City Championships - Varsity = 5th & JV = 4th

 
Will L-S finishes Runner-Up at the
Don Loker Cross Country Championships

The top runners from Madison, WI migrated to Lake Farm Park for the annual running of the Don Loker City CC Championships. Our meet has grown in size as we add more private schools to the mix. Which also makes an interesting clash of mascots as this year we saw a competition between the Crusaders, Guardians, Spartans, Purgolders, Regents, Lancers, Eagles, & Challengers...that would be quite the scene in a drawing. Every year the Madison area produces some of the top runners in all three divisions and this year looks to be the same. This tough competition leads to some fast times and our Spartans were more than happy to run fast including 10 season best times from our group. The varsity was led by a great race from Will L-S as he finished runner-up and was the top underclassmen in the race. Berndt was just a second off his lifetime best running a great race as our number 2 runner. Nick Z had his second best time of the season and is showing he is ready to finish his senior year on a solid note. Freshman Max B continues to step up to help out our varsity being the 4th Spartan across the line and Jack C had a great finish to be our 5th scorer on the day. PJ helped get these guys through the first part of the race and stayed close with his finish as Anthony also was within seconds of these Spartans. 

The JV race saw Finn A run a season best time committing to a solid plan from the start and holding on all the way to the finish. Ian G closed really well just off his season best and being our 2nd JV finisher. Andy E crossed the line next in a lifetime best and Mitchell was hot on his trail in a season best time. David rounded out our scoring five in JV who continues to improve each week and is looking for a strong finish to their season at Conference next week on this same course. Other season and lifetime best run by JV runners included Nathan Z dropping another 20 seconds, Grey & Kaiden dropping about 40 seconds each, Asher W dropping about 1 minute lifetime best and Oliver O dropping a minute season best for a new lifetime PR, Elliot D having a 2 minute PR, Ben L battling back from injury to have a 3 minute improvement and a lifetime PR. Big things for these guys next week at conference and in future seasons.

RESULTS
All of the Races
Varsity Boys
JV Boys

NEXT COMPETITION
Saturday October 19th
Big 8 Conference Championship @ Lake Farm Park (Course)
Bus = 8:00am
9:30am = First Race
10:05am = Boys Varsity (2023 Results) (Box 3-4)
11:15am = Boys JV (2023 Results) (Box 3-4)
12:00pm = Awards - Top 16 Varsity, Top 15 JV1 & JV2
** We will NOT stop to eat... back to school around 1:00pm

NEWS & NOTES
--> 10/12 (Sat) - Team Practice at Elver Park - 8:00am - 9:30am
--> Seniors will be collecting money the week of conference for coaches gifts ($10) & team shirts ($15)
--> Weather rollercoaster coming next week...be prepared...get the warm gear, rain gear, and extra clothing out and at practice(s) to avoid getting sick/injured due to the weather
--> JV Runners will have a required practice on Monday Oct 21st...uniforms & other checked out items must be returned at this time. JV runners will run on Monday
--> Only varsity runners preparing for Sectionals will have required practice Oct 22nd & beyond 

Nightfall Classic - 10th place

That was different! For the first time in team history, the Spartans ran in a cross country meet after dark as we traveled to Lake Mills for the Nightfall Classic. The energy was off the walls as teams from all over the area ran on a golf course that was lit up like a decorated holiday scene. The boys really enjoyed the experience even though not all quite figured out the best way to control their energy to put into the race. We competed in the D1/D2 race which was a really strong field of 22 teams. Our team ran to a 10th place finish in the D1 race led by Will L-S who finished 4th amongst the D1 runners. Our seniors had a good night with Liam B running a season best and David B, Jack C, & PJ M adding in lifetime best times. Nathan Z continues to improve each meet with another season best performance. Elliot D and Asher W ran great grabbing lifetime PRs on the night. Andy E just missed breaking 20 minutes but set a lifetime PR nonetheless while Grey H and Kaiden S also saw lifetime PRs. It was great to see so many smiling faces (even in the darkness) and was a fun competition as we prepare for the stretch run of the season. We head next to Lake Farm Park for both the City & Conference meets as our JV team has just 2 weeks left...time to get serious and take care of some business. 

Ben L's sweet light up sign &
Will L-S earning 4th place finish in D1 race

RESULTS
D1 Results
D1 Team Results

All Results

NEXT COMPETITION

Thursday October 10th
Don Loker City Cross Country Championships @ Lake Farm Park (Course)
NO BUS - Early Release = 2:00pm
2:30pm - Arrive at Lake Farm Park
3:30pm - 1st Race
4:00pm - Boys Varsity (2023 Results) (Box 5-6)
5:10pm - Boys JV (2023 Results) (Box 5-6)
5:45pm - Awards - Varsity = 10 individuals, JV = 15 individuals
**We will NOT stop to eat...approximate return to VPM is 6:45pm

NEWS & NOTES
Saturday 10/5 Practice = Captain's Practice @ 10:00am at Pheasant Branch Conservancy

Championship season...JV = City & Conference, Varsity = City, Conference, Sectional, & State
JV athletes will have practice through/including Monday Oct 21st

Midwest Invitational - Lots of Season PRs

 

Will L-S breaks 16:00 at the Midwest Meet

The weather wasn't perfect at the Midwest Invitational but it was much improved over the last couple weeks of racing. A cool breeze and some shade helped racers feel more like fall as they chased season best times. The competition in Janesville is some of the strongest we see all season long because of the depth in the 55 team field. Many of our athletes took advantage of the day to run season PRs and continue to chase those end of the season goals.
The best performance of the day goes to Will L-S in the varsity race as he ran 15:57 for his first sub 16 minute race earning him a 16th place overall finish and the 2nd fastest sophomore on the day (fastest from WI). Anthony L had a lifetime PRs in the varsity race too as he dipped under 19 minutes for the first time running 18:56. Finn A ran his season best as our varsity finished in 36th place out of 55 teams at the Midwest invite.

Our blue JV team was small but all five racers ran season bests helping us finish in 24th place in this race. They were led by Jack who ran a lifetime best going under 19 minutes in 18:59. He was followed closely by Ian G who took off a minute from his lifetime PR running 19:01. Jamie I had a good race in a season best while Andy E also ran a lifetime PR of 20:13. Mitchell S rounded out our scorers in this race also running his season best time.

The white JV race concluded the day and saw a lot of our guys make great strides in their performances on the season. Bowen earned a top 40 finish with his lifetime PR of 20:47. Liam B ran his season best in this race. Grey broke 23 minutes for the first time in 22:49. Kaidan was not too far behind in a lifetime PR of 23:17. Easton ran a season best to round out our scorers on the day that saw the team finish in 26th place. Elliot D ran a lifetime PR as did Abhi and Asher. It was a great day of racing all around for the Spartans as we look forward to the second half of our season and even faster times.

RESULTS
Complete results (need to scroll)

VIDEOS
Varsity Race

NEXT COMPETITION
Friday October 4th 
Nightfall Classic @ Lake Mills GC (Course)
Team Picture - 6:15pm
Bus - 6:45pm
7:10pm - 1st Race (D3 Girls)
9:00pm - Boys D1/D2 Race (box 13) (2023 results)
(Varsity & JV together)
9:40pm - Awards - top 3 teams and 20 individuals

** Entry fee for spectators is $8
https://events.hometownticketing.com/organization/4917b75a-d04a-4d1a-b348-eb78cdad2447
Parking map is HERE

Plan time for parking and walking to the course...although at the course it will be lit "well"...you will probably want a flashlight/headlamp for the walk to and from parking

NEWS & NOTES
-Clothing orders were handed out at practice this past week...put your name in items
-Team Picture...we are going to take it prior to loading the bus on Friday...have top & bottom of uniform
-Oct 3rd & 4th = No School...practice like usual on Thurs at 3:45...meet on Friday
-We are going to attempt a return to practicing behind Memorial HS starting Monday 9/30...athletes can use the team room at school (bring locks for a locker), we will have better access to the trainers room, weight room, and school in general. We recommend pickup still near the stadium as the middle school parking lot is very busy with youth football but your family is welcome to make these plans that work best for you. We will keep kids/families updated if this will be a temporary or permanent change.

Smiley Invitational - Varsity = 12th, JV = 10th

 

Nick Z & Berndt R lead the Spartans

at the 68th Annual Smiley Invite

Our season took us north this weekend and hopes of escaping the grips of the long lasting summer's heat. We headed to Wausau East to compete in the 68th annual Smiley Invite. Our varsity started off the day being led by Berndt & Nick both earning medals for their efforts on the day. Berndt was our top finisher in 17:26 followed closely by Nick Z in a lifetime PR. Freshman Max B had a great day being our third runner and PJ M followed closely behind him. Anthony L stepped up in his first varsity experience of the season to round out our scoring five runners. Seniors Jack C and Jamie I both ran well for the varsity as our team finished 12th on the day in a very competitive race.

The JV runners ran a strong middle part of the race to bring our group to a 10th place team finish. Next week we will look to get out a little faster at the start so we don't have to work so hard in the second half of the race. Finn G led the charge through the field with his 19:47 time. Ian G came in next with a lifetime PR. Freshman Andy E continues to show marked improvement and led a group of teammates including sophomore Mitchell S and senior David B. We look to continue to have this group runner closer together throughout the race to help all in this group improve their performance and times. Nathan Z improved his season PR and Abhi K opened his season with a lifetime best while Asher W continues to improve throughout the season again setting a lifetime best. Lots of good races were run in this group of runners on a challenging course. We are ready for the second half of the season and lots of improvement in the coming races.

RESULTS
All Smiley Results
D1 Varsity results
D1 JV results

NEXT COMPETITION
Saturday September 28th
Midwest Invitational @ Blackhawk GC - Janesville (Course)
Bus - 6:45am
9:00am - First Race
9:35am - Blue JV Race (sub 21:15 racers) (2023 Results)
10:45am - Varsity Race (2023 Results)
12:00pm - White JV Race (2023 Results)
12:40pm - 4th - 8th Grade 1 mile Race **

Awards - Varsity = top 40 individuals & 3 teams, JV (both Blue & White) - top 30 individuals
*We will stop for food on the way home...bring $ or pack a lunch!*
Approximate return to Memorial is 3:30pm

** 4th-8th graders who are siblings/friends of Memorial Athletes or attend Memorial feeder schools can compete in the 1 mile cross country race at 12:40pm representing Memorial...to be entered in the race, parents/coaches must contact Coach Casey (crhopp@hotmail.com) by Wed 9/25 before 6:00pm with athletes Name, Gender, Grade in school...(NO cost)...it is the responsibility of each family to provide transportation for their 4th - 8th grade athlete(s) to and from the meet and provide their own race day attire...timing bibs will need to be picked up the day of the race by 12:25pm in our team camp area.

*** Janesville is charging an entry fee for spectators. Adults = $6 Kids/Senior Citizens = $4 Under 6 years old = free...NO CASH purchase online at https://gofan.co/event/1700162?schoolId=WI19179 or with debit/credit card at the gate

Plan time for parking, walking to course, & paying admission!!

NEWS & NOTES
Clothing order to be handed out this week at practice....write your name in your new gear!
Homecoming week...make good choices. Practice schedule remains the same all week.
Take care of your health...sleep, eat healthy, hydrate, stretch, ice, sleep ;) and wash your hands