first cross country meet

Sebastian joined the cross country team at West Sylvan this fall and has been practicing three days a week since the end of August. The team is big - 90 kids - with boys and girls from 6th-8th grades. Thursday was their first meet of the season, at Overlook Park in NE Portland. The runners were given the choice of running a 2k or 3k race, with the assumption that the 6th-graders would run the 2k and the 7th/8th would run the 3k. Sebastian decided to run the 3k, the only 6th-grader to do so, because he's been running really well and feeling pretty confident.

This race was part of a trail series sponsored by a local track club, and so there was the opportunity for 3rd and 4th graders to run a 1500 m race just before the middle schoolers arrived. We entered Liesl into the race along with two of her soccer team/school friends. She did so well - amazingly well - and showed a lot of grit and determination. She started off too fast and then clearly felt it, so she had to really focus to keep running until the end. She came in 3rd out of all 3rd grade girls and was super proud of herself. In the photos below she's lined up at the start line with Sienna and Bailey to her left - Bailey came in first (of all girls) and probably third overall.

Sebastian started out strong, among the first ten or so runners after the initial dash, and easily maintained his speed and standing throughout the race. Up until now, I would have said he had one speed, which is obviously pretty fast, but comfortable for him -- he never seemed particularly tired or sick-feeling or red-faced at the end of a run or race. So I was curious to see if he could find another speed in a truly competitive situation.

And they're off! Sebastian was one of the smaller kids out there, for sure.

 

And here's where things got awesome, because this was the final straightaway to the finish line, and this kid clearly expected to kick at the end and pass Seb. And Seb just looked over at him and  decided that that was just not going to happen, and he indeed found another gear. He sprinted up this whole final stretch and finished 10 yards ahead of the other runner. We were delighted. He felt sick afterwards and exhausted. We were also delighted by that. :) He came in 3rd place of all the 6th/7th grade boys running the 3k (I would estimate 100 kids, from 4-5 Portland middle schools, ran this race with him). Pretty fantastic for a first meet.

Anyway, it was a terrific start to the cross country season. We were so proud of both kids for their effort and determination.