Re-Course News – Stanford Invitational, September 27, 2003

 

The Reno girls team may have placed second in the division II race but they had the overall fastest time (93:47) and they had the fastest individual average (18:46) of all the girls teams combined – division 1 - V.  Collier and Mel (Marie) Lawrence were absolutely awesome to watch.  They were the talk of the meet hands down.  There wasn’t an area on the course – and I was all over it – that I didn’t hear people commenting in awe while watching Collier and Mel destroy California’s best.  These two girls brought tears to my eyes as I was proudly watching our Nevada girls make mince meat out of a field of elite high school runners.  Nevada not only rose to the ranks of the best in California and outside but they conquered them also this day.  I was excited to watch Reno race at Stanford against the some of the best teams in the nation and they most definitely didn’t disappoint. 

 

Collier may have only been six seconds ahead of Mel (Marie) at the end but she did all the work from the start to the finish.  And anyone who has ever raced knows it is much harder to lead with no one to run with, chase or push you.  Being the leader and pace setter takes a lot out of you during the race and the pressure is greater.  Collier had no one to run with from the start to the finish as she clocked a 5:16 opening mile and an 11:18 two miles.  Collier set the pace and everyone else got to be pulled along by her as she did all the work and had all the pressure of maintaining her neck breaking pace alone for 3.1 miles, but she did it and did it looking strong, confident and composed.  Collier is one tough, tough competitor and I take my hat off to her mental strength and racing courage. 

 

The group of Mel, Claire Rethmeir, Lindsay Allen, and one other runner were about15 to 20 seconds back at both the mile and two mile mark.   Shortly after the two mile mark it was Mel, Claire and Lindsay running together until Mel broke from both Claire and Lindsay and pulled up closer to her sister Collier the last half mile of the race.  Watching Mel race against girls a lot taller and more developed then her was fun.  This tiny little  girl with picture perfect form and a little pixie face just glided along at sub six minute mile pace and made it look like a walk in the park.  She truly fits a perfect race car description – the description my coach used to use when describing elite distance runners – small frame with a big engine.  Mel is one fast little red Ferrari and she moves as smoothly as one also. She is going to be fun to watch over these next few years.

 

Unfortunately, Daryan Glenn, Reno’s third runner had an off day, but she still managed to finish in the top twenty.  However, it’s always disappointing when you run almost a minute slower than the previous year.  But knowing Daryan she will rebound and tear up the next cross country course she races on and will put this race behind her as the champion I know her to be.

 

Freshman Nicole Lajeunesse has definitely stepped up from her middle school racing.  She joined one of the best teams in the nation and in a very short time made her presence known by running with the top five girls.  She didn’t let the challenge intimidate her - she rose to it and succeeded in going over the bar the Reno girls have set by placing twentieth in a very elite field. 

 

Stacy Challis, a freshman placed 44th, Michelle Glenn, a senior just doesn’t seem to like this race, placing 64th, which is an improvement from last year, but I know she is better than she ran at Stanford.  I am sure by state she will greatly improve as she did last year.  Kaitlyn Shackelton, a sophomore made her first trip to Stanford.

 

The Carson and Douglas girls also ran in the division II race.  The Carson girls did not get their first runner in before Reno’s sixth.  The Douglas girls did not get their first runner in before Reno had all seven in - that is how good the Reno team is.  The Carson girl’s team didn’t average bad times as a team, 21:42, but they were no match for Reno.  However, the Carson girls had three runners race to personal bests – Janine Stone, Patty Capistrant and Megan Myers.  I was very proud of how our girls raced and the improvement they are making every week.  I am also sure Keith Cole of Douglas is equally proud of his girl’s efforts.

 

The South Tahoe girl’s team raced in the division III competition.  Unfortunately, they had two girls running sick.  Megan Hilliard a sophomore looked great coming into the finish in 13^th  place – strong with lots of talent.  I have no doubt that we are just beginning to see the strength of this young team.  It is going to be a real dog fight between them and Galena at the Regional championship. 

 

The Reno boys also took down some powerful top rated California teams.  However, they didn’t take down any national rated team as their girls team did.  They won the division II competition but team time wise they were seventh overall not first as their girls were.  They are very good but not great – they have a ways to go before reaching the dominance of their girl’s team.

 

 Jonathan Cardenas showed why he is the man to beat this year at state.  He fell before the mile mark and was knocked around a little before he could get up but he still managed to not only win but win in a very respectable time.  It was not the fastest time of the day as Collier’s was but who knows what he would have clocked if he hadn’t fallen down.  Fortunately, the season is still young and the Reno team will travel to California several more times so Jonathan will have ample opportunity to make up for his unfortunate fall. 

 

Joseph Parker ran in his usual aggressive style – up front with the lead pack.  He wasn’t able to hang with them but he still managed to place 11^th and was Reno’s second man in just ahead of David Shackelton, whom I believe is a lion waiting to roar as soon as his body holds up and he is able to train consistently for a longer period of time than he has in the past.  I agree with Dan Wilvers that Leif Anderson ran outside himself, or maybe he just decided to run to his potential Saturday.  Either way he raced one of his best races ever - he was impressive.  James Bailey seems to be running well for his first cross country season.

 

The Carson and Douglas boys were also in the division II competition.  The Reno boys had all seven runners in before Carson had their first – freshman Chad Shroy.  They also had five in before Douglas had their first, Daniel Sipko.  But again, I am proud with how our boy’s team ran Saturday.  Chad Shroy our number one runner, a freshman, ran to a personal record as did freshman Tyler Bourns.  We have no seniors on our team so we are hopeful for the future.

 

The Douglas boys were beat at their own home meet last Wednesday by Carson but they came back this race and easily outclassed us.  I know Keith must also be proud of his boys and the progress they are making.

 

The South Tahoe boys competed in the division III race.  This is a young and upcoming team.  They have a lot of talent and Dom is training them well.  Every time I see them they look better and better.  Their team average was an impressive 17:09.  I think Galena better watch out for this team at Regionals. 

 

Alex Sharp of South Tahoe is knocking on Joseph Parker and David Shackelton’s door.  He is genetically gifted and he has a great coach in Dom, so he going to be a threat to the top boys if he keeps improving as he is.  The rest of the South Tahoe boys are also running well and will most definitely be a team to reckon with in the future.

 

Patrick Swick, our lone boy in the division I race, raced aggressively as he went out with the lead pack for almost two miles.  However, he seemed to be running tired to me.  He just didn’t have the snap and power in his stride that he has had in past races I have seen.  I don’t know if he was tired or if he is just not in the shape the other boys are in yet.  I know he was disappointed in his finish but there is still plenty of time to rebound and get stronger before state in November.  It was nice being able to root on a southern Nevada runner amongst all the northern runners that were there.

 

The Reno boys and girls team is loaded with race horses without a doubt.  Their coaches are lucky that their stables are full of some of the very best athletes in all of Nevada and as they have proven outside of Nevada.  They are doing a great job in bringing out their runners talent.  I do not think I have ever seen a team dominate as strongly and as impressively as this team is dominating now.  I truly am very, very impressed.

 

Congratulations Reno on one spectacular performance this past Saturday.  As of now I would say that there is no team in Nevada that is going to give the girls even a little trouble.  The Centennial boys are an unknown to me, but they had better be greatly improved from last year if they want to compete against Reno.  These two teams are two of the best ever.

 

 

Stanford Stats – 9/27/03

 

Northern Nevada Competitors – Girls     Nevada Competitors – Boys

1.  Collier Lawrence – Reno  17:34                 1.  Jonathan Cardenas – Reno  15:44

2.  Marie Lawrence – Reno  17:40                 2.  Joseph Parker – Reno  16:18

3.  Daryan Glenn – Reno  19:11               3.  Patrick Swick – Chap  16:22

4.  Nicole Lajeunesse – Reno  19:18                 4.  Alex Sharp – ST  16:34

5.  Megan Hilliard – ST  19:34               5.  Leif Anderson – Reno 16:41

6.  Stacy Challis – Reno  20:04               6.  James Bailey – Reno  17:14

7.  Kimmy Arroues – ST  20:26               7.  Bryan Kurek – ST  17:18

8.  Michelle Glenn – Reno  20:33               8.  Daniel Sipko – Douglas  17:53

9.  Kelsey McClurg (sick) – ST  20:43            9.  Elliot McPeek – Douglas  17:54

10.  Annie Brinson – Carson  20:54              9.  Scott Brower – ST  17:54

11.  Janine Stone – Carson  21:06               11.  Kyle Sullivan – ST  17:55

12.  Patty Capistrant – Carson  21:34              12.  Steven Grant – ST  18:03

13.  Kaitlyn Shackelton – Reno  21:47            13.  Robert Elvick – Reno  18:09

14.  Rosalind Gould – Douglas  21:57            14.  Erik Gallanty – ST  18:12

15.  Megan Myers – Carson  22:15              15.  Jonathan Pulido – ST  18:16

16.  Amanda Benson – Carson  22:38              15.  Matthew Freeman – Reno  18:16

17.  Lacey Payne – ST  22:45                           17.  Chad Shroy – Carson  18:17

18.  Laurel Morrow – ST  23:05               18.  Ryan Turner – Carson  18:20

19.  Sarah Rowe – Douglas  23:07             19.  Greg Mullen – Douglas  18:21

20.  Harmony Bennington – Dou  23:16            20.  Mike Freeman – Douglas  18:27

21.  Nichole Lopez – Douglas  23:28             21.  Doug Holderman – Carson  18:33

22.  Tiffany Curtis – Douglas  23:30             22.  Tyler Bourns – Carson  18:54

23.  Amber Ramos – ST  23:38               23.  Adam Houghton – Carson  19:01

24.  Heather Newman – ST  23:39               24.  Shelby Moulden – Carson  19:10

25.  Jamie Aitkenhead – Douglas  24:02            25.  Seth Carter – Carson  19:34

26.  Andrea Steirstead – Carson  24:29            26.  Andy Sturgess – Douglas  19:37

                                                                        27.  Matt Marple – Douglas  19:42

 

Team Scores                                                    Team Scores

Reno – 16                                                        Reno – 27

South Tahoe – 46                                            South Tahoe – 43

Carson – 64                                                     Douglas –  82

Douglas – 96                                                    Carson – 101

 

Collier and Marie Lawrence defeated California’s 2003 3200 meter state champion Claire Rethmeier, USA Track & Field Junior National 3000 meter steeplechase champion Lindsay Allen and they ran faster than Rachel Bryan, 2002 California Division I cross country state champion who was also a 2002 Foot Locker finalist, and Liza Pasciuto 2000 Foot Locker finalist.  This list of course does not include the many other top elite runners they defeated or ran faster than in the five races, i.e. Annie Falor 2002 Arizona State cross country champion, etc, etc. 

 

The Reno girls team defeated Sultana of Hesperia, California who is ranked fourth in the nation and second in western region by The Harrier.  It will be interesting to see where they are ranked in the near future.