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Post by dmickey on Aug 9, 2010 20:27:36 GMT -5
The only other one that comes to mind is the kid from Northern I know he won once, but can't remember if he defended his title. It is tough to remember because we always ran in the morning, and were gone in the afternoon. I started paying a little more attention when we went to our conference with cecil county.
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Post by Justin on Aug 9, 2010 20:33:59 GMT -5
That's right. I believe Ryan Bowser won 2 titles for Northern.
Yet another disadvantage of having small class run in the afternoon, everyone leaves.
Of all the local state champs I know Ryan the least, but I believe he is one of the least appreciated of us all. Partly due to the downturn of local competition during his time running. Without a rival it's tough to make an interesting story I guess.
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Post by gdbrown on Aug 10, 2010 9:14:37 GMT -5
Good answers, guys.
Name the six local girls who won a total of eight state XC titles in MD.
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Post by jarmstrong on Aug 10, 2010 10:11:27 GMT -5
Jen Patton, Chandra Merrill, Erin Davis (?), Lauryn McFawn, and of course, my personal favorite, Rachel Armstrong are all MD champs. I am not sure of Davis and I am one short. I think one of the Davis twins from Hampshire won a WV state meet.
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Post by Justin on Aug 10, 2010 10:24:19 GMT -5
Chanda Merrill didn't win I think, but Nory Sams and Michelle Barrett both did.
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Post by gdbrown on Aug 11, 2010 22:16:10 GMT -5
Female state XC champions: Michelle Barrett, Allegany ('91) Erin Davis, Allegany ('98) Nora Sams, Allegany ('99) Jennifer Patton, Westmar ('01) Rachel Armstrong, Beall ('02) Lauryn MacFawn, Allegany ('05, '06, '07) Gee, Coach Armstrong, why would Rachel be your "personal favorite"? A very good runner, and, if I recall, decided not to run her senior year - correct? Regarding Chanda Merrill: She was a very good high school runner who became a superb college runner while at FSU. In fact, I believe she placed third in the DIII National XC Meet. She is still running very well today. In fact, Chanda Merrill Veno, mother of three children, recently ran a 17:11 5k in Kentucky, at the age of 32. Here's a link to the story: www.state-journal.com/news/article/4865342
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Post by gdbrown on Aug 12, 2010 7:27:07 GMT -5
Name the first person from Allegany County to win a XC title. What was the year?
Also, while there have been many outstanding distance runners at the school this person attended, what record of his was finally broken during the first decade of the 21st Century? Who broke the record?
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Post by jarmstrong on Aug 12, 2010 19:30:03 GMT -5
Steve Kirk of Allegany was the first person from Allegany County to win a state meet. I think it was in the early 70's, so I'll guess 1973.
I can't answer the second part of the question. The only thing I can think of is the track record that Ian McFawn set in the state meet this spring. I would assume that his time was a school record. But since, Kirk didn't run metric distances back then I don't know if Ian broke a converted time.
And yes, Rachel, much to my chagrin, decided that trying to train for soccer and cross-country in the same season was too much. Soccer was her first love and she started running with the team to get in shape for the soccer season. Coach DeRosa would come down to the house 3-4 mornings a week before the school day started and he would train the girls who were playing soccer and running cross-country. I, personally, wanted her to continue with cross-country, but I wasn't the one doing the workouts before school and soccer practice after. But, it was fun while it lasted for me. As you know, the support that runners give one another plus the encouragement from opposing athletes and opposing coaches is unique in running. Plus, Rachel got to be coached by one of the true gentlemen in the coaching profession in Norm DeRosa. Barb and I truly appreciate all the time he put in with Rachel.
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Post by gdbrown on Aug 12, 2010 21:19:09 GMT -5
You're correct, Coach Armstrong - it was Steve Kirk.
I actually thought he won the state XC championship the same year Allegany won its first team championship, which was in 1970. (I believe our good friend Dan Whetzel was on the county's first state championship XC team in 1970.) However, Kirk won the individual title in 1969.
Kirk held the converted 3200 meter record (9:37) at Allegany for a long time - it was established in 1970. Mark Aamon, Brian Shrout and Justin Taylor all ran very close to the record time, but it wasn't broken until Jordan Davis broke it during his senior year at the state T&F Meet (9:34?). Ian MacFawn broke Jordan's record at the state meet this year with a second place time of 9:31.45.
I can't imagine training for two sports in one season like Rachel did during her championship year. High School soccer players who play full time or most of the time can run up to 3-5 miles per match...add to that morning runs 3-4 times per week...wow! - that's quite a major commitment. Thanks for sharing about Coach DeRosa's dedication, too. I concur with your statement, he is "one of the true gentlemen in the coaching profession."
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Post by tommy on Aug 13, 2010 6:36:04 GMT -5
Jordan ran 9:33 for 3200 and missed the 1A state record at the time by about 1 second. He said afterwards that he didn't know he was that close or he would have tried a little harder. Jordan also broke Steve Kirk's mile record in that same meet, though not on the same day, running 4:18 for the 1600. That is also the current 1A state record. Ian was off of that time by about a second, and I don't think it's unreasonable to assume we'll see him take a run at it this upcoming season.
Running cross and playing soccer at the same time is definately challenging, but it is much easier when you have two coaches willing to work with you on it, as I was lucky enough to have during my short dual career. I hate seeing good soccer players not able to run because the seasons are the same time, and conversely I hate seeing good soccer players quit to concentrate on running. I understand it when it happens, I just hate that two of my favorite sports conflict with each other so much.
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Post by ericjoe on Aug 23, 2010 16:04:25 GMT -5
I hate to admit I hadn't been following this thread the last couple weeks. Boy did I miss out on some good stuff. These stories are very inspiring to me. Thanks to everyone for sharing. A quick note about Mason Road. Our current group still runs out that way quite often. The miles are marked from the train station hydrant out to the dam. Just yesterday, the first half of our 20 miler was out to the 5 mile mark at Mason Rd and back to the station. Then we finished the remaining 10 on the canal.
On the subject of inspiring, I just finished reading "Once a Runner" for the first time ever. What an amazing book. Parker captured the essence of running and was able to put it to words. No easy task.
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