2007 CaliforniaState Finals

A wonderful finish to our season...our 93.31 team time at the California State Finals is the tenth fastest all time in the history of the meet ,dating back to 1987, and earned our girls a third place finish in Division 1 AND the entire state of California. Our effort earned the girls consideration...we were in the conversation...for an at-large (two teams, Saugus and Esperanza, received automatic berths, we were third) to the Nike High School National Championships of Cross Country in Portland next weekend; however, we were not selected, losing out(by a point system thatawards teams points for defeating teams during the season that qualified forNTN) to four teams from Alabama, New York(2), and New Hampshire. The girlswere extremely disappointed upon hearing the news; nevertheless, this doesnot detract from a memorable season, from Seaside to State Finals. I can not state enough positive comments about the girls decorum andpreparation the entire weekend in Fresno. Focused, settled, determined, thegirls "managed the moment" of competing in a State Final to the utmost, andthe proof is in the results. Sure, we would have loved to have defeatedEsperanza, we were only seventeen points away. The fact is, Esperanza ranwell, very well as a matter of fact, and my hat is off to them. We offer no excuses, never will, and to the girls credit, all were gracious to Esperanzaat the award's stand. All week Mama Clemons and myself were confident ourteam would run well, we did just that, and I could not be prouder as a headc oach than I am today. A huge thank you to the athletes who arrived in Fresno, ten or so, to cheeron our athletes. It was much appreciated by the athletes, believe me. The girls also appreciated the loud cheering section...parents, friends, andfans...at the award's ceremony, three teams are accorded the privilege ofclimbing the award's stand, and we were one of them. I also appreciate the numerous phone calls, emails, and correspondence to myself from parents ofvarsity or non-varsity athletes that have offered congratulatory comments onour accolades. Thank you!!! To the girls who traveled to Fresno: Kristin Arkin(12), Ximena Cruz(11),Lindsay Enright(11), Lori Hoffman(11), Rachel Moore(12), Hayley Niles(11),Sabrina Rathor(11), and Makenna Smith(10)...congratulations. The future isbright with five of our seven runners who ran Saturday returning, and a slewof enthusiastic and talented juniors, sophomores, and freshmen on thehorizon. I expect the competition for the seven varsity spots to be intensein the 2008 season, and the returners will be told on Monday that there are284 days until the Seaside Invitational on Friday, September 12, and their preparation begins immediately. To our two departing seniors and captainswho competed in Fresno, thank you. Kristin and Rachel's exemplary leadershipwas one of the reasons for our success this season, not to mention each oftheir respective running prowess. I will miss, appreciate, and never forgetthe 2007 Trabuco Hills Girls' Cross Country team. You have set the bar forfuture teams, no THHS Girls' Cross Country program did it better, and thankyou for the memory.

2007 CIF Finals

No one can say that a Trabuco Hills High School Girls' Cross Country teamhas not ever qualified for the California State Finals. This morning, wedid. Instead of ecstasy reigning supreme on the girls' faces, thecelebration was a tad subdued, to say the least. Our goal was to finishsecond, the standard in C.I.F. for recognition on the award's stand, and aC.I.F. Runner-up patch; however, we finished third, behind Saugus(the bestteam in the nation in my opinion) and Esperanza, who ran a wonderful race.Am I disappointed??? Not in the least...This morning, we were the third bestgirls' cross country team in all of C.I.F., not just Division 1, and thegirls ran and performed their hearts out in a presssure-packed setting. AmI, Coach Mama Clemons, or the girls satisfied with our race??? No, we arenot, because although we ran well collectively, we believe that we did notrun our best race. Kudos to all seven: Kristin Arkin(18.06), XimenaCruz(18.30), Lindsay Enright(20.38), Lori Hoffman(18.39-PR), HayleyNiles(18.55-PR), Sabrina Rathor(18.16-PR), and Makenna Smith(18.50). Yourepresented our program with class, you fought the good fight, and nowonward to Fresno...departing Friday morning around 8:00A.M. Thank you to the thirty-five or so girls who traveled on the 5:10A.M. bus,painted their faces, cheered and ran their lungs out, and were a hugeassistance to our efforts. Parents, thank you for taking the time to driveyour daughters to THHS and supporting our cause. I was proud of our crosscountry program this morning. I have witnessed an evolution over the lastfour years in this sport that has been a joy to witness...and I look forwardto the future of the program. Keep encouraging your daughters, insist thatshe never misses practice, and remember..."Anything worth doing, is worthdoing well...," and this morning, we did it well...Thank you...

2007 CIF prelims.

What a difference a year makes. Last season at C.I.F. Preliminaries, we rana team time of 97.03, including: Sabrina Rathor(18.57), WhitneyWiles(19.18), Carissa Brown(19.19), Kristin Arkin(19.44), LoriHoffman(19.45), Michelle Wicker(20.22), and Lindsay Enright(21.33). OnSaturday, we ran 92.25, including: Kristin Arkin(18.03), MakennaSmith(18.19), Sabrina Rathor(18.28), Ximena Cruz(18.30), WhitneyWiles(19.05), Hayley Niles(19.12), and Kristyn Summers(19.30). The girlsearned the second fastest team time in all of C.I.F. by a consistent day today work ethic the last twelve months, and an overall dedication to thesport of cross country. As I have stated numerous times in the past twelve months, C.I.F Finals isnot good enough anymore. Our performance at last year's finals wascollectively the worst performance by any team in the four years I have beencoaching the girls, and everything we have done as a coaching staff and teamhas been dedicated to that day. Coaches are driven by their failures, andCoach Mama Clemons and myself are no different. Our training was enhanced,every nuance of the program was evaluated and adjusted, and the girls haveresponded. Our goal of achieving the State Finals has been heightened tobeing one of the two teams on the podium for team awards, and I believe wehave the capability of being the C.I.F. runner-up, behind whom I believe isthe best team in the country, Saugus High School. Our competition will befierce...Dana Hills, Redlands, Fountain Valley, and Eperanza High Schoolsare all capable of beating us, as we are of them. When you are the OrangeCounty champion, ranked #2 in C.I.F. Division 1, and sixth(we've defeatedtwo of the teams ranked ahead of us) in the state of California, people aregunning for you...; however, the girls have proven to be resilient, and Ibelieve this Saturday will be no different, no matter the result.

A big thank to to the thirty girls who traveled with the team to cheer onnot only the girls, but the boys as well. A special thank you to juniorsRebecca Murillo and Hannah Giclas who coordinated the cheer efforts...makingsigns, paint on faces, etc. Kudos to Coach Liam Clemons...his boys' varsityteam ran their strongest performance of the season and finished with thesecond fastest team time in all of C.I.F. Preliminaries, and also have highaspirations this Saturday. Good luck to them. To say I am proud of ourgirls' accomplishments this past season would be an understement...from Seaside to C.I.F. Preliminaries, it has been quite a ride, full of numeroushighs. However, the memory of last year's C.I.F. Finals, the bitterdisappointment(as well as mine) on the girls' faces, is still a vividmemory. We will prepare this week, as we have the past twelve months, tosoothe that memory. We look forward to the competition, wish us well, andthank you for your support.

GO BLUE!!!

We Will Not Wilt In Walnut...

Sea View League championships

A big congratulations to all three levels: varsity, junior varsity, andfrosh-soph, for their respective back to back Sea View League championships.Our varsity is currently the #1 ranked team in Orange County, #2 in C.I.F.Division 1, and #5 in the state of California. Our goal is to place secondat C.I.F., and become the first team in THHS history to qualify for theState Girls' Cross Country Finals, held over Thanksgiving weekend in Clovis.Congratulations to the following girls who were top seven for grade level atleague finals: freshmen-Danielle Brabender...sophomore-Makenna Smith,Kristyn Summers...junior-Sabrina Rathor(#1), Ximena Cruz, Lindsay Enright,Lori Hoffman...and senior-Kristin Arkin, Whitney Wiles, Rachel Moore, andMeredith Suman. Remember, all girls are to dress out for the next two weeks during ourrecovery time and will average one mile per day(release time is 3:00) untilNovember 16...On November 19, we will begin pre-season track and fieldtraining and release time will be around 3:45 until further notice. This isa year-round program, and as such, training never stops. Thank you for your support, good luck to varsity at C.I.F., and GO BLUE!!!