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Cross Country Season begins
The essence of Cross Country: running through the Maine woods, here near the Medomak middle and high school fields. That is, of course, Eli!
Well, if truth be told, the photos that follow are of the third official meet of the season! I’ve been a bit distracted with the debut of the video and the bloghop, but wanted to keep up with life in general in the midst of all the quiltyness! This last meet was particularly spectacular, both the day and the results. Over the years, the Camden Hills Girls’ Cross Country team has been a powerhouse in the state, among the top teams. The boys have had some stellar runners, but have never been competitive. In Coach Becky Flanagan’s seven years, while the girls have even had undefeated regular seasons, the boys’ hadn’t won a meet. Until YESTERDAY!
Reason to celebrate: both Camden Hills Girls AND Camden Hills Boys WIN at Medomak!
Now that I’ve given away the punch line first, here’s a few photos from the boys’ race and the awards:
Looking towards the starting line as the gun sounds for the boys’ race. A few of the trees are turning already, and the sun is low in the sky by now, about 4:45 p.m.
As the leaders went past me at the start, in the order nearly where they ended up at the end of the race: Ben T. (senior) in the lead, Caleb (freshman) and Eli (sophomore) all in red. Ben W. isn’t in this picture, but he was able to avoid getting boxed in on the course and finished in the top ten for the first time this season!
Eli didn’t run last week because of his illness earlier in the week, and the cough was still bothering him in this meet. Not the best photo, but it shows the kid’s determination and grit.
And pushing all the way to the chute and the finish line, next to the tent.
Coach Becky taking a picture of first place girls’ team
The boys’ individual medal winners (it was Medomak’s homecoming weekend, hence the medals), with Eli in 7th, Caleb in 4th, and Ben T. with a commanding lead for first. It was another good day for the Trapani family, as his sister Emma, a freshman, won the girls’ race!
A FIRST! The boys team WINS…smiles for sure! And look at that early autumn sun setting through the trees. Maine is so wonderful!
I just wanted to say to each and every one of the kids on the team: every single one of you inspires me! Thank you so much for letting me, the total non-athlete, be a part of your season, cheering from the sidelines. Ben T’s insurmountable leads, Caleb’s lightning speed as he joined the team this year, Eli’s seemingly bottomless reservoir of determination and hard work, Ben W’s steady, strong racing. But it isn’t just the fastest runners who are graced with the physical ability to run fast that I admire. Crockett and Josh turned in performances of determination and guts in the past two meets. Nick D. may be the last of our team to cross the finish line, but his heart is huge: he DOES cross the finish line, he supports the team, he’s out there DOING IT.
Each and every member of the team, boys and girls, no matter where you place, you are doing something every practice, every meet, that teaches you things you will use for the rest of your life. Your results depend on YOU and no one else–and what matters most is what you put into it, what you get out of it, not the minutes on the clock as you cross the finish line or who finished before or after you. What matters most is that you are learning that you can depend on YOU to succeed. Well done! Thank you to Becky for years of coaching and work with the team, thanks to all the kids. You inspire me!