After returning from camp last Friday, we’re now ready to begin our first full week of official practices. We’ll be practicing at 8am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Wednesday, we’ll meet at 9am.
Meet the Team is scheduled for Wednesday (8/20) night at 6pm at the Middle School due to construction at the High School. Don’t forget to check out the team calendar and schedule for details on all of our upcoming activities and meets.
Stay Cool!
Although we won’t see you for the next nine days because of the mandatory dead period, there is plenty of running going on to keep you busy. In addition to your own training, which we discussed today, try to check out the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials. The schedule of events and TV schedule are both available at the USA T&F website. We have several local competitors to keep an eye on, including Sharon Thompson in the 10000m and Geena Gall in the 800m.
Have a great week! See you on July 7th.
Coach Murphy and Coach Wiens
June 2008
Greetings!
You’re reading this letter because you’ve shown some interest in running cross country at Swartz Creek. Below we’ll provide you with some information that will hopefully help you make a decision to commit to the team.
“So what is cross country?” you may be asking. Well, simply put, it is distance-running competition. In cross country, everyone runs the same race over the same distance, 5000 meters (3.1 miles). These races are run in parks and on golf courses. Each varsity team is allowed seven runners (all others are considered junior varsity – everybody runs). A team’s score is calculated by adding up the finishing places of it’s first five runners. The team with the lowest score wins. In the event of a tie, the 6th runner will determine the winner.
Some people say that they can’t run three miles so they should not be on the team. Well that just isn’t true. It is entirely possible that a team member may start the summer not being able to run three miles and finish the season in November running up to eight miles. Our training program is designed to take you from where you are and help you improve slowly but surely.
Cross Country in Swartz Creek has a great tradition. In the last 25 years, both teams have made multiple trips to the state meet and also qualified several individuals. At one point the boys’ team won the Big 9 Conference fourteen out of fifteen years. Now, we compete in the Metro League and we’re hoping to make a name for ourselves here as well.
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