Blog Archives

New window stickers

4/29/2013

Just in!! New 2x5 inch window stickers showing your support for Central Cross Country are in. I know its a little early for cross country items, but they came in with our new TRACK & FIELD Record board (picture as soon as it is mounted at Central). If you want to get one of these stickers for your car the cost is $5. The best way for out of town people to get one is to send me the money with a self addressed, stamped envelope and I will mail it to you. If you live in Grand Forks, find me at home or at a track meet!

FINALLY OUTSIDE!!!

4/27/2013

Thursday April 25th, we finally practiced outside at Cushman. It was a chilly 40 degree's with the wind, but the Shanley meet on Friday, April 26th, at Concordia was amazing! It was 68 degree's and almost no wind. It felt like 80 on the turf and sunburn was welcome after being stuck inside all spring. Several of athletes took advantage of the ideal conditions. Ali Lindsay ran a new PR 5:22.66 to Qualify in the mile for the state meet, she was quickly followed by Camron Roehl who also PR'd with 4:32.59 to also Quailify. It was a long list Central athletes who had successful days with PR's: Taylor Deem (300H), Brandon Gregie (300H), Rachel Cox (1600), Nick Ackley (1600), Alex Dianat (1600, 3200), Leif Larsen (1600, 3200), Cody Rowley (1600), Taylor Tomlinson (1600, 800), Ali Lindsay (800), Taylor Ray (800), Rachel Lindsay (800), David Hettich (800), Rylie Devier (200), David Hysjulien (HJ), Lucas Nelson (HJ), Adam Grove (TJ), Chris Lautt (shot), Brendon LaHaise (shot), Landon Swallow (shot), and Joey Gerszewski (shot).

It was fun to see so many athletes take advantage of finally being outside and as you can see it was a good day to be a Central distance runner!

Lamoureux Twins

4/23/2013

I like to brag that I have coached two Olympic athletes, unfortunately they didn't compete in Track & Field at the Olympics, but they are Olympians non-the-less. In 2002 and 2003 Jocelyne and Monuque ran Cross Country for Central. It is amazing how one or two athletes can bring up the competition level and the work ethic of a team. Everyone knew that Cross Country wasn't their main sport, but was a way for them to stay in shape for hockey. They came to practice everyday, ready to work hard and even though they were only 7th and 8th graders at the time, they raised the level of everyone's desire to compete. That is one of the two things I will always remember about them. That desire to compete, and to do everything to the best of their ablitites, never any excuses. I also remember how well they did in school. I also had one of their brothers, Jacques, who played hockey for Air Force, in my enriched chemistry class. All three took school as a top priority, never used sports as an excuse for not completing an assignment or being prepared for class.

The following link will take you to a story about the Laumoureux twins. It is a story stressing how important school is, how they manage their time, and make sacrifices. They realize how their academics will open doors for them after their career in athletics is over. A lesson that more current high school athletes should learn.

http://und.edu/features/2013/04/lamoureux-twins.cfm

Beaver Relays

4/21/2013

The Central Boys and Girls competed at the Beaver Relays in Bemidji, MN, on Friday. There were 34 teams, but thankfully it was limited to 3 per event to keep it from going on nine hours like our last trip to Bemidji. It was great to get a chance to compete again, and both teams stepped up and made the best of the opportunity. Both teams finished 5th. Killian Gause won the 200m hurdles! Yes you read that correctly, they did the 200m hurdles inside, it was my first time EVER seeing that event inside. Another highlight for the boys was Carrington Adams continuing his successful season in the triple jump (2nd) and 4th in the long jump. The 4x200m Relay of Carrington, Austin Wes, Rylie Devier, and Killan Gause finished 3rd.

The distance girls captured all of the points for the girls team, led by Ali Lindsay's win the mile and her 2nd place finish in the 800m. Eight grader Karly Ackley PR'd by 20 secs to finish 3rd in the 3200m. Teammate Lily Larsen also PR'd to finish 7th. The girls 4x8 ran to a 4th place finish.
http://herostiming.99k.org/results/beaverrelays/

New Spikes

4/18/2013

I loved getting new spikes when I was competing. I would stare at the rack of new shoes, looking at the colors, weighing them in my hand, trying to decide just which pair might be the right ones to help me be unbeatable and run faster than I ever had before.

Those new flashy shoes were symbol of my commitment and carried my hopes and dreams for the new season. I remember the fun of unvailing those new spikes to my teammates, wanting them to be envious of how light they were, and grinning with pride as my teammates will weigh them in their hands to gauge if they were lighter then their own pair.

I loved sliding those 4 ounces of light weight material on my bare feet at the next meet. Tightening them up, tying in my hopes and dreams. The hope that those flashy spikes will propel me to run faster than I have ever run before, and fly past my competitors. Warming up, my feet would feel a hundred times lighter with those featherweight spikes on compared to my heavy training shoes. They would give me confidence, make me feel powerful, unbeatable, and excited for anyone to challenge me.

Last Tuesday, I experienced something better than any shoe could ever provide. Buying news track spikes for my daughter Meghan. Seeing that similar excitement in her eyes, how they added a spring in her step. I felt a new type of exhilaration . The knowledge that I have passed on the passion of a sport I love, and daring her to dream of great races. That smile from Meghan out shined any of the thrills I earned from a hundred races I ran with pair of flashy new spikes.

38 days to state meet

4/16/2013

This picture was taken today in Bismarck at the Community Bowl where the state track meet is held. We are 38 days away from the first day of the state meet. Hopefully next week we will start having outdoor meets so we can get some of our athletes qualified for the state meet!!

Meet Shuffle

4/16/2013

I just got the following information, and I'm trying to keep everyone updated on our fluid track schedule. Here is the newest Information. Bemidji college was hosting an outdoor meet this Friday, but were kind of enough to move it inside. So, Friday April 19th we are back on the road to Bemidji for another indoor, leaving at 7:30 am. To avoid another marathon meet, there is a three per event limit with an earlier start time of 11 am.

The Fargo Davies meet (which was scheduled outdoors on Friday) has been postpone until Tuesday, April 23rd, starting at 3pm. I really hope this meet happens, I'm excited about the concept of this meet with it being mostly relays races, even for the field events. I will explain more on this in a later blog.

Meet Update

4/12/2013

Even as it snowed outside this Friday, and a forecast for 7 to 10 inches of new snow on Sunday our boys have kept working and had a smiles on their faces, as you can see in the picture. The home Sertoma meet schedule for Tues, April 16th, at Cushman Field has been cancelled. Our next meet on the schedule is the Eagles Relay races, in Fargo, on Friday April 19th. What happens with the storm we are supposed to have this weekend will be a huge factor on whether we have that meet. The Fargo Davies coach emailed and said they will make a decision by Tuesday, to allow teams to find a meet if their is cancelled. So maybe there is a nice warm, snow free meet we can attend in Florida.

WDAZ Story

4/11/2013

Central's Wednesday practice had the addition of Dan Cory, from WDAZ, walking around taking video and interviewing athletes and coaches for a story on how the extra long winter is affecting our track & field season. The full story can be found at the following link. http://www.wdaz.com/event/article/id/17230/group/Sports/ Having the camera at practice alone broke up the struggle of the long cold spring and made the day a little more fun. I thought the athletes did a great job when they were on camera and it was a good story that WDAZ put on the news.

Duel postponed

4/9/2013

Our late North Dakota spring has claimed its first meet. The Central/Red River Duel scheduled this Friday, April 12th has been postponed to Tuesday, April 30th starting at Noon. The Sertoma Meet for Tues, April 16th, will most likely be cancelled. Our cold temperatures just don't seem to be breaking and allowing the few feet of snow on the track to melt. Our athletes are doing a great job of keeping a positive attitude about being stuck inside, but everyone is aching to get outside and have our sport be where it belongs.