Kris Solsberg Invite Information

It's finally here--the first race of the season!

This Saturday, we will race in the Kris Solsberg Invitational at Lake Jacomo Blue Springs.  (Lake Jacomo, Shelter 14 Blue Springs, MO 64015)

Here is the information for the meet:
6:45 (athletes should arrive at PHHS no later than 6:40)--Bus departs
8:00--Coaches meeting
9:00--Varsity Girls 5k Race
10:15--JV Girls 5k Race
11:00--Awards (both races will award medals to the top 25 runners: 11-25 will be handed out in the chute; 1-10 announced during awards)
12:00--return to PHHS

Other Information:
Thursday's Pasta Party: The Collin's Family
Meet Treats: The Gaddis Family
Parking will cost $5

This week's Varsity Team (all other racers will run the JV race):
Madison, Tessa, Meg, Grace, Morgan, Caylin, Amelia

Cross Country Season 2016

As the school year wraps up, it's time to start thinking about cross country season!  

I have attached a summer schedule to help families plan vacations, summer activities, and the like.  I've also included the tentative meet schedule for next fall along with some other important dates to be thinking about.  If any changes need to be made, you can find that information here or on the Park Hill Girls' Cross Country Twitter @PHGirlsXC

If you are an 8th grader, unsure of whether or not you would like to run cross country in the fall, I encourage you to come give summer runs and team activities a try to see if it's the sport for you!

Track Athletes:  At the conclusion of your season, take 10 days of active rest.  This means you are not running, but you are doing other low-impact activities (swimming, biking, hiking, stand-up paddle boarding, etc).  This will help your body recover from the stresses of the season while maintaining your cardio fitness.

Athletes in Other/No Spring Sports:  Get out and run a couple of days a week.  We will start the summer runs with low-mileage, but starting now will help you prevent injuries as well as help you keep up with the girls who ran track.  Start simple.  If you are new to running, try 1-2 miles every other day, increasing by no more than 5 total miles each week.

Summer runs start June 1st!  Attendance is optional, but highly recommended.  If you are interested in a varsity spot, plan on being at as many runs as possible.  We will meet on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.  Fridays will be an optional run led by an upper-classman teammate.  Participation in summer runs will help your in-season performance, reduce your injury risk, and give you the opportunity to bond with your teammates.

We will also be hosting a team camp July 18th-21st from 8-10 am! Please plan on attending.  The cost is $30 (includes your t-shirt).  We will meet at the PHHS track.

SHOES!!!  Cross country is a sport that doesn't require a lot of equipment--but it does require good-quality running shoes!  I strongly recommend runners get a new pair for every season.  Do your best to find a pair of shoes that works for you.  You can be fitted for the right shoes at running specialty stores around the city. Running Well does a great job of fitting your foot to the proper running shoe, and they usually offer athletes a nice discount.  The right shoes can cost a lot, but they can also help keep you from sustaining injuries that cost a whole lot more and may even cut your season short!\

Physicals, Fees, and Impact Testing:  To be eligible to play sports, students must turn in complete physical and take the IMPACT test.  Dates of the IMPACT test will be made known as soon as they become available.  At the start of the season, students will need to pay an activity fee.  In the past, this fee has been $55.

Tentative Dates to Remember:
June 1-3: First three days of summer runs.  After these dates, team runs will continue through out the summer on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  New runners should run at least 4 days a week; returning runners should run 5-6 days a week
July 18th-21st:  Team camp!
August 1:  First day of practice
August 20th:  Time Trials at PHHS @ 8 am
August 20th:  Team Fundraiser--Carwash @ HyVee on Barry Road--10-2
August 27th:  Saturday practice at Platte Ridge Park @8am
September 3rd:  Meet @Lake Jacomo
September 10th: Meet @Ray-Pec
September 15th: Meet @Platte County
September 17th:  Varsity Meet Joplin
September 20th:  Meet @Smithville
October 1st:  Meet @KC Metro
October 8th:  Conference @TBD
October 22:  Districts @TBD (Qualifiers Only)
October 29th:  Sectionals @TBD (Qualifiers Only)
November 5th  State @Oak Hills in Jeff City (Qualifiers Only)

Sectionals!

Congrats on a great season to the varsity runners. Last weekend, we ran districts. Though we didn't qualify to sectionals as a team, I am so proud of this team. Everyone on this team is a true team player, wanting the best for all the girls who line up beside her on race day. It has been great working with all of you.

CONGRATULATIONS to senior, Jillian!  She qualified for sectionals, earning 11th place in the hardest district this side of the state!  Let's support her this week by all coming out to cheer her on as she races for a spot at the State meet!

Sectionals Info

Location: Jesse James Park in Kearney

Admission: $4

8:30--coaches meeting

9:00--Boys Sectional Race

10:00--Girls Sectional Race

Run Royal, Trojans!

Neon Day

PJ Day

Fast Food!

Congrats, Jillian

Conference and Districts

The JV season came to a close on Saturday with a really tough course on a beautiful day.  We are so proud of all the runners and the improvements they've made throughout the season. A special congratulations to Varsity medal winners Jill (3rd), Grace F. (15th), and Tessa M. (20th).  

We move into the state series, running at the District meet on October 24th at Platte Ridge Park at 9:00 am.  I encourage the team to come out and cheer and support their teammates--the more; the better!

District Meet Information 
Location:  Platte Ridge Park
7:15 Bus Departs
8:15 Coaches Meeting
9:00 Girls Race
9:30 Boys Race
10:30 Awards

Last JV pre-race huddle of the season

PHHSXC knows how to have fun!  We started that awesome line dance!

KC Metro Invitational Results and Conference Information

What a great weekend at the KC Metro Invitational!  Many girls set personal and season bests.  Running as a team helped many go above and beyond on the Ray-Pec course.  This week will be the last week for JV runners.  The top 7 will go on to the district meet in two weeks.  Let's make the last week we are all together this season a great one!

KC Metro Invitational PRs
Jillian R. (20:18)
Grace F. (20:52--first time breaking 21 minutes--awesome!)
Caylin  R. (21:43)
Carly S. (22:07--2 weeks in a row, this girl is on fire!)
Karli P. (24:23)
Hannah C. (24:30)
Juliet (25:57)
Taylor (26:17)
Natalie (26:41--a 2-plus minute PR!)

Conference Meet Information
Location:  Stocksdale Park in Liberty (the race will be a 5k)
6:45--Bus Departs
8:30--Coaches Meeting
9:00--Varsity girls
10:20--JV girls
11:45--Awards

Pasta Party: Coaches at Sweney's house
Meet Treats: Tessa and remainder from previous meets

A fast start helped Caylin reach a new personal best!

Jill, finishing strong

Meg and Carly encouraged one another throughout the race, and celebrated great races as a result 

Tessa sprinted down the chute toward a season best

Grandview Invitational Results and KC Metro Meet Information

What a great meet on Thursday!  It has been really impressive to watch the team push limits these past few weeks.  There were a lot of breakthrough performances on Thursday, and the results show it!  Let's keep the momentum going the next few weeks as JV wraps up their season and Varsity runners prepare to compete for a spot at the state meet!

Grandview PRs:  
Jillian R 20:22 (3rd place)
Grace F 21:35 (8th place)
Carly S. 23:19 (JV Champ and a 90 second Pr--WOW!)
Karli P. 25:17
Taylor H. 26:47

KC Metro Invitational Information:

Location:  Ray-Pec Cross Country Course

6:30  Bus Departs

7:30 Coaches Meeting

9:30 Varsity Girls 

10:30 JV Girls

12:00 Awards

1:30 Approximate arrival at PHHS

Pasta Party:  The family of Jill and Hannah

Meet Treats:  Hannah's family 

Carly, determined to get the win.  She ran a great race!

Jill giving it everything she's got--no one passes a Trojan at the finish line!

Taylor, giving it her all to finish strong!

Meg had a great race!  She thanks Hilary Swank for the inspiration this week :) 

All smiles after earning second place!

Karli and Hannah work together.  Karli kept her focus the whole race!

Get to that finish line!

Winning is always fun!

Way to go, Lilly!

Team!

Blue Springs Results and Grandview Information

Saturday was a great day!  Kudos to all who competed. The team was challenged to get the most out of themselves this week and be mentally tough throughout the race.  As a team, we were unwavering on a tough course!  While we still have work to do, this week was a breakthrough for many. Let's keep the momentum going this week!

Gutsy finishes were a team strength this week!

Grace F with a photo finish and a PR!

Lilly started strong and pushed herself the whole race

With smiles like that at the start, you know its going to be a good race

Karli: adding to the list of girls challenging themselves this week!

Grandview Invitational Information:
Location: Swope Park (near the Starlight Theatre)
1 pm--students excused from class, bus departs shortly after
3 pm--coaches meeting
4 pm--Junior Varsity race
5 pm--Varsity Race
6 pm--Awards

Meet Treats:  Natalie (and all the leftovers--we have quite the back stock!)
Pasta Party: Lilly ON TUESDAY