NXN

For those of you that caught the NCAA XC Championships this morning then you know what it takes for those young men and women to compete at such a high level.   The majority of the men's field finished under 31 minutes for a 10k and the women ran 20 minutes for 6k.

But before any of them ever though of racing at nationals they busted it out at events like the NXN regional in Boise during their formative years.  

Their website describes the competition as, eight regional championships qualify both teams and individuals into one race for all the marbles over the whoop-dee-doos and hay bales at Portland Meadows.  But everyone now knows that it rivals the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships as the de facto HS race in the country. 

As couple of  South Medford runners headed to the meet under the auspices of the Panther Track Club to garner some valuable racing and came out with some great times.   

Camden Stemple ran 17:40 a week after qualifying for the state meet in Eugene and only a couple hours prior to that the family was heading an aid station at Lithia Loop.  Lela Stemple also got to battle it out with a 20:57 in this super competitive field and gained some invaluable experience that will certainly pay off in the years to come, I just know it.   

I commend both of these young runners for their determination and effort.  It seems like yesterday that they walked into the store, no more than 5 feet in stature, grinning from their Friday runs up and around the trails in Ashland. 

Results and a few Pics are Up!

Well you'll be able tell from the pics below that the event was not an easy one despite the ridiculously fast times up front.

Max King breaks his own course record by almost 10 minutes and Megun Lund Lizotte comes up just short on the women's side.   Check everything  here.

Mile 13, Max seconds in front of Ryan Bak  

Eric Poole feeling optimistic

Erik hangs with John Tribbia over the top.

The Stacies!  Not like in training eh ladies? 

It would get better.  

Perhaps a look of indecision from Karl Pryor.

Clayton, Jen and Annie pause to fuel the furnace. 

More snowy scene from mile 15.7

Race Day Ready

The sun did make an appearance today and at times it seemed like late October in Ashland.  Never mind, no not the Nirvana album, that the hills looked like they'd been dusted with marking chalk and that the forecast is for more tonight for I have seen the rain, snow, and the course for that matter.  

While there are patches of snow on the 2060 plateau it's confined to the few open breaks in the trees and it could be all of 10% of the middle 12.  At that, I can't say I think it'll be around Saturday morning and with the dust gone we are looking at a perfectly responsive yet spongy surface for fast running!  I think gloves are a must.  

Packet pick up is at the store tomorrow November 4th from 10 - 7 but give us a few minutes to get her open.  We'll also be handing out packets race morning from 6:45 - 7:45 at Pioneer Hall.   You'll be able to leave your warm clothes there as you make your way up (south) Winburn Way to the band shell for the start (100 yards.) 

After you finish you'll be wined and dined back at Pioneer Hall where we'll be handing out awards sometime around 2:30.  There will be USATF medals handed out to the top ten Male and Female finishers as well as $2500 in prize money for those registered members.  You can sign up at RVR tomorrow and on race morning.  Breakdown is as follows;  

Open Men:  500 , 300,  200 
Open Women:  500 , 300, 200
Masters Man: 250
Masters Woman: 250

There will also be an open raffle for a Garmin GPS watch, not to mention the usual schwag from RVR!