Complete Results & Coverage Index...
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The Elephant in the Room
So most of us all know what happened in the Girls Elite race (if you don't, read the forum more). Let's not pretend like we don't right?
I had all kinds of inspiration for cover photos! I actually created two of them and then deleted them... and went with the boring one above. I don't want to piss any more people off than I already am going to be doing this weekend with another situation. So I'll just tell you about those images I created! One involved a bunch of road pointer signs going various directions... Jacksonsville, Fernandina Beach, 5K Course, I-95, etc. The other one was taking the LOST logo and then overlaying some of our lovely ladies who went off course tonight in kind of darkened shadows like the logo from the famous TV show. (that one would have been hillarious! IMO) But I didn't because some people wouldn't see the humor in it.
I can't say that I would feel any differently if I were the meet director. So I feel for Bishop Kenny right now. Putting on a large meet, you feel like you failed if everything doesn't go perfectly... so to have something major go wrong with the race--and especially the ELITE race--well it just sucks. But hopefully in case that it ever happens to me at one of my meets (again.. because we've all been there), I hope someone will remind me. Let it go. It's okay. Life goes on. As much as it stinks in the moment, there are far worse travesties in life than a single race on a single weekend. And while, yes, it's rather anti-climatic... just shake your head and find the humor in it. That's all you can do. You can't change it... just learn from it and move on.
From the kid's perspective... water under the bridge. I was relieved to see Shelby and Julie's interview where they had already shrugged it off. Davidson even was over it enough by midnight-ish to post a funny comment about it on her Facebook page: "That awkward moment when you run a race and get lost, so you end up doing 3.4 miles instead of 3.1" (popular internet meme).
I have heard of some who are not over it and are all up in arms. Mainly parents. The kids are over it already (if they stop getting reminded). The coaches are probably slightly annoyed still, but have the perspective and experience to understand that it's a long season. So if you're one of those that are still upset about it: look at the elephant to the right, now look at your daughter who makes you so proud, now back to the elephant, now back to your daugther. (weak 3:30AM reference to the Old Spice commercial) Now smile and breathe deep, let it go, and move on. The sun will rise tomorrow... and there will be more races. Stuff happens.
PS - This is part of cross country. You have to take responsibility to know the course... not merely follow the person in front of you and not rely on soley any course staff or markers. Learning experience for the sport and life.
Race Highlights
Complete Results and coverage index...
I haven't yet gotten these into the performance database, but will do so. I need to convert them first since they weren't done in Hytek.
Boys Elite -- Daniel Moore of Holy Trinity had a fantastic race. He has stepped up and filled the role of team leader this year and has big expectations. He paced the group most of the race and won in 15:50 over Mac Reynolds of Nease (16:12). Ryan Gousse debuted for Trinity Prep with teammate Salas next in 16:25 and 16:45. Holy Trinity, as expected, won easily with 43 points to 73 by Trinity Prep, Bishop Kenny 87, and Bartram Trail 98.
Girls Elite -- Julie Wollrath of Holy Trinity and Shelby Davidson of Cocoa Beach led the race out hard with plans of a 1-2 finish. As noted above, then things started to go wrong when they didn't know the course well enough and course officials did not guide them around the turn they should have followed. A whole mess of the lead pack followed suit and chaos ensued for a while. But it's not how you fall down, but how you get back up. Stefanie Kurgatt of Maclay realized the mistake fairly early on and made a cut back toward the proper course, soon gaining the lead and not giving it back. She won the race--second win of the year and showing she is 100% recovered from the stress fracture--in 19:23. Davidson fought hard... returning back to the correct course in near last and fighting back up through the pack to finish in second 19:47 to Kaitlin Rodriguez (Creekside) in 19:49. Wollrath came back to fourth 20:08. Not phased by the mishap Creekside earned the "V" with 83 points. Bishop Kenny finished in 120 points. And the team that doesn't wish to be named--but if I was doing charades I would indicate four words and try to depict a feminine character and a region of France--finished in third place with 123 points.
Boys Open -- Nick Papa, senior at Lake Highland Prep, made his season debut--after taking the ACT last weekend--with a 17:30 victory over Matt Hurst of Palatka. The Lake Highland boys won 79 to 87 over Marianna.
Girls Open -- Sophomore Isabella Poole of Ponte Vedra wins in 21:20 over Payton Woods of Trinity Christian's 21:24. South Fork beat out Eastside and St. Johns Country Day 85-92-99.
Boys JV -- Austin Pitts powered Mandarin wins big in 21 points over Bishop Kenny's 46. Pitts, a sophomore, ran a big time of 17:59.
Girls JV -- Katarina Rodriguez of Our Lady of Lourdes wins a nice junior varsity time of 21:19, trying to earn her spot! Mackenzie Meisler, freshman at Bishop Kenny, was second in 21:28. The Bolles girls beat out BK 30-52.
Race Videos Galore
Todd Grasley was on site for flrunners.com on Saturday night and he's got interviews with Daniel Moore, Stefanie Kurgatt, Davidson/Wollrath, race highlights, and many many more.
Daniel Moore
Stehanie Kurgatt
