, Monday run, Wendy's UPDATE

Watauga Democrat "Cross Country Teams Sweep": " 'After a while, I’m just going to get soaked. It was pretty fun' "
GoBlueRidge "WHS Sweeps High Country Classic"
Saturday was the last home Cross Country race for seniors.  Darby's won this race 3 times now, with a closer margin over 2 strong Ardrey Kell challengers in 2010.  Peter won it in 2011 and 2009, but is hurting this year (and still running strong races anyway).

Monday practice will be in the western part of the county.  Should be done a little late.

Next Saturday-- Wendy's, at Charlotte's McAlpine Park, is a great place to run your fastest time of the year and to watch a race also.  (Last year the bus left WHS at 5:45am Saturday morning to go to the meet.)

Wondering how cross country meets are scored?  With a few exceptions, a ream's score is the sum of its first 5 finishers' places in the race.  The JV Girls had the lowest score of any team all day, 26 points.  The top 5 finishers came in 1st (Jordan!), 2nd, 4th, 9th, and 10th.  So 1 + 2 + 4 + 9 + 10 = 26.   (Still don't see? See page one here.)  Hint: Lower is better.  15 is really, really good.  In big, competitive races, teams can win with seemingly high scores.  In 1999, the Watauga Boys won the state championship with (about) 81 points.

Results up, Great meet today, Soggy

There were teams from all over.  Watauga won all 4 team competitions and almost got all of the individual races.    Darby, WillV, and Jordan Stokes won.  Lake Norman's  Patrick Sheehan toughed out a win over Josh Anderson and Spring Valley's Connor McCormack in the last race of the day, the Varsity Boys. 

Full results are posted: Middle School, JV Girls, JV Boys, Varsity Girls, and Varsity Boys.

The rain stopped by the start of the early open race and only briefly reappeared to greet the Varsity Girls.

In the Middle School race, Watauga County's Two Rivers School's Grant Pilkington outran Lincoln Charter's Kenny Schild and the Perry and St. Clair boys.  M.L. Sprague was the fastest girl.

JV Girls -- This might be Jordan's first XC win, and Lily got 2nd.  Plus Jesse, Sidney, and Carson finished in the top 10, with SophieS and Brook 11th and 12th.  PRs today: SophieS 24:34, LaurenW 25:42, Hannah 26:55, Sylvia 29:01.
JV Boys -- Will, Luke, Joe, and Zak all finished top 10.  PRs today: Joe 18:49, Zak 18:50, Caleb 20:23, MatthewH 20:26, Bill 20:27.

Rain, maybe more to come, but no flood

It's raining a bit this morning (only 0.25 inches so far), with another band likely in a few hours.  Maybe that will not hit until 12 noon or disappear.

But there should not be a flood, which is especially good, because today's 5K course goes over a flood plain of the New River. Several times a year the bend below the Covered Bridge floods up to a foot or two high.  And the area between the parking lots and the course once had 2 streets of housing and a nursing home.  The houses were moved.  You can still see Anne Marie and Elizabeth Drives on the Google Map (so maybe Google's not that smart).

Also, at the back end of the course, by the river, you can see the remnants of an old dam that provided electricity to Boone during the early 20th Century.  There was a reservoir that covered much of the course. ASU webpage.  And a news article.

And this on the wetland pond near the parking.

A Look at Saturday's open races

In addition to the 4 high school races, there will be 2 open races.  At 9:00am, there will be a race for anyone on the same 5K course that the high schoolers are running.  At 9:40am, there will be a 2 mile race for middle schoolers.  That probably will be about the same course but without the loop on the left bank of the New River.

If they show up, it's likely that David Hegwood (Northwestern?) and Holly Quick (Watauga) will finish 1-2 again, as they did in 2011.  However, Holden Perry and M.L. Sprague (both Tailwinds) finished 3rd and 5th last year and will be contenders to win, if they're allowed to compete.  J. Ingersoll (Tailwinds) is a threat as well.

The Middle School race is harder to predict.  2011 results.  Lincoln Charter will probably bring their athletes again, but many probably will race in the high school races.  Galax appears not to be coming.  Several local favorites have moved up.  The winner will probably be a Perry.

High Country CC Classic -- Preview and Parking

Big meet Saturday in Boone, the High Country CC Classic (Mast Store!).  20 teams are signed up so far, so that means almost everyone in all the races will have a real race the whole way, with competing runners chasing them and competing runners to chase.  And the start will be crowded.

Visiting individual runners:
Watch Patrick Sheehan of Lake Norman.  He finished 15:49 for 10th at Wolfpack and has the 12th best time on NC Runners' mid-season list.  Josh is #17, for now.
Alex Cameron of Dunwoody (Georgia) is the fastest visiting girl scheduled for the meet, based on times so far this season (19:16 this season, 18:30 PR).
I was hoping to see a rematch from the Clash of the Classes of West Wilkes freshman Josh Hall against Joe, but Hall will probably be in the Varsity race for West Wilkes.  There should be lots of fast freshmen.  The Bhalla sisters, who won 2 of the Clash races, will be back.  Kathleen might have a good race with Sophia Bhalla, not far behind the leader and maybe Cameron.

Parking:  Here's a map centered on the Watauga County swim complex.  Parking for the meet is in the gravel lots along Hunting Hills Lane: (1) across from the swimming pool and playground; and (2) past the swimming pool and playground, across from the Armory.  If those fill up, maybe way back by the tennis courts also, but we want to leave room for swimmers, walkers, and baby strollers' cars too.
There could be some parking at the end of Intramural Fields Drive (Dale St. on the Google map), but the gate is often left closed.  The races' start and finish will be near there, on the left side of the covered bridge this time.  The big, fenced parking lot that belongs to Appalachian State University will be full of the college students' cars, due to the football game and all downtown.  (It wouldn't be surprising to see some rugby inside the course Saturday too, but they won't get up early enough to get the best parking.)

Volunteer at Saturday meet. Darby a Milesplit national Honorable Mention.

Volunteer for meet.  About the same opportunities as for Clash of the Classes last month.  Coach Mac is looking for 3 volunteers to help with parking, in addition to the other usual needs.

NCPrepTrack has a few interesting items:

• Darby Middlebrook is an Honorable Mention on Milesplit's 9/24 national list.
• Video of a Cross Country pile-up in Illinois, on a turn not too far from the start.
• This article on choosing a college focuses on runners, but is relevant for any student choosing a college.

Notes -- Next Saturday,

• The meet next Saturday will bring in teams from Georgia, Rock Hill, Apex, and Swain County, in addition to nearby favorites such as West Wilkes, Ashe County, and South Caldwell.  
• The Lake Norman Boys team is ranked #24 in NC Runners' recent all classes rankings.
• Open Race - 9:00.  Middle School Race 9:40.  JV boys - 10:30 am.  Varsity girls - 11:00.  JV girls - 10:00 am.  Varsity boys - 11:30.
• The 5K Open Race is only $5 and the 2 mile Middle School race is free.
• The ASU football game does not start until 3:30pm, but should affect parking even in the morning.

• Volunteer Monday evening.  I think the slots at the bottom are for 6:30-8:30pm, but add a note as you sign up.

NC Runners' mid-season 4A rankings

Just the mid-season rankings, 4A only: Watauga #4 and #7.  They're based on this year's best times, so advantage if you've run at McAlpine this year.

Notes -- Volunteers, Dylan!, alumni photographers?

• The team still needs volunteers for the soccer game Monday.  
• Also, thanks to Denise Foutz (and anyone else) for being ready to take some post-meet food to the Caldwell meet that was cancelled last week.  This is not an easy problem, trying to feed starving teenagers on the road.
• Shout out also to senior Dylan Lewis for running in the Monday race in Ashe with all the underclassmen.  It was muddy, not a PR-day, and he'd run the big race on Saturday.  It must have been good for the other runners.  For one example, although Joe could not catch him, Joe got a PR.
• Top NC 4A teams in local meet Wednesday at WakeMed course: Girls -- Green Hope beats Broughton.  Boys -- Broughton beats Green Hope.
• Know any recent grads who would like to take photos and report for NC Runners?  Maybe at High Country Classic or Wendy's?
• Don't forget about the open races at the September 29 High Country Classic.  Start training today!  "No frills $5 open race for anyone" (even parents) and  a free middle school/kids race.

Partial Ashe results -- Vandenberg wins UPDATE WHS results

Will won on a muddy course Monday, followed by Dylan and Joe, despite having taken a wrong turn on the course.  It sounds like it was a good time.

Goblueridge.net : "Vandenberg Leads WHS at Ashe County Meet:
"Will Vandenberg won his first race of the season."  Will 18:55, Dylan 19:03, Joe 19:10, and Ashe's Jonathan Nichols 19:13.
"Ashe County dominated women's race by posting a perfect score with 15 points. Mac Church paced the field by winning the race in 22:18."  Sophie came in 6th with 24:49, to lead the Watauga girls.  Addie, Grace, Lauren W, and Savanna rounded out the top 10.

UPDATE: Coach Honea posted times for the Watauga runners.  There are quite a few PRs.

Volunteer -- Pioneer Club tonight, and more

We still need a second representative for Cross Country to go to the Pioneer Club meeting tonight (Monday) from 7:00-7:45pm.  Thanks, Wendi and Bryce.  It should be a happy meeting.

There are even more opportunities in soccer concessions next Monday, 9/24.

On Thursday and Friday, September 27-28, Watauga High School will be closed for students for teacher workdays.  There will be a home meet at the Greenway the next day, Saturday, September 29.

Monday Meet at Ashe

The runners who did not race Saturday, and maybe a few who did, will be racing against Ashe County HS Monday.  They're expected to run all together in one race, boys and girls, and to arrive home fairly early.

Ashe's Glenn Bailey, 8th at state 2A last November, appears to have graduated, while the Rees-Jones brothers have moved away.  Look for a win by Will Vandenberg.

Where is the actual course? Probably at the high school.
Ashe County High School is just off US Highway 221.  Map. 35 minutes.

* Take Hwy. 421 South to Deep Gap.

* Turn left on Hwy 221 toward Jefferson.

* School is on right, directly off of Hwy 221.
Additional hint: It's at the foot of Mt. Jefferson, not far past the left turn to West Jefferson.

Review of Saturday's races

Coach Honea:  Girls comments and splits.  Boys with video.
"The girls were a close third overall, beating TC Roberson after finishing behind them three weeks ago."
"Boys were a surprising fifth, one point out of fourth.  This was in the middle of a hard month, and without any one having a particularly great race."  But lots and lots of big PRs.

The girls are not looking like NC's 16th best team, instead much better.   And the boys have gotten points from runners who have stepped up, especially Drew Boyette and Michael Holland.

NC Runners recap includes a good photo of Darby and Brooke Gordon.

Watauga Democrat -- "Middlebrook Leads WHS at Adidas Challenge"

Results coming in UPDATES -- 3rd and 5th!

 Boys Championship:   Surprise in the Boys also.  Cary's Abushouk came in 2nd, behind Cary Academy's Godwin (both 15:13!)  Watauga team 6th, led by Josh Anderson (14th, under 16:00 at 15:59!), Peter Vandenberg (16:35), Michael Holland (16:46, gotta be a PR), and Bryan Brackney (16:47).  Full results are gone, but will be back.  1:35pm
Full results available again-- Now Watauga is in 5th place.  Full results at NC Runners.
In case they disappear again -- Drew (17:28), MattO (17:34), Carson (17:36), Luke (17:58), Dylan (18:17).

Girls Championship:  Watauga Girls won 3rd place in the Championship race!  Good showing!  Darby comes in 2nd in a strong field, with an 18:02 (her best recorded September time ever).  Madison Harman 16th with 19:07.  Kathleen Mansure 19:45.  More Girls Championship results.
Eliza Dekker (17:44) of Durham Academy was the winner for the 2nd year in a row.  As NC Runners feed says, "big win" to beat Darby.  Also ahead of many girls from Virginia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and NC.
Today Watauga finished ahead of TC Roberson, which got 4th. They beat us in Hendersonville.  But we'll see them again several more times this year.

Girls JV:  Watauga 9th.  Led by freshmen Jesse Wangler and Carson Middlebrook, and Sidney Wiswell and Juliana Bond.  Full results.

Boys JV II: Watauga 7th.  Led by Jacob Soulé, Ryan Hellenbrand, Zak Cole, and Zach Styron.  Full results.

Boys JV 2 mile (approx.):  Matthew Hellenbrand (12:38), Caleb Zimmerman, and Caleb Wysor.  Full results.

Girls JV 2 mile (approx.):  Watauga team 3rd.  Kaitlyn Herman (14:21), Taylor McKinney, Grace Bowling, Savanna Randle, Lauren Welsh, Addie McLure, and Maddie Allain.  Full results.

NC Runners meet page and the Adidias XC Challenge page.

One runner, Alana Hadley, in the open/college races last night reported: "Man let me tell u wakemed XC course is harder than u would originally think."

Photos (free for now):  The pillow pets have arrived. Girls JV warming up.  Boys strolling.

Complete results from Wednesday, Adidas preview

NC Runners has full results for the Wednesday meet:  Boys and Girls.  That's a good performance by South Caldwell's top runners: 17:30, 17:59, and 18:06 for Matthewson, Rice, and Craig.

GoBlueRidge -- "Pioneers Dominate Home Meet."  (Noted by NCPrepTrack.)

NC Runners has a preview of the Adidas/Wolfpack meet:
Girls -- "It will be interesting to see where three evenly-matched NC teams fall: Millbrook, Watauga, and young upstart Grimsley have all run well this season, but could have trouble cracking the top 10 against such a strong field."
Boys -- "Once again, the team battle could be very tight, and things likely will decided by the performance of the 3-4-5 runners rather than the top individuals. . . . Definitely do not count out traditional powers Chapel Hill and Watauga."

Wolfpack Adidas XC Challenge

These races Saturday include many of NC Runners' preseason top 15 teams, plus several strong Virginia teams.

Girls: #2 Cardinal Gibbons, #9 TC Roberson, #11 East Chapel Hill, and #15 Charlotte Latin.  Blacksburg was 2011 Virginia 2A champion.  Midlothian won this meet last year and was 3A state champion.  Ocean Lakes finished 3A #2.  Cosby 3A #8.  (Providence Girls are staying home, it looks like.)

Boys:  #5 TC Roberson, #6 Watauga, #7 Providence Day, #8 Cardinal Gibbons, #9 Cary, #10 Providence, and #15 Asheville School.  Blacksburg was 2011 2A champion in Virginia.  Midlothian and Ocean Lakes were 3A #8 and #10.

Directions and map:

Take the Cary 54 Exit (Exit 290) off of I-40.

Take the Cary 54 Exit (Exit 290) off of I-40.

Interstate 40 to Exit 290.  (It's almost right at the exit.)  Turn right (south) onto Highway 54.  Turn left onto Trinity Road.  Right onto Chatham Street.  Left onto Soccer Park Drive.

Take the Cary 54 Exit (Exit 290) off of I-40.

Yesterday and Saturday races UPDATE Monday in Ashe

Coach Honea has Watauga's results from yesterday's races. No official results posted so far.  Watauga wins over South Caldwell and Crossnore Academy.

Watauga Democrat "WHS Cross Country Teams Win Meet."

88 runners!

It was not the best day for a PR, on a hard (and maybe too familiar) course and running tempo.  But Kathleen ran a PR!  More to come.

Many of our athletes will be going to Cary tomorrow for the Saturday morning races.  Meet page.  Directions.

Coach Mac reports that some WHS runners will race at Ashe County HS on Monday, all together at 4:30pm.

Boys at 5:00. Girls at 5:30 this afternoon. UPDATE

There is a meet today.  My best source tells me it will be 5:00pm for Boys and 5:30pm for Girls, starting at about the Covered Bridge.  The course is being set up -- looks like 2 laps around the rugby fields before crossing the river and climbing the hill.  Make sure your runners make the turn back to the jeep trail, right before the 2nd bridge.

South Caldwell H.S. might show up--it's on their schedule. Fred T. Foard H.S. has it on their schedule, but it looks as if they might have done another meet yesterday.  It's not on St. Stephens' schedule at all.

Good luck to everyone who is running their first high school 5K.  You can do it!

Wednesday meet at Greenway

Last year's races started at 5:00 and 5:30pm.  2011 Boys and Girls results.
Lots of runners will be preparing Wednesday for the Saturday meet.

The team still needs another rep to attend next Monday night's Pioneer Club metting.  September 17, 7-7:45pm.

NCPrepTrack is a good way to check on last weekend's cross country meets around the state.

Notes -- Slow week but faster ones coming

• There are still just a few more slots to help with concessions tonight.  Thanks, volunteers!
• The Watauga Home Meet is coming up next Wednesday, September 12.  Many freshmen still have not gotten to run their first 5K race.
• The Adidas/Wolfpack race and overnight trip is coming up September 15.  Coach Honea last night: "If you are on the list to go to Raleigh next weekend, please confirm ASAP.  If you cannot go, there are people who would like the chance."
• In case you're curious, there is a big meet for many NC schools in Wilmington Saturday (including Ardrey Kell and Providence girls).  I'll also be looking at results from Myers Park Invitational (Myers Park, of course, and Providence Boys?)

Looking ahead to Sept. 29 Open 5K for coaches, parents, and others

One of the most disappointing things about yesterday's cancellation was that the coaches and parents race was cancelled.  But keep training.  The September 29 High Country CC Classic (Sponsored by the Mast General Store) includes an "Open Race - 9:00."  Also, "Middle School Race 9:40."

Last year's results.

Cancelled -- Tonight's meet. Practice as usual.

Coach Mac reports that "The Caldwell County Invitational has been canceled for this year.  It will not be made up.  The teams will practice after school today."

Tuesday meet in Lenoir -- Caldwell County Invitational UPDATE

The team competes in the Caldwell County Invitational Tuesday.  The meet has attracted lots of teams the last few years.  Last year's results.

UPDATE :  Last year, Watauga won against 2nd place North Lincoln, which again has strong teams.  It was especially close in the Varsity Boys, 47 to 50.  But it does not look like they're coming this year.  Too bad.


2:50pm bus leaves WHS
4:30pm Coaches & Parents Race -- It might not be too late to get signed up!  Ask Coach Mac.
4:45pm Middle School race

5:00--Boys Varsity Race 5K

5:30--Girls Varsity Race 5K
6:00--Boys Open 5K
6:30--Girls Open 5K
7:00-Awards 
Coach Mac has asked parents for sandwiches for the team after the meet. 
Directions to Lenoir Soccer Complex  (Map):  From Boone, take Highway 321 through Blowing Rock to Lenoir. Take a left at Nuway Circle (stoplight before Bo's), go about 0.5 miles and turn right onto Zack Forks Road, which will take you to the soccer complex (on your right) and the start and finish of the race.