Tuesday, November 1, 2022

Falcons XC, 2022!

This was Brianna and Brenson's third year running cross country with the Owasso Falcons, and it was an exciting season! Before the season began, Coach Renee asked Chris if he would be willing to help coach the junior high and high school teams (who practiced together from 7:00-8:30am on MWF). The teams had grown enough this year that Coach needed another adult to help. Considering that the 2019 season was the first year for the Falcons (and there were only three on the team that year), this was very exciting. Chris was happy to help, and I was happy to be off the hook for taking Brianna (7th grade) to the earlier practice since she ran junior high this year.

The elementary team (which included Brenson - 5th grade) practiced on MWF from 8:30-9:30am, so most days Chris, Bri, and Bren would all ride together to practice while I took the twins to school. This meant Bren would do schoolwork during the junior high and high school practice, then Bri would do schoolwork during the elementary practice. Most days, this worked out just fine. There were a few times that Chris couldn't stay to wait for Bren, so he would come home and I would have to go pick up Bren from his practice. Typing it out, it sounds more complicated than it felt, haha. 

The elementary kids had individual photos taken . . . I thought Bren's turned out really good!


Falcons Elementary XC Team 2022

Falcons Junior High Girls XC Team 2022
Eliza, Pazely, Kendal, Brianna, and Hope

Falcons Junior High and High School XC Teams 2022

Because I didn't attend most practices, I felt very out of the loop. I typically get to know all the kids' teammates and parents, but this season was different. I also missed about half of their meets for various reasons, which contributed to me feeling like I didn't get to know people as well. This also means that I don't have many photos as I usually do from practice and meets. I do have this funny one of Bren at practice that Coach Renee sent me!

 

Brianna participated in five meets this season, while Bren competed in six meets. Thankfully (for the sake of our schedule), most meets they participated in were the same.

The season began on August 22nd, and their first meet was at Sequoyah on August 27th. This was a 1900m course, and Bren finished in 9:30 (1 minute 11 second PR). He placed 41st among the elementary boys.

Brianna completed the 1900m course in 10:24, a one minute one second course PR.

Our Junior High girls team was strong!

They both improved their times by over a minute! It was great to watch how their hard work paid off!

The Foyil meet was on September 8th, and was one of the ones that I missed this year. I had to pick the twins up from school at the same time as Chris and the Bigs had to be in Foyil. I don't have photos from that meet, but both kids had big PRs again! Brenson ran the one mile course in 8:18, placing 39th and setting a 34 second course PR. Brianna ran the one mile course in 8:47, placing 55th and setting a one minute nine second course PR. Love those big improvements!

The next meet was on September 17 at Holland Hall. I missed that one too, so no photos :-). Brenson ran a one mile course and finished in 7:36 (a one minute 3 second course PR). He placed 39/131. Brianna ran a two mile course and completed it in 18:59. She placed 120/181. It was her first time to run a two mile course at Holland Hall.

On October 1st, the Falcons participated in a junior high and high school only meet at Chandler Park in Tulsa. I enjoyed watching Chris coach and encourage the kiddos he's been working with all season.

Brianna ran a 1.5 mile course at this meet. She finished in 14:17 which is a 9:31 mile pace. 

We were all there in our Falcons gear to cheer her on!

Just a couple days later on October 3rd, Bren ran in an elementary only meet at Claremore Christian. He finished the one mile course in 7:54 which was a one minute five second course PR. He placed 39th.

G-Jo and Grampy were there to cheer him on!

Bri was also there cheering him on, although I think she was really there for Kyrie :-).

On October 15th, Coach Renee hosted the Oklahoma Homeschool XC State Championship. This was a first! Unfortunately, this meet was not on the original schedule, and Bri and I had already made plans to attend a Ladies Day in Olathe, Kansas on that weekend. Bren was able to participate, though. 

Owasso Falcons XC at the State meet 2022

The meet was held on the Foyil course which Bren had ran three times prior to this. He finished the one mile course in 7:48, placing 10th overall. This was another 30 seconds faster than he had ran the course earlier in the season!

Just like in previous years, the team had a cookout and bonfire to celebrate the season together. Sadly, we had already planned our getaway to Hot Springs the same weekend as the cookout, so we had to miss this time. 

Homeschool XC Nationals was in Springfield, Missouri on October 29th. Brooke and Brecklyn had already committed to a birthday party for Sadie that weekend, so Chris took Brianna and Brenson to Nationals by himself. Of course, the foliage at the lake park where the race is held is always incredible, and this year was no different. I loved seeing the photos of the gorgeous trees!

Brenson ran a two mile course and finished 19/35 in 17:36. This was an 8:48 mile pace, which was quite a bit slower than he ran the course last year. However, there was a problem with the length of the course and some were saying it was longer than it should have been this year. 


Brianna ran a two mile course and finished 22/31 in 17:54. She set a one minute 19 second course PR!

Excited for Nationals!
Ryker, Josiah, Eliza, Bri, Kyrie, and Ruby

Cross Country 2022 Stats:

Brianna
  • 08/27 - 10:24 (8:48 mile pace)
  • 09/08 - 8:47
  • 09/17 -18:59 (9:29 mile pace)
  • 10/01 - 14:17 (9:31 mile pace)
  • 10/29 - 17:54 (8:57 mile pace)
Brenson
  • 08/27 - 9:30 (8:03 mile pace)
  • 09/08 - 8:18
  • 09/17 - 7:36
  • 10/03 - 7:54
  • 10/15 - 7:48
  • 10/29 - 17:36 (8:48 mile pace)

Chris had a really good time helping coach the team this year, even if that meant I was a little more absent. I think the kids really enjoyed him, too. It's always exciting to see them growing in their abilities and endurance, and I'm so grateful we've found a good team to be part of!





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