Bruins host 5,000 cross country meet
Posted Oct. 11, 2022
By Nardin Ishak
Staff Editor
A 5,000 meters cross country meet between David Douglas, Sam-Barlow, and Central Catholic was held at Barlow on Sept. 28.
The weather was cloudy with a slight breeze and temperature was around 68 degrees. The terrain was 900 meters of rubber track with gravel/concrete pathways, a rolling/grassy hillside, and some dirt paths in a small forested region.
Senior Charlie Nolan came in third place at 18:07. He started out at a smooth but punishing 5:50 mile pace and held his spot the whole time, making him the fastest Scots finisher of the day with a half-second personal record (PR) for his senior season 5k Debut. In the top 10 came in Amir Ahmed with a fishing time of 19:08. Ahmed had a strong start and a 6:10 mile pace that earned him a 7/17 finishing place, with a 20 second PR at his second race of the senior season. As for sophomore Jakob Scheetz, this was his first year running varsity. He had a 6:32 mile pace with a finishing time of 20:17, a 30 second PR. He settled right into the pace, and sprinted the last 100 meters for a finishing place of 11/17, following right behind Ahmed, just outside the top 10.
The JV boys boasted the largest personal records of the meet. This was first year cross country for senior Samuel Dowell who had a finishing place of 13/30. He went out at an easy pace and held a 7:45 mile pace. Dowell passed multiple runners on hills, and held off an oncoming opponent with a finishing kick and a PR of 2
minutes and 12 seconds. This was also freshman Justin Lino’s first year of cross country. He had a 2 minutes 33 second PR, the largest PR of the team this season. Lino kept a smooth even pace of 8:52 miles throughout the race, but had a finishing kick 200 meters from the finish line to hold off an oncoming opponent and finish at 28/30.
As for JV girls, there were three runners. Senior Finn Trout, first year cross country runner, had a smooth pace of 8:40 miles throughout the race despite rolling hills. They had a 1 second PR and finishing time of 29:18 for 23/34 place. Sophomore Cathleen Tran , also her first year as cross country runner, wasn't far behind in the 25/34 place. She had a comfortable starting pace and held a 8:58 mile pace with strategic bursts up the rolling hill for a strong finish at 27:50. Senior Rahmiah Wade, a second year cross country runner, had an even 9:27 mile pace throughout, with an impressive 300 meter dash to the finish line for 32/34 place. She had a 10 second season best PR and a finishing time of 29:18.
David Douglas didn't score as a team due to their current small size, compared to a full varsity team of at least five runners per race.
“I think it's because of the pandemic,” assistant coach Grant Collins said. “The kids are having a hard time going back into society.”
Track and field coach Isaac Frederick is another assistant cross country coach, as is Max Rotar, former DDHS cross country runner under coach Frederick.
“[We] encourage anyone of all levels to come try this thrilling, unique, memorable sport,” said Collins.
Students interested in joining need no prior fitness level, though it is recommended to train during the summer. There are also free track workouts for all students available starting this fall. Coach Frederick or the Athletics Office can be contacted for details. Students can sign up for next cross country season in the spring.