Record Day for Jaguars XC including a new record for Seymour
Over the weekend, the SJA cross country team took on some of the best runners in the Midwest at the Portage Invitational in Michigan. The team held their own, the varsity finishing 15th out of the 38 teams competing in their Division 1 race, and junior varsity placing 7th as a team in their race. Varsity runner Sydney Seymour ‘18 proved during the race that school records are made to be broken, finishing in sixth place and cutting an impressive seventeen seconds off her previous best time, setting the new record at 18:04.
However, Seymour wasn’t the only one breaking records. Head Coach Fred Kieser reported that “31 out of the 43 runners on the team ran a personal record; everyone else was close or coming off an injury so setting personal records was unrealistic for them.”
Out of these thirty-one girls was junior Maggie Wagner, who was able to break through her previous barrier of nineteen minutes with her 25th place time of 18:54. Sophomores Caitlyn Walsh (20:37) and Emily Conway (20:46) were not far behind, finishing in 128th and 147th places, respectively. 162nd place runner Monica Hahn ‘16 was able to get her time down to 21:00, an important feat according to Coach Kieser.
Sophomore Claudia Becker ended her race in 185th place with a time of 21:19, with Alana Vovk ‘17 (21:23) rounding out the varsity lineup in 192nd place.
Out of these thirty-one girls was junior Maggie Wagner, who was able to break through her previous barrier of nineteen minutes with her 25th place time of 18:54. Sophomores Caitlyn Walsh (20:37) and Emily Conway (20:46) were not far behind, finishing in 128th and 147th places, respectively. 162nd place runner Monica Hahn ‘16 was able to get her time down to 21:00, an important feat according to Coach Kieser.
Sophomore Claudia Becker ended her race in 185th place with a time of 21:19, with Alana Vovk ‘17 (21:23) rounding out the varsity lineup in 192nd place.
While a number of runners broke through various time barriers they had been struggling with, including Gina Coreno ‘17, Jessica Shuler ‘17, and Zoe Ridenour ‘19, senior Emma Stalder gained the most nominations for Runner of the Week due to her newest PR. The Portage Invitational marked the fastest race she’d run since the end of her freshman year. Coach Kieser noted that “she was getting closer and closer, so it was a matter of time. This one was all about being a senior and wanting it.”
The Portage Invitational was a key meet for the team, not only because the overnight expedition gave them an great opportunity to bond as a team, but also because the competition was top-level. The race annually brings the best Michigan cross country teams together, which gave the team a chance to measure their skills against some of the best runners in what Coach Kieser referred to as “an excellent state for running.”
Coming back from two consecutive weeks of exceptionally good races, Coach Kieser announced that his team had turned the corner from jogging to running. “I'm proud of them for taking chances and realizing some tremendous personal successes,” said Kieser. “The varsity will be entering the post-season next while the JV have a couple of last chance meets to go for lettering standards, PR's, and other landmark results.”
Even with the successes the team has seen so far, Coach Kieser noted that opportunities to improve are always available, especially for the varsity at such a crucial point in their season.
