Cross Country State Championships

"Your biggest challenge isn't someone else. It's the ache in your lungs and the burning in your legs, and the voice inside you that yells "CAN'T," but you don't listen. You just push harder. And then you hear the voice whisper "CAN." And you discover that the person you thought you were is no match for the one you really are."

--Unknown

The girls team took to the course today with a plan, then executed it beautifully to finish 4th, the best finish a Riverton girls' team has ever achieved at State. Their total time for scoring runners was 1:38:41.7 which also puts them as the fastest team at State in Riverton history, beating out the previous best time of 1:42:42.3.

With these performances, Sam, Katie, Kara, Shambrea, and Zoe all made it onto the Riverton Top Ten All-Time State Course record board--these girls now hold five of the ten records! Brooklyn (who stepped in to run for Holly) and Rachel both ran with heart and determination to finish 6th and 7th on our team respectively.

We're so proud of all these ladies for their amazing performances and for the way they represent Riverton as athletes and individuals.

In the boys' championship race, Ethan Matz and Justin Roylance also rearranged Riverton's Top Ten All-Time State Course record board by claiming the 7th and 9th spots with their times of 16:13.4 and 16:24.7 respectively on the State course. This was the first time running at Cross Country State for both of them and they proved equal to the challenge--well done boys!

Congratulations also to Brady Allred and Lauren Lund, recipients of the Academic All-State Award in Cross Country. This distinction is given by the Utah High School Athletic Association and presented by the Deseret News, to students "who have excelled in the classroom as well as in athletic competition". Brady and Lauren both juggle challenging upper level classes in addition to running, and both maintain 4.0 GPA's--WOW!!!

Our team has had an outstanding season. Nearly six months of consistency, hard work, sacrifice and unity has paid off in many ways--not only in race results but in the team we have become in supporting one another, and this may very well be the best legacy we can leave to those who follow.