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WEB EXCLUSIVE: Split Squad: Lovejoy runners pick up accolades in Texas, Arkansas
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
Teamwork is usually based around togetherness and a unified front.
Saturday proved the exception to the rule as Lovejoy had runners at the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival in Fayetteville, Ark., and Poteet Run the Farm Invitational in Mesquite, coming away with individual or team top 10 placements at both events.
"This was by far our busiest weekend of the racing season and we had outstanding success at both venues," said Greg Christensen, Lovejoy head coach. "And the weekend was a lot of fun in that some athletes were able to fill in and perform well in situations which otherwise wouldn't have presented themselves."
The latter event was the largest attended meet in the area over the weekend.
"I thought our senior captain leadership was instrumental in the success of the Poteet meet," Christensen said. "They made sure all the younger runners were taken care of and perhaps put their own performances on the back burner in exchange for looking out for the rest of the team. Coaches Amanda Douglas, Janis Jungemann and Hayley Siebman were also great in making sure the teams were dialed in to race."
That strategy worked as the boys and girls both placed top 10 in the team competition.
Elizabeth Rosdorff (16th place, 23:20.75) and Carol Xia (26th, 24:11.15) paced the way in the girls 5K while Katie Rosdorff, Madison Sutter, Sarah Griffin, Kailyn Carmichael and Blair Lang were also part of the squad that placed eighth in the Class 4A race (167 points).
Matching that team finish were the Lovejoy boys (196).
The Leopards were led individually in the 5K by Julian Fields (32nd, 19:15.15) and Hunter Finner (35th, 19:20.59) with Damon Printz, Dane Printz, Jesus Montano, Brian Witkowski, Alex Abernathy and Kyle Davis also contributing to the team finish.
Lovejoy's runners at the University of Arkansas took part in the Open 10K.
Approximately 629 competitors across all age groups, with some even in their 70s, took part in the Open division.
"It's a great event," Christensen said. "One that we use for training and learning."
With championship season races only at 5K, Christensen devised a strategy for his runners to go hard for the first four miles and then use the last two as a cool down. That being said, Lovejoy still had several high finishes in the race, which features only individual standings and not a team score.
Katie Ruhala represented for the Lady Leopards by finishing third among the women (40:12.4).
Ruhala's male counterparts equated themselves well too with Kendall Joiner and Evan Hartter crossing the tape just 2.8 seconds apart for respective finishes of 17th and 18th place among the men.
Those numbers, combined with the performances in Mesquite, made for a satisfied coach Christensen.
"I think we had our best year at these two races that we've ever had," he said. "Both races proved to be exactly what we were looking to accomplish for the weekend."
Such momentum is necessary with the District 13-4A Meet set for Oct. 25.
The races will take place at Myers Park in McKinney with the girls starting at 9:10 a.m. and the boys beginning at 10:20 a.m.
"This is our first foray into the 4A waters, so we'll expect quite a battle from the other District 13 schools for the title," Christensen said. "McKinney North is very strong, as are the other district teams. We'll have to be running very well from top to bottom to have a chance to win the district crown."
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