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

Grade Level Challenge

The heat was on again for the Big 8 Grade Level Challenge but the spartan harriers put out a solid effort in the quick return to racing. We asked the kids to put in a quality effort in Cross Plains and we were really pleased with all those that raced. Andy E was our top finisher with his 10th place finish in the freshman race. Ian G earned a top 20 finish in the sophomore race to lead all finishers in the frosh/soph race. David B led our team in the junior/senior race. This years race was used more as a workout due to the Monday race schedule. We look forward to getting back out to a full team competition at the Smiley Invitational this coming weekend.

RESULTS
Grade Level Results - ALL
Frosh/Soph Race
Jr/Sr Race

NEXT COMPETITION
Saturday September 21st
Smiley Invitational @ Wausau East HS - Wausau, WI (Course)
Bus - 6:30am
8:30am - First Race
10:00am - First D1 Race (Girls)
11:10am - D1 Boys Varsity (2023 Results) (Lane 9)
11:35am - D1 Boys JV (2023 Results) (Lane 9)
12:00pm - Awards - Varsity = 2 teams & 20 individuals, JV = 1 team & 20 individuals
**We will stop to eat on the way home...bring $$ or a sack lunch**
Approximate return to school is 4:00pm

NEWS & NOTES
After school dinners have begun...athletes can stop in the cafeteria after practice for a free meal (need to get there before 6:15pm)
Still waiting on clothing order....I'll let you know when it arrives
Lots of cold symptoms going around...get sleep, eat & drink well, wash your hands, get more sleep

Hadler Invitational - JV = 2nd, Varsity = 7th

The Spartans headed east to compete at the Hadler Invitational in Menomonee Falls on Saturday. It is nice to seem some different competition and today we got to go up against some top ranked boys teams in Hamilton & Hartford. We were greeted at the meet by the return of the summer heat and this resulted in a mix bag for times on the day. While many athletes liked the course the sunny heat was not so appreciated by the team. Our JV runners started us off with a solid 2nd place finish and our Varsity ran to 7th place in their race. We return back to work this week to prepare for travels towards the north next week and some more new competition. It is going to be a warm one at practice, so I guess we will get some more work dealing with the heat. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate and make sure to replace calories with healthy meals in the evenings.

Jamie I runs to 3rd & Anthony L wins JV
leading the team to a 2nd place finish.

Our JV runners were led by senior Jamie I and soph Anthony L throughout the race and both made a late charge for the individual title. Anthony L snuck out the race win by .1 of a second (he thought he lost...we didn't know until the official results were posted) while Jamie I finished a strong 3rd. We had a bit of a gap until our next runner where Hamilton had their pack but Ian G and Andy E both ran lifetime PRs to gain top 20 finishes in the race. Mitchell S ran his season best and rounded out our scoring 5 to earn the team a 2nd place finish. Bowen D and Caleb B had great raises rounding out our top 7 both running lifetime PRs. Nathan Z and Ollie S opened up their season with strong performances and Kaiden S added another lifetime PR. Lots of good times run by this group and we continue to see improvement across this group both at practice and in meets. Excited to see their growth and what this season still holds for them as a group.

The varsity race saw some fast times upfront as state ranked Hartford took down higher seeded Hamilton. Our group ran really well combining together for their 7th place finish. Berndt led our team with his top 20 finish. Freshman Max B ran a lifetime best to be our #2 runner and PJ saw another lifetime PR right with his teammate. Nick Z ran his first varsity race of the season and we look forward to more things going forward. Jack C returned to the course to run a lifetime PR and round out our scoring five. Finn G completed our varsity squad on this hot day in Menomonee Falls. We some improvement from Verona to this week and we keep progressing, which is all we can ask from each guy.

RESULTS
Hadler Invite - All Results

Varsity

JV

NEXT COMPETITION
September 16th (Monday)
Big 8 Grade Level Challenge @ Middleton - Glacier Creek MS - Cross Plains (Course)

NO BUS - Meet at the course at 2:00pm
3:30pm - First Race

4:10pm - Boys Frosh/Soph (2023 Results) (Box 9)

5:30pm - Boys Jr/Sr (2023 Results) (Box 9)

6:15pm - Awards - top 5 individuals in each grade level

** Talk to your sons about if they are racing...some athletes will NOT be racing at this meet due to coaches decisions...everyone should still come to the meet to run (and cheer)
Athletes will be able to leave the meet after the team cool down around 6:00pm

NEWS & NOTES

- Sat 9/21 we head to Wausau for the Smiley Invite...bus time is 6:30am

- After school dinner program is available, athletes can pick up a free meal in the cafeteria before 6:15pm

- Grade & attendance checks have begun...take care of your school work...you are a Student first and and Athlete second

- Sleep, stretch, ice, eat, hydrate....TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF...busy week this week

Verona Invitational - Varsity = 18, JV = 20th

 

Sophomores Will L-S & Berndt R earn
top 40 finishes to lead the Spartans

The Spartans were greeted with great racing weather at the annual Verona Invitational. Our runners took advantage with a majority of the runners racing to their season best and 10 even improving their lifetime PRs. It was nice to be racing in front of fans and having other racers in the meet. Varsity started off the day in a competitive 31 one team field. We raced 3 sophomores, 2 freshman, and 2 seniors in the varsity race. All stepped up to the opportunity to lead us to a 18th place team finish. Will L-S ran a 16:32 to earn a 10th place finish. Berndt R ran over a minute PR to finish 40th in 17:15. PJ M was our 3rd runner across the line in a lifetime PR followed closely by freshman Max B who also ran a lifetime best. Finn A was our 5th finish today running a minute faster than he did last year at the same invite. Andy E & Mitchell S got opportunities to run in their first varsity races and took advantage by running season bests.

Our JV saw a lot of athletes running their first high school cross country race. The Verona course is a great introduction to cross country as it is a true cross country course with hills and scenery. Anthony L led our JV athletes. Ian G came next in a lifetime PR followed by Liam B and Caleb B. Bowen D ran a great race running over 3 minutes faster than last week and rounding out our scoring 5. Grey H, Kaiden S, Elliot D, & Asher W. all ran lifetime bests and are prime for even more improvement in the coming weeks. Our JV team finished 20th with a score of 620 points. I'm excited to see the growth of this group throughout the season. Staying healthy and putting in consistent work at practice will help each athlete reach their goals this season.

RESULTS
Verona Invite - all races

Varsity
JV

NEXT COMPETITION
Saturday September 14th

Hadler Invitational @ Rotary Park - Menomonee Falls (Course Map)

Bus - 7:00am

9:45am - First Race
10:25am - Boys JV (2022 Results) (Box 7)
11:30am - Boys Varsity (2022 Results) (Box 7)

12:00pm - Awards Varsity Team = 1 & Individuals = 10, JV Individuals = 5

**We will stop to eat on the way home...bring a sack lunch or $ to eat (usually Culvers)

Approximate return to Madison Memorial will be 3:30pm

We will be using the stadium parking lot (where we practice) for drop off/pick up

UPCOMING EVENTS
Fri 9/13 - Uniform handouts for remaining athletes
Mon 9/16 - Grade Level Challenge @ Middleton (Glacier Creek MS - Cross Plains)
NO BUS for this meet...let coaches know if you need help with transportation

NEWS & NOTES
Stay on top of your school work...don't let attendance or grades become an issue...ask coaches/captains if you need help.

Team chocolate milk - $10 (and bring your own cup)
Memorial After School Dinner Program - begins 9/9 - athletes can stop in the cafeteria after practice and pick up a free school dinner