Race Summary for Girls

CAAC Blue Jamboree 9-20-18

The Comet Cross Country team finished second to host DeWitt at the first of two CAAC Blue showdowns this season.  “I really feel good about how the girls raced today.  They made a big step forward and competed well in our first race this year where there was real pressure and something on the line” stated Coach Fred Hutchinson. “ We talked as a team about how we didn’t need to win but had to finish second to have a chance at the CAAC Blue Title in October.  We had a couple of girls (Kelsey Kehren and Megan Schafer) who I challenged to run further up in the race then they have been early on, and they responded perfectly today. As a group, we raced together and tough.  I’m sure that was the difference between us finishing 2^nd or 3^rd.  Okemos is a good team and we had to work really hard to put ourselves ahead of them in the team competition.  I’m very satisfied with how well we competed today”.

The Comets were led by sophomore standout Grace Buckland who finished 4^th overall.  “Grace was really solid today.  She ran her best time of the year on a very soggy course which wasn’t giving up good times today” said Hutchinson.

For the Comets, the big story however was how their second through 5^th runners performed.  “Ella Baryo (12^th), Courtney Hughes (11^th) Kelsey  (14^th) and Megan  (20^th) were finally within 60 seconds of one another and the closer that they can run together as a pack, the more successful we will be.  If we can have those girls within 20-30 seconds of each other we’ll be really tough at the end of the year when we are competing in the most important races of the season” explained Hutchinson.

The Comets also got strong performances from Senior Ainsley Vanderlaan (21^st) and Sophomore Ashley Witham (22^nd).  Their performances were the best of any 6^th and 7^th runners in the league today.  In a close race the 6^th and 7^th runners in cross country can add points to their opponents which is what they did today.  They both beat Okemos’s 5^th runner which helped solidify the Comets in 2^nd place.

The Junior Varsity girls also ran well today highlighted by the 5^th place finish of freshman Adelin Patterson , the 9th place finish of senior Sharon Piedra-Vargas, the 12^th place finish of junior Natalie Wallas and the 14^th place finish of senior Melanie Vukovich.  “ I really thought those girls had a solid day. They were aggressive and determined and I was very proud of them” concluded Hutchinson.

The Comets race again on September 29^th at the Coaching Legends Classic in Brighton against some of the very best teams from across the state, a great test for the Comets as the enter October and “Championship Season”.

Race Summary CAAC Blue Jamboree 9-20-18

The Comet Cross Country team finished second to host DeWitt at the first of two CAAC Blue showdowns this season.  “I really feel good about how the girls raced today.  They made a big step forward and competed well in our first race this year where there was real pressure and something on the line” stated Coach Fred Hutchinson. “ We talked as a team about how we didn’t need to win but had to finish second to have a chance at the CAAC Blue Title in October.  We had a couple of girls (Kelsey Kehren and Megan Schafer) who I challenged to run further up in the race then they have been early on, and they responded perfectly today. As a group, we raced together and tough.  I’m sure that was the difference between us finishing 2^nd or 3^rd.  Okemos is a good team and we had to work really hard to put ourselves ahead of them in the team competition.  I’m very satisfied with how well we competed today”.

The Comets were led by sophomore standout Grace Buckland who finished 4^th overall.  “Grace was really solid today.  She ran her best time of the year on a very soggy course which wasn’t giving up good times today” said Hutchinson.

For the Comets, the big story however was how their second through 5^th runners performed.  “Ella Baryo (12^th), Courtney Hughes (11^th) Kelsey  (14^th) and Megan  (20^th) were finally within 60 seconds of one another and the closer that they can run together as a pack, the more successful we will be.  If we can have those girls within 20-30 seconds of each other we’ll be really tough at the end of the year when we are competing in the most important races of the season” explained Hutchinson.

The Comets also got strong performances from Senior Ainsley Vanderlaan (21^st) and Sophomore Ashley Witham (22^nd).  Their performances were the best of any 6^th and 7^th runners in the league today.  In a close race the 6^th and 7^th runners in cross country can add points to their opponents which is what they did today.  They both beat Okemos’s 5^th runner which helped solidify the Comets in 2^nd place.

The Junior Varsity girls also ran well today highlighted by the 5^th place finish of freshman Adelin Patterson , the 9th place finish of senior Sharon Piedra-Vargas, the 12^th place finish of junior Natalie Wallas and the 14^th place finish of senior Melanie Vukovich.  “ I really thought those girls had a solid day. They were aggressive and determined and I was very proud of them” concluded Hutchinson.

The Comets race again on September 29^th at the Coaching Legends Classic in Brighton against some of the very best teams from across the state, a great test for the Comets as the enter October and “Championship Season”.