The date that high schools across the state of Kentucky compete in their district's regionals. You see, winning or placing high at your district's regionals earns your team a ticket to the high school state cross country meet. So, all season long, that date has been looming over our runners like a carrot dangling over a rabbit. Every mile repeat. Every tempo run. Every work out. All the striving ultimately had one goal--regionals.
This year was a special year for our runners in McCracken County, for it was the last year that Heath would ever compete as Heath high school in the 1A division and it was the last year that Lone Oak would compete as Lone Oak in the 2A division. Next year Heath, Lone Oak and Reidland high schools will be consolidated into a new school called McCracken County High School and they will move into the largest cross country division--3A.
To help with a smooth consolidation, the school administration decided at the beginning of cross country season to go ahead and combine the Heath and Lone Oak cross country teams for their practices. Thus, Lone Oak and Heath have been practicing together all season long under a single coach for the girls and a single coach for the boys, yet competing separately at the meets.
It has been something special to witness...the comraderie that has developed throughout the season between these two rival schools. Across the miles and miles of running, walls have crumbled down, friendships forming in its place.
We have witnessed Black and Gold and Purple praying together before the meets.
We have witnessed Black and Gold and Purple cheering one another on.
We have witnessed a coming together based on love, respect, downright goofiness and fun. All of the best ingredients to forge a team.
Eric and I have had the honor of being the cross country FCA huddle leaders. Basically, what this means is one day a week we gather the team together at the end of practice and lead a Bible devotional and prayer time. Spending this time with them each week has been priceless. Being able to pray for these kids throughout the week has been a privilege that has allowed us to get to know them on a deeper level.
This past week our FCA devotional was focused on 'laying it all out/giving it all for the team.' We discussed that if there was ever a time to be there for the team, it was this Saturday at regionals. We watched a small clip of a video showing a girl giving her all at their team's state championship, allowing her team to win the state title. We discussed how Jesus had laid it all out for His team (us), sacrificing His very life for each of us so we could have life. We talked about how, indeed, the race was a big deal on Saturday...maybe the biggest race they had ever run yet. However, even bigger is our life--the race we are running with our life. In life, there is a definite start line and a definite finish line. Over the course of your race, you have a choice to make...you can choose to run on Jesus' team...or you can choose to not. We ended our time together with the question: When you cross the finish line in life, whose team are you going to be on?
Friday night we hosted all of the Lone Oak and Heath girls for a lasagna dinner at our house while another family hosted all of the boys at their house. We loved having these girls at our house with all of our heart. Such a sweet, sweet group they are!
After dinner, Coach Sturm, the girl's coach, gave the team a little pep talk. He started off having them watch a video (a longer version of the clip we had watched at FCA):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrTtDxd-4iY
He talked about the courageous finish this young lady had. She had finished for the team and if there was ever a time to finish for the team, it was tomorrow. He talked about the fact that this was the first time in history that Heath had ever had a girl's team in the running to make it to state (the team was ranked third and the top three finishers at regionals go). He talked about the fact that the Lone Oak girls could win their regionals if they put their mind to it. He also talked about the fact that this was the last year Heath would have a team. This was the last year that Lone Oak would have a team. Across town, Coach Durfee was giving a similar pep talk to the boys. The Heath boys were ranked number one for their region--but then Josh (their second runner) had gotten hurt. Whether or not they could win the regional was more of a question mark then it had been a few weeks ago. They were going to have go all out tomorrow. Every single runner was going to have to bring their A game. Runner #5 was going to be of utmost importance.
The Friday night dinner was a coming together of Heath and Lone Oak--then a parting of ways. Because Heath is a 1A school and Lone Oak is a 2A school, they were in different regionals. Heath would be traveling to Fulton County. Lone Oak would be traveling to Logan County. Everyone wished the other luck and promised to be texting as soon as the races were over to let the others know how they did. Since Sophie and Joshua go to Heath, we were going to the Heath regionals...but we would anxiously be anticipating the news from our Lone Oakers. Everyone felt that way that day. Our hearts were divided across the state, because our team was divided across the state.
Saturday morning came. It was much warmer than anyone anticipated--a little warm by XC standards.
The girl's race was first. The team warmed up...
Mamas took pictures of their sweet girls...
Daddys gave last minute encouragement and support...
Parents stood around making small talk, trying to not be nervous...
Coach Durfee rallied the troops before heading to the front line... 
The start...
Runners after the first loop. The lead pack emerged with many tailing right behind them...
After the second loop...starting to see the pain on the faces... Sophie was in a strong third...
This runner--Caitlin--was nursing an ankle injury and actually rolled it during the race. Had she dropped out, our team's chances of going to state would have vanished out of sight. Gotta love her determination! I believe visions of the video we watched the night before kept her going when she wanted to quit.
Laying it all out for the team...
Go Jessie Go!
Go Jenna and Allie!
You can do it Mason!
Every single girl finished strong and gave it their all. Everyone of them--they pushed it for the team. Sophie led the team with a strong third place finish, followed by 15th, 22nd, 25th, 26th and 30th. Four out of our six girls ran a personal best. Their effort was not in vain. Finishing third in the region, they were going to state! A first in Heath history!
A text confirmed that our Lone Oak girls had won the 2A title, finishing 2nd, 4th, 9th, 10th and 15th! The Fulton County cell tower was getting hammered with teammates texting teammate across the state!
Woo Hoo! It was just too much--Black & Gold and Purple all going to state together! Let's get some air on that one!
We celebrated unofficially and then...gained some composure and turned around, ready to bite our nails for a second time today. Cause now it was time for these young men to show us what they were made of. I heard someone in the crowd say that it was going to come down to the fourth and fifth runners on the team. Indeed it was.
Let the battle begin!
Coming around the first loop, Zach clearly took the lead, with many black jerseys fighting for position in the background.
Here they emerged from the second loop. Zach had a sizable lead...and these guys were hanging in the front of the pack. Look at all that black! Heath mama and daddys all over the course were getting hopeful...
We screamed like Heathens until we were hoarse when our number five runner came into the finish, clinching the Regional title!
Placing 1st, 6th, 7th, 8th, 12th, 17th and 27th...they didn't just win, they swept it!
A Regional title--the first in Heath history!
I couldn't help believing that the wearing of this had had something to do with the strength we had witnessed out on the course.
All smiles abounded at the award ceremony from boy and girl alike:
Smiles in Fulton County...
Smiles in Logan County...
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The coach leading the team in a time of thanksgiving...
Accomplishing many historical firsts in a year that would be the last...a special moment indeed.
And now it's off to state we go!
Thank you for all help this season with FCA and everything! We really appreciate it. Your blog was very good and my family and I enjoyed reading it together. I love all the pictures on your blog. Again, thank you, and I look forward to this weekend!
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