Homeschool Track & Field Nationals is the competition the kids look forward to all season. It's what they work toward and what often motivates them to practice hard. In years past, Chris and I have both been able to go to Nationals with the kids, but this year that just didn't work out. With Kaylee's college graduation scheduled for the Saturday after Nationals - and our plans to take a vacation directly following her graduation - there was just no way to make it work for me to go to Nationals AND have us all ready to go out of town the morning after getting home. In hindsight, me staying home was definitely the best decision.
Chris, Bri, and Bren travelled to Bolivar, Missouri on the evening of Tuesday, May 9th. They rolled in town in time to go to bed and get good rest for competition the next day.
On Wednesday, May 10th, competition began bright and early at Southwest Baptist University. Brenson's first event for the day was 4 x 100m relay.
Brenson leading his relay team in warm-ups
He was nervous to run but did a good job (others on his relay team were not as strong). The team ran the 4 x 100m relay in 1:14.18 and placed 8/9 teams.
Discus was up next for Bren. He threw 15.03m, placing 5/17 for 10U boys.
Following Bren's discus, Brianna threw shot put.
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Her best throw measured 6.01m,
and she placed 10/25 in 12U girls.
After shot put, Brianna threw discus.
She threw 14.98m, placing 6/16.
As the day continued on, the skies darkened and people began really watching the weather. However, competition continued! Brenson competed in shot put next.
He threw 6.98m, barely losing a medal to his teammate, Kipton, by .01m. He placed 4/20.
At about 4:30pm, the dark skies turned to a full-blown storm. Brenson was long jumping when it began to storm, and actually ended up not being able to take his last jump. He jumped 3.35m and placed 3/23, but definitely thinks it was unjust that he only got two jumps :-). As the storm geared up, lightening struck, so all events were canceled. The skies opened up, rain poured, and then it started to hail! Chris and Bren ran down to our tent and the team tents to break them down. Sadly, the wind had already damaged the tents, but they got them broken down and helped others with their tents. Chris ran to get the car and left the stadium to take cover from the rain and hail (and get food) at Wendy's. By the time they got to Wendy's, the storm had passed.
The next morning (Thursday, May 11), Chris and the kids were back at the track bright and early for a new day of competition. Both kids were participating in a triathlon this day. Brianna began her day with a 200m run. Her time was 37.99, scoring 23/31 participants.
Next, she threw shot put. Her best throw measured 5.51m, placing her 16/31.
As the final event for the triathlon, Brianna long jumped.
Her best jump earned her a place of 17/31, with a distance of 3.09m.
Overall, Brianna placed 21/31 in the 12U girls triathlon.
Brenson also threw shot put and competed in long jump as part of the triathlon. In shot put, he threw 6.56m, earning him a placement of 4/31. His best jump in long jump placed him 6/31 at 3.15m. His running event was obviously his weakest event, but overall he placed 8/31 for the 10U boys triathlon.
While the kids were finishing their day of competition, I was home dealing with a backed up sewer system and trying to get all the last minute things completed for our trip. My plan was to leave all the Nationals unpacking and laundry for after we returned home from our vacation, but everything had gotten wet in the storm. It was just after midnight when Chris and the kids arrived home, so I unpacked all the bags and began laundry immediately. I kept it going until we left the next morning 8:00am (resting in between changing out loads). While it was exhausting at the time, my future self was very thankful that I pushed through and got it done before we left for Kaylee's graduation and vacation!
After we returned home from our trip, we attended a gathering in the park for the Falcons to celebrate everyone's Nationals victories. Coach had cupcakes and recognized each athlete for their hard work. Those who had earned medals or ribbons also received them at that time.
I can't say enough how blessed we feel to be part of such a great team. I'm not sure I could have predicted that we'd be a track & field family, but it certainly has a special place in our life. Bri with her 6th place discus ribbon
Bren with his 3rd place long jump medal, 4th place shot put ribbon, and 5th place discus ribbon
Love my athletes!
Brianna and Britt
Kyrie, Bri, Hope, and Abi
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