"A State Experience"
Springfield, Illinois – October 2001, Maxwell Park, Normal,
Illinois, this year's Mecca for the State CC Finals was buzzing with excitement,
anxiety and nerves on Saturday, October 13, 2001. Almost 700 Junior High Runners
from Class A and Class AA divisions were waiting for the final results of the
last meet of their 2001 season.
Weather: Heavy overcast, low lying fog, threatening rain
Course: wet grass, fairly flat, no major hills
The Blessed Sacrament/St. Agnes Girls team took the line in box ten promptly at
10:00 a.m. for their first State CC experience. The first mile times were
not what they had hoped for and the pack of runners was amazingly still very
tight at the mile mark. Katie Jasmon, a state qualifying miler last spring, has
been hindered by chronic shin problems all season. Despite her injuries, Jasmon
was able to pull it together and lead the BSS/SAS team in her usual manner.
Ashley Ralph, continuing to build a future as a number one runner, ran a relaxed
race not far off her Sectional pace. Ashley Jones and Melissa Gay followed Ralph
running neck and neck the entire 3200 meter as did Emily Schmidt and Darian
Dolenc. Jones looked great and relaxed running her usual form. Schmidt, fighting
off an injury that occurred early in the season, ran a healthy race. She was
happy to be there and the BSS/SAS runners were glad to have her back. Gay and
Dolenc are both sixth graders and show promising leadership for next year's CC
team. Rebecca Schraeder closed the gap on the BSS/SAS runners. Schraeder
realized her potential towards the end of the season and was a definite asset to
this years state team.
Even though conditions were less than perfect and all state times were slower
than Sectional times, the BSS/SAS team proved themselves more than worthy of a
tremendous state experience. An experience they are sure to improve upon at next
year's state finals.
Jasmon finished 41st overall and scored a team 27th place finish with a
final time of 13:56. Ashley Ralph finished 85th overall and scored
a team 56th place finish with a final time of 14:26. Ashley Jones
fished 105th overall and scored a team 70th place finish with a final time of 14:47.
Melissa Gay finished right behind Jones in 106th spot for a team 71st
place and a final time of 14:48. Emily Schmidt finished 126th
overall for a team 90th place finish with a final time of 15:06. Darian Dolenc
again right behind Schmidt placed 129th overall for a team 92nd place and a
final time of 15:08. Rebecca Schraeder finished 149th overall for
a team 107th place with a final time of 15:30.
Hugh McDermott ran as an individual in the boy's race placing 118th
overall with a time of 13:10. McDermott is another runner with a
promising future.
The BSS/SAS girls took a team 12th place finish in the State of Illinois
Class A Division for their first season in Cross Country. Not bad for first
timers. Coach Gaffigan at has some serious hopefuls for his high school CC
team next fall, as does BSS/SAS for their junior high CC team. We will look to
see them back at state again next year.
We will be back in February!
Coach JR
