Falcons Track & Field, 2024

We have now completed our fourth Track & Field season with the Owasso Falcons, and I can confidently say that this was the craziest season yet! For the first time, we had all four kiddos practicing and competing, which was just as hectic and busy as it sounds like it would be :-). 

Just as in years past, the high school and junior high teams practiced M-W-F from 7:00-8:30am, with the elementary team following at 8:30-9:30am. Chris was the throwing and high jump coach again, so he needed to be present during the earlier practices, along with Brianna who is in 8th grade. Bren is in sixth grade this year - which Coach Renee typically has practice with the elementary team. However, we asked if he could go ahead and practice with the junior high team so he could do some throwing while Chris was there coaching. Coach Renee agreed to this as long as Bren would work hard (which was a struggle for him during XC), and it ended up working out really well.

Falcons 2024 High School Team

Falcons 2024 Junior High Team

Falcons 2024 Elementary Team

High School and Junior High practices began the first week of February at the Owasso HS track. When there were several days with high winds, cold, and even snow, I was very thankful Chris was taking the big kids to practice and I didn't have to!

Dedicated, hard workers practice even when the weather is yucky!

The elementary team started practicing the first week of March, and we got quite the surprise on day one of practice. Owasso athletics has a new athletic director who decided we were not welcome on the track to practice, regardless of the prior agreements that had been made between Coach Renee and the former athletic director. It wasn't until the elementary began practicing later in the morning (when more people were present on the school grounds) that we were noticed and told we could not return to the track. Owasso Public Schools is beginning construction to build a new track soon, and the official reason Renee was given for us not being to use the track was "safety concerns" due to the construction. Of course, Owasso's T&F team will still be practicing there. This was a big shock which left Chris and Renee scrambling to find a place to practice. 

After many phone calls and inquiries to area tracks and schools, Renee decided we would practice at Heart Healthy Trail in Owasso until she could secure something else. *Spoiler Alert* She was not able to to find us another facility this season. However, even without a track to practice on, we held our own as a team at meets!

Bri and Kyrie making the best of our new practice area!

Always silly!

Abby and Bri

Abby, Bri, and Kyrie

On a typical practice morning, Chris would drive Brianna, Brenson, and our friend, Oliver, to practice. I would leave later with Brooke and Brecklyn, then Chris would return home (often with Brenson) after the early practice was over. Brianna would stay to help with the elementary kids, and I would drive all the kids home once elementary practice ended. Although not practicing on a track is certainly not ideal, it worked out just fine. 

In addition to morning practices three days a week, we would also practice on Tuesday evenings at the Claremore HS track. This practice was mostly for hurdles, learning to come out of blocks, high jump, long jump, and other things that are very hard to do without a track. Chris and I would usually take our kids early to throw, and more often than not we would see the sun set while we were there. It made for a long evening, but we were very grateful to have a place to get in some practice on an actual track. 

Brecklyn and Brooke

Brianna and Kyrie

Of course, we also did plenty of throwing practice at home.

Bren getting it done one Sunday after church services

Who says you can't throw in a dress?!?

Chris is learning more and more about proper throwing technique and has been able to really help our kids improve their throwing abilities. 

To help the throwers even further, we were able to bring Tia's niece, Destyni, in from Texas to hold a Saturday throwing clinic. This really helped the kids make some good strides!

Our first meet of the season was a junior high meet on March 12th at Caney Valley. Last year, this meet was super windy, cold, and rainy, so I wasn't really looking forward to it this year. However, the weather was much nicer, and it turned out to be a good day!

Brianna threw shot put,

competed in discus,

and ran the 800m and 1600m at this meet. She surprised us all (herself included) by having a great kick at the end of her races and setting three PRs at this meet!

My spectating partner 💜

I ran into our friend Maci from church and had to take a pic for her grandma. Love seeing friends at meets!

This year, Coach decided to create these neat photos for PRs and team records. I was thrilled to see this one for Bri! All her hard work is starting to show!

It was Brenson's turn to compete next, and this time we went to Porter for a 5th and 6th grade meet. Brenson competed in long jump,

the 200m run,

shot put and discus at this meet. 

Cade, Brenson, and Eli representing the Falcons in Porter

Bren earned two medals and came home a very happy boy!

The very next day (March 28th) took us to Oologah for a JH/HS meet. Brianna and Brenson both competed in this one as Coach invited 6th graders to compete up. 

Brianna threw shot put, 

discus (brought home a 3rd place medal), 

and ran the 800m and 1600m.

Brenson threw shot put and discus.

Just like last year, this was a long day of competition which meant lots of waiting for the next event. At any given time under the Falcon team tents, there are various games of chess and cards going on. I love that our kids never have trouble finding things to occupy themselves!

Alexander and Bren playing chess

Jeremy was in town for a visit and was able to bring Mom and Dad to the meet.

He ran track in high school, and I think he really enjoyed being there!

Brooke and Uncle Jeremy

Momma, Brecks, and Brooke

Brecklyn and Brooke learning to occupy themselves at these very long meets

Jeremy and Chelle

Waiting, waiting, waiting for Brianna to run the 1600m

This meet resulted in another PR for Brianna . . . in shot put!

Brianna with her PR ribbons and Bren with his Porter medals

The following week, on April 4th, we went to Mannford for a junior high meet. Brianna threw shot put, discus, and ran the 800m and 1600m at this meet. 

She also held blocks for some of our sprinters (Jaxen in this photo). 

Even though this was only a junior high meet, it felt like it went on forever. We didn't end up leaving until nearly 6:00pm. Brianna certainly doesn't mind spending her whole day at a meet, though!

Abby, Bri, Oliver, Kyrie, Jaxen, and Isaac

Abby, Bri, Bren, Oliver, Kyrie, Jaxen, Koda, and Isaac's arm :-)

Always with the chess games!!!

Abby, Bri, and Kyrie

It's always exciting to watch Bri set PRs . . . another great meet with three new PRs!

AND, an 8th grade team record! Whoo-hoo!

Our next meet brought us to Skiatook on April 11th. Oliver rode with us to the meet, and I had a moment when I looked up at my crew hauling all our stuff in the stadium. Sometimes I just feel overwhelmed with how blessed I am!

Coach Renee had Brenson compete up at this meet, as well. He threw discus, 

shot put, 

and ran the 400m. 

Brianna also threw discus and shot put, 

and ran the 800m

and 1600m. 

We saw our friend, Levi, at this meet, so I had to take a photo of him to send to his Momma. 

Hope, Eliza, Bri, and Alyssa cheering on their teammates

Bren, Bri, and some teammates on the infield getting ready to warm-up

More PRs for Brianna and Brenson! 

After what seemed like a very long wait, we finally had our first elementary meet in Guthrie on April 13th. The girls were eager to compete, and they did a great job!

Brecklyn competed as 8U this season. She did long jump, 

a 4 x 200 relay,

a 400m run, 

and a 100m dash. 

Brooke also competed as 8U. She threw shot put and discus, 

did long jump, 

and ran in the 8U girls 4 x 200m relay. 

Second place 4 x 200m 8U girls relay team!

Rooney, Brecklyn, Caroline, and Brooke

Since Brenson is still 12U, he was also able to compete in this meet. He threw discus and shot put, 

and ran the 200m race. 

These kids sure collected the ribbons!

At the end of this meet, the Arrows decided to have an Oreo relay, with adults encouraged to participate. Our adult team was Coach Renee, Chris, Lou, and Jason. It was hilarious!

The guys wondering where Renee is . . . 

Bringing it in for a WIN! Lol.

It always makes me smile when I look behind me in the van after a meet and see the signs of hard work and a job well done!

The final junior high meet of the regular season was in Collinsville on April 18th. Chris took Brianna to this meet, and the day started out with beautiful weather. I came with the girls later in the afternoon, and by the time we arrived at the meet the weather was cold and very windy. Grampy and G-Jo also came to watch Bri compete, and G-Jo and I ended up sitting in my van part of the time while waiting for Bri to throw. I was not dressed for the chilly weather! Bri threw shot put, discus, and ran the 800m and 1600m at this meet. 

Despite the crazy weather change, our girl set a new PR in everything she competed in that day!

She also set a new 8th grade team record in discus!

The final elementary meet of the regular season was a home meet held at Rejoice Christian School on April 27th. 

Excited for a meet!

In this meet, Brenson competed in discus, shot put, long jump, and the 800m. 

Brooke competed in discus, shot put, the 100m, and a relay. 

Brecklyn competed in long jump, the 200m, and two relays.

We came home with lots of new ribbons!

2024 Track & Field Season Stats:

Brianna (8th grade/14U)

03/12 - Caney Valley

Shot - 16'2"

Discus - 57'9.5"

800m - 3:16

1600m - 7:24

03/28 - Oologah

Shot - 17'3"

Discus - 57'7"

800m - 3:18

1600m - 7:29

04/04 - Mannford

Shot - 17ish (didn't make qualifying line)

Discus - 60'8"

800m - 3:12

1600m - 7:10

04/11 - Skiatook

Shot - 18'1"

Discus - 64'8"

800m - 3:11

1600m - 7:14

04/18 Collinsville

Shot - 18'4.5"

Discus - 64'8"

800m - 3:10

1600m - 6:51

Brenson (6th grade/12U)

03/27 - Porter

Shot - 32'6"

Discus - 57'6"

Long Jump - 12'4.5"

200m - 32.57

03/28 - Oologah

Shot - 26'

Discus - Scratch

04/11 - Skiatook

Shot - 27'5"

Discus - 63'10"

400m - 1:11

04/13 - Guthrie

Shot- 25'6"

Discus - 81'6"

200m - 34.69

04/27 - Falcons Invitational

Shot - 28'4"

Discus - 93'3"

Long Jump - 12'2.75"

800m - 3:18

Brooke (3rd grade/8U)

04/13 - Guthrie

Shot - 13'5"

Discus - 29'10"

Long Jump - 7'1"

04/27 - Falcons Invitational

Shot - 13'9"

Discus - 35'3"

100m - 20.37

Brecklyn (3rd grade/8U)

04/13 - Guthrie

Long Jump - 7'8"

100m - 18.95

400m - 1:43

04/27

Long Jump - 8'9"

200m - 47.02

As busy as this season was, I keep thinking about what things will be like next year when Brianna is competing as a high schooler, and we add even more meets to our schedule. It's a little hard to imagine! We are looking forward to taking the whole crew to Homeschool Track & Field Nationals next week (our first time to go as a whole family!), but for today we are grateful for a good season of crushing goals and setting many new PRs!