Hey there guys! Sorry for the lack of updates, but I just wanted to let everyone know about all the crazy stuff going on in Palatine the last couple weeks.
Two Saturdays ago we had the 81st Palatine Relays. This is a really exciting meet for us because it’s a home meet, there’s a lot of tradition involved with it, and it gets us psyched up and ready to go for the championship season. Every year we have a pasta dinner on Thursday night to get ready for the meet with the boys. There’s a celebrated Palatine alum runner who comes back and gives us a speech to inspire all of us. After loading our plates with pasta and desserts, Earl Sewell, a previous Palatine great, spoke to us. He reminded us of the power of positive thinking, and had us all recite “I am a champion”.
After getting pumped up by Earl, we were ready to go on Saturday. We knew that Barrington and few other schools would be tough competition, but we knew we were up for the challenge on our home turf. We started the day kicking with some nice performances in our froshsoph relays. Right before our DMR team had to go warm-up we got to see Cassidy McPherson place a solid 2nd in the open 800 meter run.
The warm-up was quite interesting because Liz Cox was wearing a hat that kept blowing off. She just wanted to wear the hat because the Barrington distance girls always wear hats to fend off the sun and she thinks it's cute. The hat fiasco kept a light mood for us nervous girls. It obviously worked because we took first place in the DMR with all of us running solid splits. Lorena Sarabia and Jessica Lincoln both ran outstanding legs to clinch the victory. Maybe Liz should always wear a hat.
Shortly after the DMR it was time for the meet intermission and the running of the alumni mile. Our coach Joe Parks had run under 4:30 in the mile for the past 20 years, and this was his only real chance to bust out a fast time this year, so he was a little nervous about keeping his streak. All us girls were on the track cheering him on, and he cruised in for the win at 4:22. We were very proud. My mom, my dad, and my brother also ran the alumni mile after working concessions all day. Seeing them run the mile together was not only inspiring, but exciting. It was nice to have the tables turned for a moment.
The rest of the day we had some nice performances. Sophomore Ashley Proksa stepped up big in the 200m to place 4th, Taylor Tenca placed 5th in the 400m, freshman Sabina Yosif took 2nd in the two mile and Liz Cox placed 1st in the mile. Our shot putters relay won 1st place lead by Megan O’Brien with some great throws. Our jumpers also did great being led by Meg Jump to place 1st in Triple Jump and 2nd in Long Jump.
We were feeling pretty good about everything before the meet was officially over, so a few of us girls took the speakers and were having a flash mob dance party in the stands. After the 4x4 the whole team gathered on the turf to rock out as we waited to collect our first place trophy. What a Saturday!
*I want to make a special shout out to Liz Cox for helping me write this blog and picking me up on my worst days.