in meets by coach mike on 01 Nov 2008
Wow, I would never dream of a 3rd place finish in this sectional. I watch the race unfold, and knew we had a chance to be one of the top five teams, but not 3rd! What a race by the top 5! Nix you were great from start to finish as were you Jones! Kubicki you ran a very good first half of the race and then held onto a good 5 spot for us. What can I say about peanut butter cups, Jacob Heser, what a race, what a finish! Thomas Goff, best race so far, right when we needed it! You guys pulled together right when we needed to pull together! How can you tell a Salem Wildcat runner? They are the ones that never quit and never give up. Pride, lots of pride! One more week! Challenge- best finish by boys or girls cross country team at state is 9th! Lets change that! Lets better that! One other thing, next time you’re in that hall way that has the SCHS Hall of Fame members, check out the banquets, because one day in the future, with a good race at state, your picture might just be on that wall! Thanks for taking me to Peoria one more time!
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I just want to say that you men made me very proud on Saturday. I don’t think that I’ve ever yelled that loud before. I wasn’t even running and I was nervous. I guess that’s because I knew that there was a good possibility that if everyone did his job, you all would be making another trip to Peoria. You guys have done something very special, and it probably hasn’t even sunk in yet. The last time the men’s XC team made it to state was ten years ago. You guys are an elite few in school history. Watching your race was nothing short of inspirational. You all knew what you had to do, and you toed the line with the big picture in mind, and got the job done. Cross country is such a unique sport in that a team must have at least five runners in order to be successful. In many other sports, one dominant athlete can carry a team. But in XC, each is pressured to succeed, and each one of you overcame that pressure in triumphant fashion. It is one thing to have ambition, but it is another thing to have the guts to pursue it. Ten years from now when you are looking back on this state race, will you be able to say that you held nothing back, that you did not take this opportunity for granted, that you did not waste the hours and hours of hard work and sweat that you have put in to get yourselves to this point? I hope that each one of you will be able to say that. This weekend, run without fear. Run with no regrets. Cross the finish line knowing that you gave every ounce of energy for the sake of your teammates. You have formed a special bond that can never be broken. You have made your school proud. You have made your town proud. And I am proud to say that I am a Wildcat. Good luck this weekend!!