There are usually only a handful of defining moments in a distance runner's career, and today was one of them for Isaac Stinchfield. His workouts the past week had been more spectacular than ever before, but the real proof of the maturation of an athlete is the way they respond to competition. Isaac's new found confidence and work ethic propelled him to a 32 second P.R. and the opportunity to say "I am a Sub 18 minute 5Ker". An additional facet of his race, after running faster than he ever had through 2 miles of a race, he actually questioned me if this was the finishing loop. I replied "No. You have one more mile to go." He continued to pass other runners through that last mile and finished in 17:56.4!
Brooke Croeni's decision one month ago to turn out for Cross Country was one of those pleasant surprises my first week after being hired as the Panther XC Coach. Her first day of practice, all she could handle was about 1 mile at 10 minute pace. Today she ran her first XC race of her life. I'm not quite sure what she thought before this race, but I know that afterwards she now has the vision of an XC runner: her first mile was in 8:30 and she finished in 26:46.3 to lead our Future Varsity Girls team to a solid performance. She amazed herself with her performance and was quoted as saying "I didn't realize I could do that. I love passing people!"