Blessed
Sacrament/St. Agnes Cross Country
Springfield, IL 62704
October 6, 2001
"State
No Stranger to the B.S.S./S.A.S. Runners"
Springfield, Illinois – October 2001, -- They trained for this. They worked
hard for this and they played the right mental games today and it paid off.
Blessed Sacrament/St. Agnes is sending their entire Girls Team and Hugh
McDermott, as an individual, to the state CC meet in Normal, IL on October 13,
2001.
The morning started out cold and wet at Lodge Park in Monticello, IL, and the
B.S.S./S.A.S runners were excited and nervous to be running in the first
Sectional CC Meet of their lives. This year's boys and girls Sectional teams
composed of eight, 6th graders out of twenty, five 7th graders, and seven 8th
graders is truly in its infancy and a "come from no where" surprise to
the rest of today's competitors.
"We train all season with one goal in mind, to get to state. But, when it
comes right down to the actual announcement, it is always an emotional
surprise," said Coach Ralph. The B.S.S./S.A.S. girls placed second as a
team opening the door that allows the whole team to compete in the state
competition. The boys' team ran against some amazing competitors and faired
well. They will send Hugh McDermott as an individual representative. McDermott
ran 12:35 for the 3200M course.
Katie Jasmon went out front of the girls pack and held tight to a her
fifth place finish all the way through the chute running 13:30. Ashley Ralph
rapidly establishing herself as a lead runner took 16th place with 14:13.
"Hang tight and come in together whenever possible," is what you
encourage your team to do and hang tight is exactly what Ashley Jones and
Melissa Gay did placing 20th and 21st respectively with times of 14:23
and 14:24. Melissa Gay is only in the sixth grade. Big things are expected from
her in the future. Darian Dolenc and Emily Schmitt two more
followers of the "clumping rule" placed 26th and 27th with times of
14:35 and 14:37 respectively. Darian Dolenc is another sixth grader with a
bright future. Rebecca Schraeder sealed the second place team finish
placing 33rd with a time of 14:55. "Talk about a real team effort these
girls know what teamwork it is all about," said Coach Ralph. "They
were very very impressive and they deserve to go to state as a team!"
The B.S.S./S.A.S. boys team was barely edged out of the state final placements
by Springfield Christian 4th and, Christ the King 5th. B.S.S./S.A.S. took a 6th
place team finish overall. Monticello, Rochester and Downs Tri-Valley will
take their boys teams to state. Hugh McDermott ran a very strong race for
a seventh grader in a field of seasoned 8th graders. McDermott took 15th
overall, which allows him an individual entry to the state meet. Patrick
Boyer ran 13:03 for 31st place while Nick Feller plagued with a groin
injury ran his personal best 13:20 for 36th place. Up and coming Colin
McCormick and Michael Enno both 7th graders ran 13:31 and 13:38. Michael
Feller and Trey Dhabalt, again, only in the sixth grade, ran 14:20
and 14:34 on the 3200M course at Monticello. "We look to the future for
this young team," said Coach Ralph. "I have no doubt, if they all
stick with it, in the next two years, you will see even more state bound
athletes from the B.S.S./S.A.S Cross Country Teams."
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