Hornets At Half Strength For UNT Meet

DENTON – One would think that, with two weeks between meets, the Greenhill cross country team would be at full force for the September 19^th U.N.T. Northwest High School Invitational. The flu and other germs had other plans for the Hornets and in the past ten days, one runner after another has succumbed to unfortunate illness. As a result, the Hornets were down in both numbers on the starting line and in overall performances in some races.

Chelsey Sveinsson started things off for the Hornets with a dominating win in the elite varsity girls race. With even paced splits of 5:31 and 5:31 for her miles, Chelsey crossed the line comfortably in 11:02, some forty seconds over her nearest competitor. While her race was convincing, what Chelsey did after the race, showed her character. Only moments after finishing, Chelsey stood alongside the finish chute and high fived each girl in her race once they finished. Rather than gulp down some Gatorade or head back to the tent, Chelsey stood there for minutes cheering on her competitors in the ultimate sign of good sportsmanship.

The next race on the U.N.T. Golf Course included six Greenhill boys in the elite varsity race. Co-captains Alan Sostek and Eriq Robinson ran together most of the race before Alan pulled away to finish in 17:54, followed by Eriq in 17:59. Behind them, a healthier Brian Mickey and newcomers Ivan Kumamoto and Borren Moe rounded out the team’s scoring, with David Herman finishing as the team’s sixth man. All of their finishing times were solid on what proved to be a true cross country course with rolling hills, twisting turns, and a fast third mile. Ivan’s time of 20:00 is notable since he was one of two Hornets to record a “personal record.”

Co-captain Katherine Marmion ran an impressive time to lead the varsity girls in their two mile race. Despite some illness this week, Katherine’s finishing time of 14:38 was actually an improvement from her time on a much flatter and simpler Marcus I course two weeks prior. Noelle Smith, Blythe Baresh, Peyton Lambert, and Lauren Bennett (still not 100% healthy) were the team’s scorers, although the meet managers somehow did not count the Hornets as a complete team. The girls are eagerly looking forward to having more of their teammates back with them as they try to get back into a steady training routine which will lead to improved racing.

The team’s last race of the day gave four freshmen an opportunity to test their conditioning. Ryan Duffy, still recovering from the flu, ran the varsity race to pace his teammates. Ryan squeezed under the 20 minute mark with his 19:55 time and was followed by Tony Householder, Thomas Decker (who set a new p.r.!), and Brennan Baker. On any other day the Hornets would have had ten others runners in the race.

The Hornets have their work cut out for them and still some unanswered questions as October nears. They will have two solid weeks of training to regroup before heading across the Red River to the O.S.U. Cowboy Jamboree meet on October 3.