UHS Cross Country 2011

On a perfect day in Lyons, the Bulldogs prepare for the Regionals races.  15 Boys teams and 13 Girls teams are also getting ready for the 3A Regionals.  Today will decide who goes to State and who stays home.  The 3A boys will run before the girls race.  The Bulldogs get their shoes set, pin on their race bibs and go thru the upcoming race in their minds.  They've worked hard to be ready for today.

Coach Kelly goes over last-minute instructions.  The Boys have been ranked first in the Region all year.  Now is the time to show if they're for real.  Defending Regional Champ Garrett Coles plans to win the title 2 years in a row, while the team prepares to also win the team title again.

After Coach Sharon gives the team her last instructions, the team gathers together.  A few personal thoughts, a team prayer and time to run!

Moments away from the start, the Bulldogs narrow their focus to running to victory.

Garrett Coles is off to a great start.  The rest of the team packs right behind him.

As Garrett finishes the final 60 yards to victory, fans look back to see how far back the second place runner is.....

2 time Regional Champ Garrett Coles releases some pent-up emotion.....he did it!!!  As a junior, he'll get one more shot at it next year.

Garret Roberts comes in strong to finish 11th at Regionals.   As a junior, Garret will be back again!

Senior Alex Breen closes out his last 3A Cross Country Regional race with a hard-fought 16th place finish.

Junior Dan Eberhard guts out a 17th place finish.  He too will have one more shot at Regionals next year.

Jordan Perkins, Senior, attacks his last Regionals race all the way to the finish.  JP takes home 23rd place on the day.

Senior Kelton Lightfoot pushes in right behind JP and takes 25th in his last Regionals race.

One more Senior - Andres Flores eyes his final Regionals finish line.  

Junior Sam Rhoton pushes to the finish.  Sam will have another shot at this race next year too!

The Boys team relaxes, while the girls get ready to rumble!  The girls go into today's race as heavy underdogs.  No one (but us!) sees them as a threat.  This is a young, inexperienced team learning as they go.  

After they warm up their bodies, Coach Kelly warms up their minds.  Go for it, girls!!

Coach Sharon gives the Team final instructions as they anxiously wait for the start.

The Boys ask for a few minutes before the race, to share some leadership and motivation.  

Here we go!  Gotta start fast!

Natalee jumps out and leads for the first 1/2 mile.  Atta way to push it!!

Amie and Jenna follow closely behind Natalee's lead.  

Chase and Megan are next, then Maddie and Erin.

As she sprints to her first Regional finish, Jenna knows she's done well.  As a matter of fact, she's taken a minute off her previous best time!  As a freshman, Jenna will have three more Regional races to look forward to.

Natalee also comes in with her best time of the season - and she's done it on a slower course than the one where she set her best.  Great job, soph!

Soph Amie Bray pushes hard to the finish.  

Chase Otto closes out her Regional race with her best time of the year.  As a junior, Chase knows she has one more shot at this next year.

Megan turns the corner and starts her finish home as her parents cheer her on.  Great work by an incredibly hard-working junior.

Maddie sets her freshman eyes on her first Regional finish.  Maddie ends up 2 minutes faster than her previous best time!

Junior Erin Schwartz sprints in her finish to the race with the best time of her running career.   

The Girls Team has fallen just short, but what a GREAT EFFORT!!!  Coming into the day, they were ranked 9th - over 220 points behind the 5th place team in Regionals - the last team which will go to State.  The girls went out hard, ran with great effort and finished in a battle for 6th place.  220 points is a Mount Everest hurdle to climb in one race, but the girls took off 130 points and finished only 90 back.  Wow.  We're disappointed to not be able to take this Girls Team to State, but filled with pride over their last race.  They showed the spirit of true Bulldogs!

Garret gets his 11th place ribbon at the final awards.

After congratulating all of his competitors, Garrett gets to enjoy his 2nd Regionals Championship in a row.  

Once again, the Bulldogs Boys Team completes the year as Regional Champions.  From left to right:
Andres Flores, Sam Rhoton, Jordan Perkins, Dan Eberhard, Garret Roberts, Garrett Coles, Alex Breen and Kelton Lightfoot. 
Great job, boys!