Hello TCA Running Families! Wow! Can I say that again, Wow! What an exciting performance our runners gave at the Fountain MS Invitational. We have a strong team this year and it is revealing itself early in our first few XC Meets. First up was the Girls A-Team who knew the competition was going to be fierce but stepped up to the start line with confidence. Lucy and Emma led the charge and Madylin, Emma L., Selah, Lauren and Ariele were close behind. The finish line was our 'bread-n-butter' as Emma L. made her move to pass Madilyn who stayed steady and held off a Cheyenne Mtn runner that came from behind with a blast of power. This is a great example of the mental-toughness we have been cultivating in our practices. Each place mattered in that final stretch and it was a team effort to secure that finish. TCA Girls won 1st place with 33 pts over Cheyenne Mtn with 34 pts. Top 5 runners; Lucy Swartzendruber (2), Emma Briggeman (3), Emma Leiker (8), Madilyn Discoe (9), and Selah Kallemeyn (11). Great Job!! The Boys A-Team were charged and ready at the start! No shortage of confidence as the gun went off! Daniel and Jacob pulled the team forward with a strong start followed by Jack, Titus, Cole, George and Evan. The plan was to go out fast and they did with Daniel capturing one of the fastest times we have seen on that course in the last decade. Each runner was on the offense pursuing their place to help secure the team score and they captured 1st place with 39 pts, followed by Holmes at 61 pts, and Chey Mtn at 65 pts. What a site to see!! Top 5 runners; Daniel Schwartz (1), Jacob Edwards (4), Jack Moylan (9), Titus Hickerson (11), and Cole Witmer (14). The Girls Open B-Team Race was impressive to say the least. Excitement and nerves we evident at the start but when the gun went off, they went out hard. They captured 3rd place with 58 points, Holmes in 2nd with 50 pts, and Cheyenne Mtn with 26 pts. Of note, Dahlia Maxwell's time qualified her to run up to A-Team on the next Meet. Working hard at practice is paying off. Great Job to all our Open Girls!! I love being at the start of the Boys Open B-Team Race. Their comradery is fun to watch and when they need to focus on the job at hand, they dial in. Jackson led the team out with a strong pace and was followed closely by Daniel, Micah, Reece, Corbin and Sawyer. A strong finish was evident as Jackson came around the corner closing on the first and second place runners. Then Daniel appeared, then Micah with Reece and Corbin on his heels. They blew the competition away with a 1st place finish at 46 pts, followed by Timberview at 93 pts, Cheyenne Mtn 94 pts. Jackson Gillespie will move up to A-Team for the next Meet. Great job working together to move our team forward!! It is truly amazing what we can accomplish as a team when the focus is on preparation and self-improvement with hard work and dedication to each other to be the best we can be for our teammates. Coach Allan crunched some data on how times dropped from last year, on this same course, and I have shared it below. Team stats and all runner results are attached as well. NO Practice, Monday September 7th. It is a 'run on own' day. I suggested a 20 minute recovery run with core and stretching at the end. Take advantage of the earlier morning when temps are cooler or a later run when the sun is not so intense. This will keep us limber for the Meet on Tuesday, September 8th, at Holmes Middle School (more information coming in another email). I appreciate all the support from parents this year. We are definitely feeling appreciated and feel like we can count on you to partner with us as we prepare our team for each challenge that comes our way. I hope you are having as much fun as we are watching the progress of your runners. Enjoy the long weekend! I will be heading to the BalloonFest at Memorial Park which runs each morning Sat-Mon. It has been a tradition of our family since my oldest daughter was two years old and we always stop by Amy's Donuts afterwards for a sugar rush. Maybe I will see you there!! Go Titans!! Coach Brim, Coach Allan, Coach Allison, Coach Schwartzendruber, and Coach Daron