A Look at Saturday's Meet

Patrick Sheehan, of Lake Norman, won last year's meet and is returning.  He's run 15:17 and 15:22 on fast courses (or maybe just a fast race at WakeMed) so far this year (and Coach Hoyal has a photo of him on his webpage, blocking out Josh Anderson).  Justin Burkey, of Garner (Wake County) and several South Carolina runners should challenge Michael also.

Kathleen came in 4th last year, but none of the runners who finished ahead of her are back.

Coach Hoyal and Coach Quick are probably going to win the Open5K race.  Fastest parent (of a current WHS runner) will probably be Tim Holland.

The Middle School/Kids 2 mile race is difficult to predict because some kids would rather run the Open 5K.  Probably a Perry and a Sprague will win.  A non-Watauga kid could show up and surprise us.

Recycling from previous years

• Wondering how cross country meets are scored?  With a few exceptions, a team's score is the sum of its first 5 finishers' places in the race.  Example from last year: 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 64 points. 
• I also like page 3 of this same document, 3: How to Cheer for Distance Runner.  I would also add, if you're going to yell their name, make sure you get it right.  For example, Rachel does not want to be called Sidney.
• 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.

Parking and directions
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 playground; and (2) past the swimming pool and playground, across from the Armory.
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 there, near the covered bridge.  
The big, fenced parking lot that belongs to Appalachian State University will be mostly full of the college students' cars, due to the football game and all downtown (but I'm parking there).  
The race will not be at the high school, although the far point in the race goes right up to the high school property.