The "Run-Down": State (Pasco)

When planning a trip, always schedule in some buffer time. We needed that as we started loading the van in the school parking lot as we discovered that the fire extinguisher had been discharged... there was yellow powder all over the back of the van. (No - Bailey Duncan did not misuse his Fire Safety training knowledge as some sort of prank!) We needed a little extra time to play "Musical Vans" prior to our departure to Pasco.

Since we were downsized relative to last year, we were actually much more efficient and were way ahead of schedule by the time we hit Subway in The Dalles. A few hours later, we enjoyed our course walk-through, but we had even more memorable moments at our Applebee's dinner. Joined by Coach Seekin's daughter, Jordin, she initiated a barrage of trivia games at our table for six (which we had now seven at). Sitting to my left, she was getting a little grumpy while complaining the trivia game was hard to read upside down. To my right, Bailey was rather sedate as he was rather tired. So, with five more of us, it was appropriate that each of us take on one of the other five dwarf names. The easiest one was Sonata Jensen-Meyer, whose ubiquitous smile earned her the name of Happy. Aiden Pullen's serene demeanor made him the next obvious to be labeled Bashful. I was deemed Doc as I was the oldest, even though I shaved off my beard back in Washougal. With Hannah Swigert occasionally breaking out into her signature laughter fits reminiscent of uncontrollable sneezing, she earned a hybrid name of "Laughter-Sneezy." Well, that left Coach Seekins holding the short straw, being assigned the character of Dopey, even though we all know that this character allocation was on the other end of the spectrum from the truth.

That night, the whole crew hit the hay early at our favor Inn in Richland, the "Hampton." Hannah found breakfast first on Saturday morning since she raced in the AM. Our two boys, whom our fabulous Encouragement team cleverly blended their names to "Baiden", were not scheduled to race until the afternoon. The hybrid name made it easier for us to cheer for both of them with one breath, plus it helped conserve the use of glitter on the poster they made for them! The lingering problem with the poster was "Who gets to take the poster home?"

Hannah's pre-race plan was to be top 25 the first mile and within arms' reach or so of the top 16. She played her cards nicely as a blob of 25 or so runners were in the lead pack that she was near the middle of. She slipped back to the upper twenties by the mid-way mark and started to make a move back near her goal. Unfortunately a calf strain (probably from stepping in a divot or small depression) thwarted her plans. She courageously finished in 59th place. Her performance was still more than 10 seconds faster than 2014 state meet PR, and 13 places higher. Although disappointed due to the circumstances, she found a way to smile afterwards as she set her sights on next year's goals.

"Baiden" had a little more success. The "A" guy of the squad probably equaled his best XC effort ever (considering the course) with a 16:53.9 time. This mark was right at 10 seconds faster than last year (his best race in 2014) and 3 places better. He claimed he felt really good this day and his only reservation about his race was that he paced through the first mile in 5:05 rather than 5:15. The "B" guy posted a time over 20 seconds faster than either of his two prior trips to Pasco, and 11 places better than last year.

For our post-race picnic, the Seekins gals left a few minutes later to hunt down three pizzas from Round Table. Just before they returned, the skies let loose a two minute rain spurt that apparently declared the season to be officially over. Two of the three Panther Runners competing on this day are seriously looking forward to next year, planning to bring teams with them ('cause that is much more fun). The third Panther Senior Bailey Duncan just smiled big time as he was one of the handful of "three time state qualifiers" in the school's history.

Coach Terry L. Howard

Here are the line scores:

Boys		1 Mile	5000 M
Aiden	55^th	5:05	16:53.9
Bailey	74^th	5:05	17:09.4
	Of 138
Girls
Hannah	59^th		20:35.7
	Of 140