Milesplit Cross Country Journals
Kylee Kieser returns this season as a top distance runner in Arizona. Kylee has already had a great start to the 2010 Cross Country Season placing 2nd at the Sole Sport Invitational and winning the Padre Invite. Keep checking back as Kylee shares her final prep cross country season.
Kylee Kieser
(Sr., Marcos de Niza, AZ)
Journal Entry #4 (November 30, 2010)
Hi Readers!
I'm back with another race recap! A few weeks ago we had our state meet I’m sure everyone knows already that it's only the biggest meet of the year. Well, my team and I went in with pride and confidence knowing that we might be able to be state champions for division 2, unfortunately that didn’t happen and we ended as runner ups behind great Nogales team. But that is still fantastic, if you think about it, only 2 teams leave with a trophy so I’m very proud of my teammates and their outstanding dedication that they gave that day. Now there’s a little story I want to tell and its about my state adventure!
On the morning of November 6th 2010 I woke up got dressed ate some breakfast and then met my team and coaches at the school. We then proceeded onto a white mini bus and headed for state! When we got their we set our things down and went to go watch the race that was going. We got to see Billy Orman running his amazing race! Congrats Billy on your new state record. After getting back to the tent we wrote our bible verses on our arms, a new team ritual that we started this year. We then started out on our warm up drills and rolls. Before I new it they were calling us to the line. The gun went off and then it went again meaning someone had fallen and we had to restart the race.
Take 2 of the race went good, I was in the lead pack (pictured left) with Konnie Zuniga, Zahira Jimenez, Kerri Lenihan and a few others, all right there with each other. We crossed the mile mark at 6 minutes, I was feeling good and everything was right where it needed to be. I was feeling strong and focused as we hit the grass with all the yelling and crazy fans! I then thought about the plan my coach and I had. The plan was to leave at the dip! I hit that corner of the downhill and drove up the hill, once I hit the flat top I took off into another gear. I never really new who was behind me or how far but I knew no matter what I had to keep going. My assistant coach Mae was at the two mile awaiting my arrival! It was there I learned that I had a 60 meter lead on Zuniga. I then found myself about to finish, I once again kicked it into another gear and finished strong for the drive home. When I finished I was so happy, at that moment I realized that I had just won my first cross country state title, actually my fist state title period. I was ecstatic!
(Photo right: Kylee Kieser about to cross the finish line at the Nike Southwest Regionals).
Two weeks after state I ran NXN, for those of you who don’t know, that’s Nike Cross Regionals. The previous years it has been at Kiwanis park in Tempe, but this year it was at Toka Sticks Golf course…….. yes the same place as our Dessert Twilight! The race for me wasn’t one of my best but it was good. I pr’d from last years Nike race and also from Twilight a few months ago, so that was good. I ended up in 28th place. Unlike twilight, Nike had a massive amount of mud holes so we got to run through all kinds of mud. It was fun. I was happy with my finish once I found out my time! I just decided…….oh well, Nike nationals wasn’t meant for me so now its time to focus on Footlocker Regionals. This weekend, Decemeber 4th, I’m going to be running in Walnut California, for the all important Footlocker West Regionals, maybe you’ll see me at Footlocker Nationals the next weekend, if not I had a great season and I know I ended my season with a bang! And a state title.
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and all is well. Thanks for reading all about my senior year of cross country! Margot you are the best and thanks for everything. The Morlikowskis make my life so much better everyday! Thanks girls.
~ KK ~