Track Sign-Ups Tomorrow!

Track sign-ups will be tomorrow, Wednesday December 14th, during lunch and break in Room 59. You only need to attend one of these meetings. Please show up!

I will be making a separate website for track, more details to come! In the mean time, continue following this blog, and our new track and field Facebook page.

Season Ending Party

Today we had our farewell to the 2011 Cross Country season. Great spirit and great fun. Great people. I believe that defines us. For 4 years our spirit has been high and soaring even higher. Today we made sure to celebrate that.

Thank you Herbst family for hosting us.

Thank you parents for raising the best kids ever.

Thank you coaches for your dedication to our young charges.

Thank you teammates for responding the way you have to practice, meets, and general good citizenship.

Thank you freshmen for being just that. Fresh faces, fresh legs, and fresh attitude. You did well.

Thank you sophomores for being a bit wiser, a bit more mature and a bit more responsible. You did quite well.

Thank you juniors for being a lot wiser, more responsive and much more responsible. You did very very well.

Thank you seniors for growing so large in numbers and stature. Thank you for your spirit that led our team to so many great moments this season. Thank you for your extraodinary leadership. Thank you for your unbelieveable uniqueness as individuals. Thank you for 4 memorable years that cannot ever be forgotten and the happiness that goes along with those 4 years. I could never have hoped for a greater group of runners to be the senior class in my 20th year at Santa Rosa High School. I could never ask for a greater group of people to share this year with me. Thank you. I will never forget you.

Tomasi NCS Champ

Michael Tomasi won the North Coast Section (NCS) Division I race at Hayward High School last Saturday. Michael's time of 15:37 was the third fastest ever by a Panther runner on the current Hayward High School course. Michael joins former Panthers, Steven Guerrini(Wake Forest), Peter Egerton(CAL), and Reesey Byers(Sac State) as NCS champions. Only Reesey and Rory McLeod(Arizona) have run faster at the Hayward course. All of the above were and are Division I collegiate runners.

Michael's efforts led the 2011 Panther boys to a third place finish in Division I. Just one position out of getting the team to the State Meet. The Panther boys had the second fastest time of the day for an Empire team.

Well done Michael!

The girls placed 8th in their race but ran the 4th fastest time in school history at Hayward. Sadia Ibrahim was our top placer. Her efforts made her the 4th fastest Panther girl ever at Hayward. The girls top 5 finishers place in the top 15 all time for our school at Hayward.

So those are the facts. Here is the story. Every one on the team ran as well as they could. No one left anything on the course. Even Emma Pierson was ready to go after being wrapped in a towel to change into someones stripped shorts. Every Panther on Saturday November 19, 2011 ran the race of their life. Carrie and me nearly cried with the effort we saw our charges put forth. Sean replied, "That was special", Bob merely said "WOW"

To see what our runners put forth and the results they had was to make me coach for another 20 years. To know that everyone strived to excel was to know happiness. There is nothing more inspiring than seeing Panther Orange and Black on display and watching the best come forth from our runners. Thank you Panther runners. You were truly great. Boys. Tomasi, Jordan Guerrero, Jon Peck, Jon Ahnberg, Michael Kennedy, Cris Nazarek, Aden Holmes, Connor Moore. Girls. Evvy Archibald, Eva Herbst, Marina Lecoeuche, Emily Rozga, Natalie Fritz, Sadia, Sarah Withers, Emma.

End of the Year Party!!!

Come celebrate this year’s amazing season on Dec. 4th, at 1:00 pm! Awards will commence at 2:00 and parents encouraged to attend. Please bring a shareable snack or a dish for potluck. It will be held at Eva’s house, 3970 Montecito Avenue off of Chanate (it’s a little confusing since the address is
Montecito Avenue but the road sign says Woodbrae lane)
Parking: Very limited spaces available in the law firm parking lot to the left, just before Eva's driveway. Please CARPOOL!!! Also, drive slowly and watch out for the big boulders when you’re driving up, since turning around is difficult.

Heart and Sole Black Friday Sale Extended

Heart and Sole is extending its Black Friday sale through this weekend! Until closing on Sunday, save $50 off all non-current shoe models. Shoes from summer or the beginning of cross country need to be replaced

Heart and Sole Black Friday Sale

All non-current shoe models will be $50 off for one day only, Friday, November 25. Get new shoes for winter training/track!

TOMASI NCS CHAMPION

What else need be said?

Congratulations Michael. You join legends Steven Guerrini 1989, Peter Egerton 1994 and Reesey Byers 2009 as NCS Cross Country Champions from Santa Rosa High School. I don't believe any school can boast such a claim. You have truly entered into famedom. Well done.

Panthers at NCS

Panther Pride was well on display at Hayward High School yesterday at the North Coast Section Cross Country Championships. One only had to hear the roaring ovation at the awards session from our Orange and Black Backers. And why the roaring ovation?

MICHEAL TOMASI IS THE NORTH COAST SECTION DIVISION I CHAMPION.

Yes ladies and gentlemen, our own silent wonder Michael Tomasi not only won the DI championship, he destryoed the competition. After a mile and 3/4 (Harry and Ron would love that number) Michael decided he was done with running with the pack and took off and said come catch me. Well they couldn't catch him. The second place runner from DeLaSalle, senior Evan Molineaux, made a move on Michael coming down the hill to the finish but fell well short when Tomasi put his run into hyper drive coming off the hill onto the grass to the finish. DeLaSalle's best conceded and fell back exhausted trying to cover Michael's flourish of a finish.

WELL DONE MICHAEL, WELL DONE CHAMPION!

More to come about our teams great efforts.

NCS

The Panther Cross Country Squad of 16 boys and girls competes at the Division I North Coast Section Championships on Saturday November 19, at Hayward High School. The girls run at 10:30 AM and the boys at High Noon. The reward is a trip to the California State Championships in Fresno the following Saturday. A trip to this meet is to compete in the largest State Championship in the country against the best in the country. To be there is to be elite. If either of our teams finish in the top two the team goes to Woodward Park in Fresno. If an individual finishes in the top 5 on a non qualifying team while being in the top 12 overall will earn a trip to Woodward Park. That is a tough assignment but getting to the greatest meet is not supposed to be easy. Each of you could make it easier though by being there to root on and encourage our Panther runners. The girls team of seniors Evvy Archibald, Eva Herbst, Marina Lecoeuche, and Emily Rozga, juniors Natalie Fritz and Sadia Ibrahim, sophomore Sarah Withers and freshman Emma Pierson leave from the swim center on Ridgway at 7:s0 while the boys, seniors Jordan Guerrero, Connor Moore, Jonathan Peck, and Michael Tomasi, juniors Jonathan Ahnberg, Michael Kennedy, and Cris Nazarek and sophomore Aden Holmes depart from the same at 8:30.

If you are unable to make the trip perhaps you can be at the Swim Center to sendoff with all of our reknown Panther Pride and spirit the best runners at our school. There could be some extra seats for those that would like to make the trip and please be brightly ORANGE if that be the case.

Our teams are competitive and ready. More ready than could be asked for. Determined they are and proud they are. They are after all Panthers.

GO PANTHERS!

We Are The Panthers

... the mighty mighty Panthers!

In the aftermath of NBL Finals and my last race ever as a member of this team, I just want to say how incredibly proud and humbled I am to run with all of you. The four long years I've spent with SRHS Cross Country feel like the blink of an eye in retrospect, and I'd give anything to go back and get to do it again, and again, and again. Every hour, every minute, every second of it was amazing, and every practice changed me for the better.

From the first Slurpee Run I ever went to, I knew I had chosen the right team. I felt loved from day one, a part of a whole. I had glorious seniors to look up to, and care-free freshmen comrades to fraternize with. Without the strong anchor of Cross Country to tie me down, freshman year might very well have been far choppier sailing.

And now those glorious seniors are me and my friends. And the time has come to say goodbye to Cross Country. To Camp. To my heart and soul for the last four years.

I can't do it. Not yet. Maybe by the end-of-the-year party. Maybe never.

I love you, Panthers.


--Avi

ALEX VS. JORDAN: Epic Pancake-a-thon!

The temperature was cold but the sun was bright as the Panthers assembled at Carrie's house for another pancake run. All 26 runners made it up to Lake Ilsanjo and barrelled down the mountain for fresh, homemade buttermilk pancakes (Carrie's grandma's secret recipe!)

Alex and Jordan set their sights on an illustrious pancake-eating record: 21. Jordan got off to a quick start with a plate full of blueberry pancakes. Alex followed closely, eyeing Jordan's strategy and making sure to stay within reach as the morning's feast ensued.

Alex picked up his pace in the middle of the eat-a-thon and kept the pressure on Jordan, who didn't seem overly concerned about Alex's nonchalant way of tossing pancakes onto his plate. Both warriors exuded confidence as they edged into double-digits and past 15 pancakes.

The fight to the finish was gearing up. The pace slowed a bit as they gathered their strength for the final push. Several trips to the bathroom were made. Water helped ease the trip for the pancakes, but clearly stomachs began to
distend in ways that were not really meant for human stomachs.

17. 18. 19. 20. Alex and Jordan both reached #21 within minutes of each other, and they both examined the other for weaknesses: heavy breathing, burping, skin with a tint that looked beige-ish.

There would be no tie. Only one man could win. Who would have the biggest kick? Who could find the smallest pancake on the platter to ease this long carbo-journey saga?

22 reached by Alex. 22 reached by Jordan. More groans, more burping (and who knows what else), and even a trashbag was kept close... "just in case."

With a final burst of chewing energy that would impress the guy who does that "Man vs. Food" show, Alex devoured #23 without a pause. Jordan looked at #23 and decided a bite-by-bite strategy could work. One bite. Two bites... a deep breath... a prayer to someone/something... a fleeting wish that he had stopped at #17... one more bite....

22 and 2/3 for Jordan.

Alex Thomas is now the 2011 Pancake King with a new record of 23! Showing exceptional sportsmanship, both Alex and Jordan acknowledged the efforts of the other with a nod and a "good job" (no hugging... well because it might have caused some stomachs to ... well, nevermind.)

Alex went home to eat lunch.

Jordan wandered around the backyard in a daze. Clearly some sort of existential breakdown was occuring. He had looked into the abyss of his soul, and he had seen the truth: 17 pancakes good... 23? Not so good...

He quickly regained his composure, helped pick up trash (thank you!), and went home for a long nap devoid of food-related dreams, fortunately.

For Alex, he just has one question: Who's next?

Athletes of the Week

For the week of Elsie Allen Cierra Beltaran and Ben Hughes were awarded athletes of the week. Cierra pr'd by over two minutes on our home Spring Lake course while Ben Hughes pr'd by nearly a minute on a day that saw only 5 pr's for the entire team. Quite impressive for both runners.

The following week at Cardinal Newman's treacherous hilly course Michael Tomasi broke up the Piner juggernaut top 5 slipping in with a great time and giving Piner something to ponder for the league championship meet.

Sarah Withers ran the great race. She was the top Panther girl and her 3rd place overall finish enabled the girls to defeat Piner by one point. Sarah has become quite the runner to go along with her bark eating abilities. Great job, Sarah, you saved the day for the girls.

Panther Parents are Primo

A big thanks to all of our Panther Parents who have transported our kids to practice and meets. We have a large team (the largest in the county) and getting them to the park is a major undertaking. Thanks to Deanna's network we have been very successful in our transportation efforts. (Deanna you were magnificent)

Your efforts have enabled our kids to practice in the best running environment I believe any where in the country or perhaps the world. That is not hyperbole or blowing smoke.

We have completed our league meets and we have done quite well.

Varsity Boys are 6-1, 2nd behind Piner, Varsity Girls 6-1, second behind Carrillo, JV Boys 5-2, third behind Piner and Carrillo,and JV Girls 6-1, second behind Carrillo.

We have the NBL league championships coming up on Friday November 4 at our home course at Spring Lake. Ukiah will be hosting the meet. They had the opportunity to put the meet on at their high school but Chad Raugewitz, their head, coach wanted to do it at Spring Lake to perhaps enhance the course records that have been historic. Thank you Chad. Val Sell head coach at Montgomery and myself and Bob Shor have assisted Chad in setting the meet up. Ukiah people will be doing the bulk of the work but it may be that they need a bit more help. If any of you want to help out in the league championships in any fashion let me know and if Chad needs the help you could give him a hand.

The schedule for the league championships is: JV Boys 2:00, JV Girls 2:35, Varsity Boys 3:15, and Varsity Girls at 3:45.

Last year our girls had the same record as this year and so did Maria Carrillo. At the league championships our girls defeated Carrillo and earned a share of the league championship. History can repeat itself in all 4 divisions.

I looked on the color calendar and Friday November 4 happens to be an ORANGE day. According to the Rare Farmers Almanac wearing bright ORANGE on Friday November 4 guarnatees occurances of unknown positivity. SO LET US BE BRIGHT!!!!

Parents, again thank you for all you have done for our team this year. You truly have made our success possible.

GO PANTHERS!!!!!!!

PS. Primo is Hawaiian for the BEST!!

Lancer de crêpes! Ejecutar panqueque! Pfannkuchen laufen!

Yes, you guessed it.... another Pancake Run at Carrie's!

Time: Saturday 10/29; 9:00 a.m.
Where: 2908 Field Stone Court
What: Run... eat... you get the idea!

Be there!

Ukiah Buses

We will be taking two buses to Ukiah on Wednesday October 26. Dismissal time from class is 1:30. Everyone will be taking the bus to Ukiah. If parents are going to take your kids home please let me know at the meet. Only parents of their own kids can take students home from the meet. Everyone else must be on the bus home. We should be home about 8:00-8:30. We will stop in Ukiah for a bite to eat so come prepared.

It is also Monty Nerd day Wednesday and we will be running against Monty as well as Ukiah on Wednesday.

The first race will be at 3:45. At this time I don't know how many races will be run. I hope to hear from the Ukiah coach soon.

Mt. SAC DEPARTURE Time: 6:00 a.m.

We want to DEPART at 6:00 a.m. This means you should be there 5-10 minutes earlier. We need to get on the road to beat the East Bay traffic. Get all your gear packed the night before so all you have to do is roll out of bed, get to Ridgway, and then go to sleep in the vans!

Thanks Parents

Thanks to all of our parents who worked the Snack Bar at the Homecoming game on Friday. The Cross Country team was selected to work the Big Game because we can always be depended upon to show up in force and take care of snack bar business. Our parents like their running offspring performed magnificently with Nachos, burgers, gator ade and Tri Tip.

Thank you Cross Country Parents. You are the best and that's why we were in the Snack Bar for the biggest Football Game of the year. We are reliable and good. We helped make a lot of money for SRHS Athletics. And we have a bit of personality to add spice to the snack bar.

Heading to Mt SAC

The varsity boys and girls depart Friday October 21 for Southern California to compete at MtSAC, the biggest Cross Country gathering of athletes in the world. Over a two day period MtSAC conducts nearly 100 separate races for high school runners. Most of the time there are 3 different races occuring concurrently. Our teams will be competing in one of the Division II races early Saturday morning October 22. After the race the team will head off to Disneyland for untold roller coaster rides. Doug will head up the hands up group. The runners making the trip will be seniors Evvy Archibald, Jordan Guerrero, Emily Rozga, Jonathan Peck, Marina Lecoeuche, Michael Tomasi, and Eva Herbst. Juniors going are Jonathan Ahnberg, Ellie Paul, Mikie Kennedy, Sadia Ibrahim and Cris Nazarek. Sophomores will be represented by Sarah Withers and Aden Holmes.

Panther runners have always fared well at MtSAC on the big stage of SoCal securing many medals. It should prove to be the same this year.

GO PANTHERS!

Cross Country Athletes of the Week

The league season began on Wednesday October 5 at Spring Lake. And with the onset of the North Bay League Meets we begin to recognize our Panther Runners of the Week.

Boys: David Tran. David, a senior, improved his Spring Lake by 14 seconds against Maria Carrillo and Rancho Cotate on Wednesday October 5. David followed that up with a first ever Varsity race at the Castro Valley Invitational on Saturday October 8. David never wavered during the tough hilly Castro Valley course but held his position throughout against seasoned Varsity runners from all of the other schools. David showed great determination in his Varsity debut and did himself and his team proud. Way to go David.

Girls: Emma Pierson. Emma, a freshman, improved her Spring Lake time by 43 seconds against Carrillo and Rancho on Wednesday October 5. She then came back the following Saturday at Castro Valley to lead the JV girls to a third place finish earning a team plaque and medals for the top 7 JV girl runners. Emma finished 6th overall in the race. She was 12th going into the final hill and came out 6th. Obviously the hills are to Emma's liking. Emma showed confidence in her hill running ability and also a true fighting spirit throughout the race. Good on ya Emma.

Only One Race at the EA Meet Tomorrow

All divisions at our meet against Elsie Allen tomorrow, October 12, will be combined into one race. It will start at 3:45 PM, and end roughly at 4:15 PM. Let's go Panthers!

PRACTICE SITE CHANGE Monday 10/10

Practice will be at the JC grassy area on Monday. We are postponing Cobblestone until Friday.

RECAP: NBL League Meet #1 vs MCHS and RCHS

The rain didn't slow anyone down Wednesday as the Panthers stormed Spring Lake to take on Maria Carrillo and Rancho Cotate.


An incredible 46 out of 64 racers set personal records (PRs)! Those who didn't PR either ran season's bests, came really close, or are recovering from injury or illness. Be patient... your times will drop too!

There are too many amazing performances to mention specifically, but there were a few JV times that stood out:
* Irma PR'd by almost 4 minutes
* Kadeja PR'd by 3:30 minutes
* Justin Dante PR'd by over 2 minutes
* Tommy "post Fondo" Lucas PR'd by 1:30 minutes

The Varsity girls had 4 out of 8 runners PR, 2 others set season's bests, and 1 come within 4 seconds of PRing. They finished 2nd to a Carrillo team that is clearly one of the top teams in all of Northern California and the class of the NBL. A strong effort from top to bottom!

The Varsity boys avenged last year's loss to Carrillo with a nail-biting 25-31 victory. It is harder to PR the faster you get, but that didn't seem to dawn on them. A hard-fought last mile resulted in a #3 all-time SRHS team time! (#15 out of all teams ever on the course). This is with two top runners coming back from illness and injury who didn't even score for us! They showed great confidence, poise, and sportsmanship.

Overall, the team is gathering steam as we head into the "meat" of the season. The NBL meets are what truly count. Now is the time to take advantage of all the stamina you are building and convert that strength into racing machines!

Go Panthers!

Castro Valley

It looks like we will have about 45-50 runners going to Castro Valley this Saturday October 8.
We will be leaving from the Swim Center at 8:30 AM. The times of the races are as follows:
11:00 Frosh Soph Boys
11:25 Girls Varsity
12:00 Boys Varsity
12:30 Girls JV
1:00 Boys JV

Varsity races are 3 miles and the others are 2.1 miles.

Pretty good viewing for the audience.

Go Panthers!

Carrillo/Rancho Wednesdy Meet and NBL Finals Change of Location

The tri meet this Wednesday, October 5, against Carrillo and Rancho is being held at Spring Lake, not Carrillo. Their coach decided to host it on the normal course, so it'll be just like all our other meets. On a very similar note, Ukiah has decided to host NBL finals at Spring Lake, and not up at Ukiah. Rejoice for more chances to run on the home course!

PANCAKE RUN this Saturday!

OK all you non-SAT takers! Come to Carrie's house for a long run in Annadel and home-made pancakes after.

When: 9:00 a.m. Saturday 10/1
Where: 2908 Field Stone Court (go south on Summerfield, left on Carissa, right on Field Stone)
What: pancakes (chocolate chip and blueberry) and lots of beverage choices and maybe some cartoons!

See you there!

Stanford wrap-up!

The Panthers came ready to take on teams from all over California at the Stanford Invitational, one of the most competitive (and twisty-turny!) invitationals in the country.

The boys were led by Michael Tomasi, who ran what we believe is the 3rd fastest time ever by a Panther at Stanford (behind Reesey Byers and Rory McLeod). Jordan Guerrero came in shortly after, and Michael Kennedy had a breakout race, running 17:00 (I had you at 16:59!) Jonathan Peck and Aden Holmes came in together about 20 seconds later, with Jonathan Ahnberg passing a dozen or so in the last stretch. Connor Moore made his Varsity debut and represented the Panthers with a solid performance that he said made him feel dizzy! (From all the turns, fortunately!

Their 1-5 pack time was just over a minute, which is an excellent sign over a long course.

The girls 1-5 pack time was even tighter! Running without top performer Eva Herbst, the girls showed their mettle by running aggressive and smart. Trixie Scolari took top runner honors this week with a stellar 20:39, with Sadia Ibrahim and Evvy Archibald just seconds behind. Sarah Withers continued her impressive season with a strong race, and Marina Lecoeuche turned in a race that indicates she is coming around after missing almost a month of solid training with an ankle injury. Newcomers to Varsity Natalie Fritz and Ellie Paul ran like veterans and didn't let the pressure of the day get to them. Way to go Panthers!

STANFORD: NEW DEPARTURE TIME!

We will be leaving at 8:15 a.m. from Ridgway Saturday. It is move-in day at Stanford, and there is going to be a morning lane closure on 101 south as well. We want to have plenty of time to get there. Pass the word!

STANFORD INVITATIONAL: Important info!

Here is a list of the runners going to Stanford:

Boys: Michael Tomasi, Jonathan Peck, Jordan Guerrero, Michael Kennedy, Jonathan Ahnberg, Aden Holmes, and Connor Moore.

Girls: Sadia Ibrahim, Evvy Archibald, Marina Lecoeuche, Trixie Scolari, Sarah Withers, Natalie Fritz, and Ellie Paul.

We are leaving from Ridgway at 9 a.m. Saturday. Boys race at 12:10 and Girls race at 12:40. Former Panther Reesey Byers races at 10:50 for Sacramento State in the Men's 8k race.

Here is a link with parking information: http://www.gostanford.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/stan/sports/c-sc/auto_pdf/ParkingInfo

I will have maps and these directions printed out for any drivers as well.

Also, we will NOT be bringing the water cooler, so please BRING YOUR OWN WATER and other drinks to the meet. There will be concessions as well.

Go Panthers!
Carrie

Viking Opener: The RACERS emerge!

It was another beautiful day at Spring Lake as the Panthers took on runners from 42 schools (Willits to Castro Valley!) at the 26th Annual Viking Opener. We had 59 runners (plus one coach) compete -- a record turnout!

Let's look at the various team results:

* Jr/Sr Girls: 2nd
* Fr/Soph Girls: 13th
* Open Girls: 2nd

* Senior Boys: 3rd
* Junior Boys: 8th
* Fr/Soph Boys: 6th
* Open Boys: 3rd

Complete results, including a combined top 50 performance list across all races, can be found at the PD running site: www.northbay.com/running

The most important development today was the emergence of your racing instincts. Most of you have now had 3 races, and the rookies on the team are finally seeing the benefits of consistent training. We saw focused, determined efforts. We saw runners who were willing to test their limits. We saw a lot of smiles after the races. It feels good to run fast, doesn't it?!

Viking Opener Race Times

8:35 Middle Schools
9:00 Frsoh Soph Boys(5) Aden, Ethan, Jake, Isaiah, Josh
9:20 Frosh Soph Girls(5) Sarah, Jenny, Emma, Jordan, Irma
9:45 Alumni Carrie, Sean, DK
10:15 Junior Boys(5) Mikie, Jahnberg, Cris, Patrick, Jackson
10:35 Junior Senior Girls (5) Sadia, Eva, Evvy, Emily, Marina
11:00 Open Girls (Unlimited) All the other girls
11:25 Senior Boys (5) Jon Peck, Michael T, Jordan, Connor M, Niko
11:45 Open Boys (Unlimited) All the other boys
12:10 Awards

Please try to stay for the awards. We always have a very spirited group that garners many, many medals.

Frosh soph boys need to be at our team area by 8AM. Frosh soph Girls need to be there by 8:15. Everyone else needs to be there by 9:00 so that we can cheer on and support Freshmen and Sophomore teams.

PARKING!
Please park at the Violetti entrance to Spring Lake. Meet management and the Park has asked us to do so. We cannot park at Oak Knoll. Over 30 schools will be in attendance. Please follow that request. From the lower parking lot at Violetti to the start area is about a 15 minute walk. That is good for everyone.

Lets have a great turnout to root on our mighty Panther runners. Come dressed in your birghtest Orange and Black bearing booming voices.

Lets Go Panthers!!!

Pre-Viking Opener Pasta Feed This Friday

Friday, September 16, we will be having a pasta feed from 6-9 pm at Eva's house. It's at 3970 Montecito Avenue off of Chanate (a bit confusing since the address is Montecito Avenue but the road sign says Woodbrae lane). There is a law firm half way up the drive on the left with a big parking lot, but drive slowly and watch out for the big boulders when you’re driving up. Turning around is difficult, so try to carpool if possible.
Map: http://tinypic.com/r/2sbl8au/7

Freshman: Salad
Sophomores: Bread
Juniors: Drinks
Seniors: Desserts

There will be a pool, so feel free to bring a bathing suit and towel. Call Eva with any questions at 843-0677. If you need to get flats, stop by spike night (see below post), and then head over to the pasta feed. You can also go before the pasta and still get the 20% off, but no prizes/pizza.

Last Chance To Get Discounted Racing Flats!

Heart and Sole is having our second and final "Spike Night" this Friday, September 16th from 6:30-8 pm. All flats are 20% off, so make sure you take advantage of this great deal if you've been racing in normal running shoes, or if you just need new flats. Cross country flats are akin to track spikes: lightweight racing shoes that allow you to run your fastest time possible. Saucony will be there, handing out giveaways and a free raffle for everyone who purchases flats. Delicious (and free!) pizza from NY Pie next door will also be served. Come join in the fun!

Practice Change

Thursday Sept 15 Practice will be immediately after school at 12:35. We will be going to the graveyard.

ED SIAS RE-CAP!! Slaying the Monster!

What a day at Hidden Valley Park in Martinez, CA! The course is only 2 miles, but it is a challenging and hilly course with lots of tough footing. The final climb, about 400 meters from the finish, is a heart-stopping, leg-cramping, soul-sucking monster. Don't worry... we slayed the monster!

Carrie arrived waaaay early to run the coaches'/community race where she raced to place 3rd woman overall. Her legs do not thank her, but she was able to gather valuable reconnaissance for the later missions by our Panthers!

The JV boys started things off with Avi Ballo leading the SENIOR STAMPEDE of Alex Thomas, William Hoberg, Gavin Von Seggerin, Connor Runge, and Ben Davidson. Patrick Kennedy also raced well! He needs to patent his kick!

Frosh/Soph boys were next with Ethan Foster making a statement, running an outstanding time of 12:23! Josh Peck, Ben Lara, and Jack Brady ran solid times for our sophomores. Frosh Justin Therman kicked in hard, and Dustin Engel led a spirited charge up "Finale Hill."

Our All Grade Open/Unlimited Boys race included Ed Sias veterans Jonathan Cutcher with an impressive 14:18 and Jake Walker with a big improvement over last year! The rest were race newbies Ben Hughes, Alex Hong, and Jonathan Doyle. Way to fight!

The Varsity Boys brought their Division I "A" game to the course. Jordan Guerrero passed a bazillion people in the last 400 to garner 7th place and a hard-to-run sub 11:00 time (10:52). Michael Tomasi PR'd, and Christian "Orange Streak/I'll run this course every day and love it" Nazarek was not far behind. A fast finishing trio of Jonathan Peck, Jonathan Ahnberg, and Michael Kennedy came next, with Niko Lecoeueche (too many e's in there, huh?) stepped up to the Varsity plate with a strong race of his own. BEST OF ALL, the Varsity Boys eked out a 4th place finish (MEDALS!) and another victory over rivals Maria Carrillo. Jordan was interviewed on Flotrack and didn't sound like an ignorant teenager! Yay! Link: http://www.flotrack.org/coverage/240221-2011-Ed-Sias-Invitational/video/506393-Jordan-Guerrero-Northgage-HS-7th-place-V-Boys-Large-School-at-the-2011-Ed-Sias-Invitational


The first girls to race were the JV girls, led once again by the Natalie "Fritzenator" Fritz. She placed 3rd with a stellar 14:59 with Ellie Paul not far behind in 8th! How heavy are those top 10 medals, ladies? Amber Peters, Kyra Kennedy, Sienna Lish, and Luz Huerta attacked the course to help their team earn 4th place overall (AND MORE MEDALS!!)

Next up for the girls was the Frosh/Soph race! Super Frosh Emma Pierson ran like a veteran to lead the way. Sophomores Morgan Bertsch, Jordan Codding, Jinny Tran, and Cierra Beltran stomped the hills too. Jordan had an impressive finish, and Cierra could barely contain her excitement after she ran!

Lucia Ronan and Kassie Walker ran in the Unlimited race, positioning themselves well and holding it throughout the undulating course. Awesome!

The Varsity Girls ended the day, with the temperatures and winds both rising. Sadia Ibrahim, Eva Herbst, and Trixie Scolari got off the line quickest and ably held their position throughout the race. Evvy Archibald and Sarah Withers both had huge finishes, with Marina Lecoueche (did I get it right?) in hot pursuit, and Emily Rozga just a bit after. The girls earned 5th place overall in a tough tough tough Large School Division.

Overall, Panthers came to race! Many of you raced this course for the first time, and you discovered that last week's race at Rancho was not really a "true" cross country course. This was. The terrain is challenging and tests you both physically and mentally. You all aced this test!

First Pasta Feed Friday September 9th

Join us for SRHS's first xc pasta feed! It will be Friday, September 9th from 6:00-9:00pm at North Park (at the intersection of 15th and North St.) Parking is available on North St, and around the corner on Wright St. Bathrooms will be available at the Scolari home, 1027 Benton St. at the corner of Wright.

We will be serving pesto and marinara pasta with delicious homemade meatballs on the side…here are the things we would like you to bring:

Freshman: bread

Sophomores: salad

Juniors: beverages

Seniors: desserts

Questions? You can reach the Scolari's at 707.579.3240 or 707.396.2829

**UPDATE** Drivers Needed for Ed Sias!

**WE HAVE ENOUGH DRIVERS. THANK YOU ALL!!!!!*** The Ed Sias Invitational is this Saturday, September 10th. We have 58 team members wanting to participate! But . . .we do not have enough drivers to get them there. Please help! Contact me DeAnna Rogers-Walker at SRHSCrossCountry@gmail.com or call or text (707) 543-1736. We need parent drivers a.s.a.p.

Directions to Ed Sias Invitational

Rancho Re-cap!

The Panthers were out in full force Friday on a hot and breezy afternoon in Rohnert Park. All results can be found by clicking on the "RESULTS" tab up top and then clicking on the "Rancho Invitational" link.

The JV Boys put everyone on notice with their intimidating "MAN-CHANT" -- people in the stands stared in both awe and befuddlement (with perhaps more emphasis on the latter). Maybe they will learn the New Zealand Haka for their next performance? Don't know what the Haka is? Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdMCAV6Yd0Y


The testosterone-fueled incantation clearly aided the performances as Panther after Panther attacked the course with Isaiah Egan, Ethan Foster, Tommy Lucas, and Josh Peck leading the way. Josh would end up being the top JV of the day, clear evidence of his innate talent and proof that he'll be working harder in practice now :-)!

The JV girls were inspired by the fast finishes of the JV boys and did some damage of their own. Natalie Fritz stunned the field (and Sean, who said: "Who's the girl with the hair?") by going out hard and holding on for 4th place as a fast-charging Puma was denied by the Fritz-en-ator in the final push for the finish line. Next were senior stalwarts Amber Peters, Nicole Chodora, and Tab Srisfenga, who strutted their stuff by running savvy and sensational season openers (check out that alliteration!)

Many of the JVs were first-time racers who learned a lot about just how hard they can push themselves. They learned that they won't give up when things get hard -- an important lesson that they will carry over into all aspects of their lives.

Then it was time for the Panther Varsity Boys -- showtime! They raced like seasoned Div. I veterans, running a smart first mile, an aggressive middle mile, and a do-or-die last mile. Their pack-oriented tactics earned them a coveted victory over rivals Maria Carrillo. Michael Tomasi led the way, nearly breaking 16 minutes (#4 all time on the course). All 7 boys broke 17 minutes, a rare and amazing feat!

The Varsity Girls wrapped the afternoon up with a solid effort that earned them 2nd place to a very tough Maria Carrillo team. Eva Herbst and Sadia Ibrahim took control of the pack and pushed the middle mile to pick off many runners and run as fast as our state qualifier, Kelly Brooks, did last year. The rest of the pack ran tight and smart, with Evvy Archibald making an inspired last mile push to pass what must have been 10 runners. There is no doubt that the girls will tighten up their pack as lingering injuries release their hold.

Now on to some hard work this week geared toward one of the coolest races of the year: Ed Sias!

Labor Day Practice 10 AM at Graveyard

What would Labor Day be without a hard workout? It would be LAZY DAY! And Panthers aren't lazy, Panthers are fierce. So meet at the graveyard at 10 AM for a workout.

SR Marathon Volunteer Details

These are the shifts we've established. My group will be meeting at the Fulton Road SR Creek overpass. Parking/dropoff locations are available on either side of the street on Chatham Dr or Placer Ct. Sean's group will be meeting at Willowside Road at the trail junction, which can be accessed via Hall or Guerneville Road. Park at the school or along Hall Road.  Please show up on time for your shift. Account for an extra five minutes of walking time because both are too dangerous to park or be dropped off in front of. Bring lots of water and food/snacks. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats are recommended. It's gonna be hot, so dress in layers. Here is the course information, with links to the course map on the page. I advise checking out the google bird's eye view and selecting hybrid mode under map options. We need two parents to help lead the second shifts and more athletes would be appreciated for both time slots. Please contact me if you can help or have any questions.

6:30-10:30AM:

Fulton Road- Leader: Jonathan

Alex Thomas
Tab
Ellie
Jordan

Willowside Road- Leader: Sean
Avi
Cristain
Samantha
Amber
Evvy

10:30 AM-2:30 PM

Fulton Road:

Connor Moore
Michael Kennedy
Cleo
Connor Runge
Josh

Willowside Road- Leader: John Withers

Sarah
Trixie
Isaiah
Felix
Alex Hong

In Search of Digital Watches!!

Please get in the habit of bringing (and even wearing) a digital watch to practice. This will be immensely helpful in timing your runs and workouts.

Parents, if you have any digital watches that you can lend to us for the season, we will gladly take them!

BACK TO SCHOOL PANCAKE RUN!!!

Come to Carrie's house for homemade chocolate chip pancakes (and some blueberry ones... maybe a plain one here and there...). We run first, then we feast!


Where: 2908 Field Stone Court (go south on Summerfield, left on Carissa, right on Field Stone)
When: Saturday, Aug. 20th at 9:00 a.m.

See you there!

FIRST OFFICIAL DAY OF PRACTICE THIS MONDAY AUGUST 15th!

Meet at the track at 3:15 this Monday!

IMPORTANT: You must have your athletic packet completed and your $50 fee paid. Go to the Business Office to pay the fee, and Diane will give you a receipt to attach to your packet. You cannot officially train with the team unless you have completed the packet and paid the fee. Please take care of this ASAP!

GO PANTHERS!!

Camp Haikus!

Here they are!

Food of the Gods: Finger Lickin' Good
Unparalleled taste
Crunchy orbs of perfection
Sienna's cheese balls

First Night Drama: The Suffering of Kyra
Why are they crying?
Stop crying! Why won't they stop?
Go the F to sleep!

Driving to Myers Flat with 4 Really Tall Senior Boys in My Little 2-Door Honda: The Suffering of Carrie
5-6-7-8
Boot Scootin' DJ William
Get me out of here!

Running Up Grasshopper with Sean: The Suffering of Evvy and Eva
Running through the pain
Divng left and diving right
Yes! 1:28!

Grasshopper: A Classic Hike in the Woods
Go left then go right
Going up, up, up, up, up
Pain, pain, pain, TRIUMPH!

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Camp 2011: Epic!

53 campers, 6 counselors, and 3 coaches (plus the Joseph clan) experienced a magical week of redwoods, pine needle trails, musical interludes, Top Ramen, Eel River swimming, and of course well-used and sore legs/feet/ankles/knees.
This was our biggest camp ever, and I daresay our best!

Not enough can be said about the positive spirit and camaraderie that camp creates, all led by our irrepressible Yoda-like leader, Doug. He should have his body parts replaced prior to camp more often!

Take this weekend to relax a bit, let your legs refresh, and come to the Slurpee run on Monday ready to GO!

(Carrie's Haikus will be posted later this week)

Team and Parents meeting

On Thursday July 28 at 6:30 at Round Table Pizza on Occidental Rd. there will be a team and parents meeting. We will be discussing the upcoming season as well as camp. If you plan to be at camp and can't make the meeting please contact me at 528-0627 or zeemie@aol.com
Don't try to get in contact with me on my cell phone as it is rarely turned on.

One of the discussions at the meeting will be drivers for camp. If you can drive to or from or both to camp please let me know ASAP. We will leave around 10AM on Sunday July 31 and leave from camp around 11:30 on Friday Aug 5.

I look forward to seeing all of our new and returning parents. The meeting is sure to get our season off to a great start.

Doug

Double Discount Night at Heart and Sole, Camp Shoes!

I have organized a special event for the SRHS XC team. This Monday, July 25, Heart and Sole Sports will be having a double discount night! Come over right after the slurpee run and for one hour only, from 6:30-7:30, receive 20% off everything in the store. H&S supports local athletes and we always offer them a 10% discount, but only at this time will we have this great deal! Stock up on running shirts, shorts, and especially socks. Good shoes and socks will make the difference between a really fun camp and a camp spent at Doug's tent, getting your feet bandaged and your blisters popped every day. Every sock we carry is made of technical, moisture-wicking fabric. NOT COTTON. Cotton collects moisture and wraps the foot in its own sweat, leading to bacterial growth and blistering. Treat your feet right. Don't wear garbage shoes. Don't wear cotton socks. Don't make freshman mistakes.

Camp Info and Directions to Runs Added!

I've added two new pages to the top of the website, a page with the camp checklist and meeting info, as well as a page dedicated to helping parents/runners actually locate our runs! Hopefully these will be very useful and reduce the potential for confusion. Camp is in less than two weeks, get running!!!

Official NCS Div 1 Pre-Season XC Rankings Released

These are copied from cross country express but I've pasted them here so they're easier to find

Boys: This team is going to be my favorite team to watch as the season unfolds. Although there are no stars on this team, Santa Rosa brings back their top 6 runners from last year (3 seniors, 2 juniors, and a sophomore) and their 6th returner has demonstrated more ability than anyone else’s #5. Although De La Salle, Amador Valley, and Granada are potentially deeper, Santa Rosa’s guys have been there and done it and that counts for a lot. To be competitive at the end of the season, they will probably need to improve by about 45 seconds each, but with this mix of veteran leadership and youth, it’s not out of the question. These boys from the North Bay might be the team to upset the balance in this division and even though the teams in their area are not in this division, there is enough talent to keep them battle tested all year long. The biggest concern is that their track times do not look like that of a team cross country champion, but as I have stated before and as evidence has indicated many times, it is not a prerequisite that a very good cross country team have incredible track credentials. The top returner on this team is senior Jonathan Peck, who finished 9th in the NBL last year and 21st at NCS (in Division 2). Peck has also run 4:34.62 in the 1600 and 10:10.37 in the 3200. The man with the best track times is fellow senior Michael Tomasi, who has run 4:33.72 and 9:54.29 on top of finishing 14th at the NBL meet and 23rd at NCS. The #3 runner for Santa Rosa last year was junior Michael Kennedy, who finished 16th at the NBL Meet and 25th at NCS, but only managed a 4:52.76 1600 on the track. Rising sophomore Aden Holmes was next, running finishing his freshman campaign in 20th at NBL’s, 37th at NCS, and a track pr of 4:48.46 for 1600. Last year’s #5 was Jordan Guerrero, who finished 25th at NBL’s and 31st at NCS. Guererro took the next step in the spring putting up marks of 4:39.62 and 10:29.92. Other runners who have a chance to score for Santa Rosa include the following:
Jonathan Ahlberg (Junior)-29th at NBL and 42nd at NCS xc, 4:51.85 1600
Brian Juarez (Sophomore)-4:47.59 1600, 10:46.70 3200
Key to Success: A really good summer. This team has everything it needs to be really good, but without improvement across the board, they won’t go far. If they can prepare themselves to train at a higher level, so that they can then compete at a higher level, they have a chance to beat anyone in this division.


Girls: This spring saw rising junior Sadia Ibrahim lead the section in the 800 almost wire to wire. She was one of just a couple of NCS athletes under 2:20 as she sat at about 2:16 for much of the year. Just as it was coming to a close, she put on an exclamation point and ran 2:12.99 to cement herself as the premier 800 runner in the section and a force to be dealt with at the state level. Although she was not a contender in cross country last year (finishing just 7th in the NBL and 41st at NCS), and tends to race shorter than 800 rather than longer (she has a 400 pr of 57.48) it would be folly to count out a 2:12 800 runner. The top returning runner from the team is senior Eva Herbst who finished 4th in the NBL and 25th at NCS a season ago. Like Monte Vista, Santa Rosa boasts an experienced line-up with a bit of depth. Because of their strength at #5, they have to get the nod over schools like Mission and Logan who have a big question mark at that #5 position and not enough punch in their 1-4 runners to necessarily make up for that. It will take big improvements from all of them to jump from a top 5 team to a potentially top 3 team, but those kinds of jumps are most common with teams built with depth, rather than teams who just need to go out and identify that one more person. Returners for this team and others looking to make a difference are as follows:
Emily Rozga (Senior)-11th at NBL and 44th at NCS xc (D2), 2:28.96 800, 5:44.03 1600
Evvy Archibald (Senior)-13th at NBL and 42nd at NCS xc (D2), 5:53.23 1600, 12:39.54 3200
Marina Lecoeuche (Senior) 16th at NBL and 38th at NCS xc (D2), 5:39.62 1600, 12:47.83 3200
Trixi Scolari (Sophomore)-Transfer from Maria Carillo, 68th at NCS (D3)
Sarah Withers (Sophomore)-6th JV at NBL xc, 6:15.67 1600
Key to Success: This team needs to rely on its seniors to be a steadying influence and get a stronger contribution from 800m standout Sadia Ibrahim. If those things happen, they will quickly climb the division 1 ladder.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C3-cuXLUfROW88uBXBAZBjQd1uCukjXZ8Wn5HurhXl0/edit?hl=en_US&pli=1

Channel Challenge Relay Race

Heart and Sole is partnering with Saucony to host the first ever "Channel Challenge" on Friday, July 15th at 9 am. Four person relay teams will compete running a total of eight miles. But there's a twist. Instead of your traditional four people run two miles each; it's completely open-ended. You can run any distance you want, as many times as you want. It's up to the teams to figure out the most effective way to cover eight miles. One person could do five miles and the others run one, or you could take turns sprinting 200's... the combinations are endless! The only rules are that everyone must run at least once, and be a high school runner (graduates of 2011 and incoming frosh ok). Heading east on Highway 12, take a right on Mission. Turn left on Montgomery, pass the dam, and right on Channel. Drive down Channel about two miles. There is parking at the base of Richardson, though it requires a nominal ($6) fee. This fee goes towards keeping our great park open. While there are other ways to run into the park, this parking location is very convenient and will greatly help our state parks. RSVP to Alex Wolf Root to receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a free pair of Saucony shoes! Winning male and female teams will be awarded with awesome Saucony prizes as well. Because this event starts at 9, arrive as early as you need to for warmups.

Doug Needs Help Walking His Dog!

As many of you know, Doug recently had knee surgery. One of his knees was replaced, and he is currently unable to walk Ringo while he recovers. If you would like to help out, please call or text me at 480-4645 to find out what days are open. You can do it at any time that's convenient for you, just check with me for the day. Doug lives over by the SR Fairgrounds at 809 Brigham Ave. It takes less than an hour to do this, but it means the world to Doug and Ringo. Please help!

PANCAKE RUN!!!

Come to Carrie's house for a long run and a stack of pancakes (from scratch) next Sunday, July 10th at 9:00 a.m. Don't miss the sweat and syrup! (Well, don't try them together...) Rumor has it that there might be chocolate milk too!

Where: 2908 Field Stone Court. Go south on Summerfield, take a left on Carissa Ave, 2nd right on Field Stone Court.

Be there!

JC Intervals, Summer Track Series, and the Kenwood Footrace

So much going on! First off, JC grass intervals begin this Wednesday, June 29. We start at 5 pm on the front lawn of Santa Rosa Junior College, where the sign is on Mendocino Ave. If you don't drive, you can get dropped off right there at the parking circle. If you do drive, the best place to park is at Santa Rosa High School over by the North Gym, which is in the parking lot closest to the JC parking garage. A group of us will be walking over from there. JC workouts don't last too long, so it's easy to bring a change of clothing and go to the market afterwards. We'll be having these every Wednesday at 5. 

The Summer Track Series is being held at our school this year! It's one of our fundraisers so both parent and athlete volunteers are needed to run this event (no pun intended). Please arrive at the track by 5:45 PM to assist with setup and registration. Athletes who wish to race should show up by 6 PM because the gun goes off for the mile at 6:30 PM. It's a very casual and fun event to help out with and participate in, please show up! It will be happening every other Tuesday, and the last one was Tuesday June 28.

Our largest team fundraiser is the Kenwood Footrace, which takes place on Monday, July 4th. This event requires the help of every athlete and parent on the team. We serve as course monitors, water station workers, and fruit choppers. Please arrive at the starting area by 6:15. I know that sounds extremely early, but remember this is what pays for the epic cross country yearbook, and we really need everyone's participation. If I, as a high school senior, can wake up that early one day of the summer, you guys can too. No excuses! Contact Doug at 528-0627 or ZEEMIE@aol.com to confirm your attendance.

Track Cleanup and Night Run

Tomorrow is the annual track cleanup, and even if you didn't do track we could really use your help! Basically it's a xc team event, we all meet at the high school track at 10 am, on Wednesday June 15. Wear cool clothes, lots of sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. Since it's too early for most people to meet before that for a run, and then too hot later in the day, we're gonna try something new. We'll be doing a fountaingrove night run, starting and ending at the high school track. Dress appropriately, wear the brightest colors you can (no black or navy blue), and get ready to have fun. If anyone has any glowing necklaces/bracelets, or knows where to get them, let me know and bring them!

First Slurpee Run Tomorrow!

Summer training is kicking into full gear, and our first slurpee run is tomorrow, Monday June 13, at 5 PM. We meet in the upper parking lot at Howarth Park, which is off of Summerfield Road in Santa Rosa. Turn into the park, and follow the driveways straight up the hill. Turn right across from the playground with the climbing wall, and enter into the upper parking lot. Runners will be at the trail entrance that's across the lot opposite from the snack shack/bathrooms/trains. This is closest to the lake, where the three yellow poles and dock are located. Parents can drop off their kids just before 5 and pick them up at 6, at which point we'll head over to the 7-11 on Mission Blvd for free slurpees! It's gonna be a ton of fun, don't miss out!

How to Earn a Sweet T-Shirt From Summer Training

For everyone who finished their track season at NBL's (and for those who finished earlier/graduated middle school/didn't do track), now is the time to start running again! Although the first slurpee run is Monday June 13, the official summer training clock starts today. Take advantage of this to get in miles and get your legs used to running again. When school starts, we give out two kinds of t-shirts to all the dedicated Panthers who trained hard over the summer. They are the 250 and 500 mile t-shirts. Since there are ten weeks in summer, you have to average 25 miles a week to get the 250 mile shirt. This comes out to a little over 4 miles a day, assuming you run six days a week and take one day off. The 500 mile shirt means a little over 8 miles a day, 6 days a week, with one day off. Talk to the coaches before attempting the 500 mile shirt; to be eligible you should be an upperclassman varsity runner. Our goal is to have as many people as possible earn summer training t-shirts, go for it!

A great way to keep track of your miles is to use a free service such as Map My Run or Google Maps Distance Calculator. Map my run requires you to create a free account, but has many more features including saved routes and workout logs. Google maps distance calculator is a no frills site that just gives you distances. Both are easy to use and extremely useful for finding out exact distances. You can try using these for measuring runs in the park, but I'd recommend buying an Annadel map or shirt from Heart and Sole.

If the last time you bought shoes was towards the beginning of track, or (gasp) last cross country season, you need to buy new shoes. Don't forget to mention you run xc for SRHS to get the 10% discount at Heart and Sole. Kick off the summer right, and go running!

Welcome!

Whether you're a middle schooler interested in running cross country next year, a high schooler wanting to see what their friends are always talking about, or simply a returning veteran, please check out the links at the top of the website. You'll find out valuable information about our program, including what kind of gear you need, practice schedules, and contact information. Cross country is a sport that requires preparation, especially before camp and the season. You are required to run during the summer, but it's fun, especially with organized team runs like the famous Slurpee Run! (You run, coaches buy slurpees afterwards) Summer training calenders are posted up at the top of the website under Training/Racing Schedules. Please learn about the team by exploring the site and thanks for your interest!