Original Sonnet: "Cross Country" by Katie Rippon
The school bus leaves the campus right on time
to travel to a scenic place. The bus
some students board; up dirty steps they climb.
In God alone this young sports team does trust.
The team has nineteen students; I am one.
Arriving at the destination, we
unload, hang out, warm up, and then we run:
the whistle blows; the gun is shot; we're free.
I go out hard, then settle in. My heart
beats fast, but I press on. I'm feeling strong.
I finish well; contributing my part.
We runners race, enduring distance long.
I love cross country for the atmosphere:
encouragement and joy from teammates dear.
[This is an original sonnet written by Katie Rippon ('20) for an 11th grade British Literature assignment at Tall Oaks.]
Friday, December 21, 2018
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
2018 Final Notes and End-of-Season Reflections
This past Saturday marked the official end of the 2018 season with a party at the Hollisters' home. There was lots of delicious food to be eaten, including everything from ribs and salad to s'mores for dessert. Coach Shirley presented the runners with pins and handed out awards, and once again recognized every senior and their contributions to the team throughout the course of their cross-country careers.
The Top Male Runner and Top Female Runner Awards went to Joshua Deitrich ('19) and Hannah Ye ('21). Josh finished first on the team in every race this season except one. These awards were based on the points awarded after each race, and also on the consistency of these runners to finish top on the team. Andrew Tanyous ('22) and Abi Phillips ('21) received the Most Improved Runner Awards and were recognized for their outstanding progress this season. The Coaches' Awards went to Faith Hollister ('22) and Captain Micah Pope ('19) for their significant contributions to the team, either in scoring or in leadership.
As Coach said, while our team did not necessarily meet our goals for the season, we faced a lot of injury and adversity. We worked through it and rested when necessary, and most of us were able to finish out the season strong. We will be sad to see our five amazing seniors go, but we are looking forward to getting some new runners coming up from the middle school team.
Personally, I've enjoyed seeing our team grow stronger this season. I couldn't run most of the season, but I learned a lot just by being out there with the team every day. I am so grateful to the coaches and the team for constant encouragement from the first day of practice when I showed up in a boot to the final race where I was happy to be able to finish. I used to run with the intention of always improving, and I had the feeling of failure whenever a race did not go as expected. I used to get so nervous before every race; always dwelling on the 'what-ifs.' Being forced to take a break from running helped me see it differently. I've realized just how blessed I am to even have the ability and the opportunity to run. I've learned that cross country isn't just about running, but about encouraging your teammates, being there for them when they're struggling, and praying for them. Running has shaped me in ways I never imagined it would.
I guess that's a wrap! Thank you to all the parents, for cheering for and supporting each and every one of us runners; to Coach Paul Shirley and Coach Megan Gerhart, for preparing us, motivating us, listening to us, and pushing us to always do our best to the honor and glory of God; and to all my wonderful teammates, for your constant encouragement and all your contributions to the team's character and positive attitude in the face of adversity. I am sad to see our seniors go, but I am looking forward to coming back and running next year. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for Red Lion Cross Country!
Katie
"Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations."
-- Psalm 100 (ESV)
The Top Male Runner and Top Female Runner Awards went to Joshua Deitrich ('19) and Hannah Ye ('21). Josh finished first on the team in every race this season except one. These awards were based on the points awarded after each race, and also on the consistency of these runners to finish top on the team. Andrew Tanyous ('22) and Abi Phillips ('21) received the Most Improved Runner Awards and were recognized for their outstanding progress this season. The Coaches' Awards went to Faith Hollister ('22) and Captain Micah Pope ('19) for their significant contributions to the team, either in scoring or in leadership.
As Coach said, while our team did not necessarily meet our goals for the season, we faced a lot of injury and adversity. We worked through it and rested when necessary, and most of us were able to finish out the season strong. We will be sad to see our five amazing seniors go, but we are looking forward to getting some new runners coming up from the middle school team.
Personally, I've enjoyed seeing our team grow stronger this season. I couldn't run most of the season, but I learned a lot just by being out there with the team every day. I am so grateful to the coaches and the team for constant encouragement from the first day of practice when I showed up in a boot to the final race where I was happy to be able to finish. I used to run with the intention of always improving, and I had the feeling of failure whenever a race did not go as expected. I used to get so nervous before every race; always dwelling on the 'what-ifs.' Being forced to take a break from running helped me see it differently. I've realized just how blessed I am to even have the ability and the opportunity to run. I've learned that cross country isn't just about running, but about encouraging your teammates, being there for them when they're struggling, and praying for them. Running has shaped me in ways I never imagined it would.
I guess that's a wrap! Thank you to all the parents, for cheering for and supporting each and every one of us runners; to Coach Paul Shirley and Coach Megan Gerhart, for preparing us, motivating us, listening to us, and pushing us to always do our best to the honor and glory of God; and to all my wonderful teammates, for your constant encouragement and all your contributions to the team's character and positive attitude in the face of adversity. I am sad to see our seniors go, but I am looking forward to coming back and running next year. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for Red Lion Cross Country!
Katie
"Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations."
-- Psalm 100 (ESV)
Monday, November 19, 2018
2018 Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA) Championships
This past Saturday, November 10th, was the DIAA Championships, our final race of the season. The race was held at Brandywine Creek State Park. Despite the cold temperatures, winds above 20 miles per hour, and a muddy course, our runners did their best and finished out the season well. Red Lion competed in two races this meet: the Division II Varsity Girls' race and the Division II Varsity Boys' race.
The Varsity Girls' race was first, starting at 1:00 p.m. Faith Hollister ('22) finished the race in 54th place overall, running 24:23. Hannah Ye ('21) finished just over a minute behind in 73rd place. Captain Katelyn Walker ('19) ran a time of 26:27, placing her in 91st, and Fiona Fawcett ('22) followed five places behind her in 26:33. Katie Rippon ('20) finished in 127th place overall in 28:59. Abi Phillips ('21) started the race but fell in the first mile and was unable to finish, and Cathy Nicholson ('21) was unable to compete due to a stress fracture. Full race results can be seen here. The girls team placed 15th overall.
The Varsity Boys' race went off at 3:00 p.m. Joshua Deitrich ('19) finished in 75th place overall with a time of 20:38. Dennis Nicholson ('19) ran the race in just under 22 minutes and in 107th place. Spencer Armstrong ('19) finished in 127th place with a time of 22:58. Marc Sherman ('20), Captain Micah Pope ('19), Ryan Cooper ('21), and Richard Turley ('22) followed behind in 136th, 147th, 160th, and 163rd places respectively. Full race results can be found here. The boys finished in 20th place overall.
The Varsity Girls' race was first, starting at 1:00 p.m. Faith Hollister ('22) finished the race in 54th place overall, running 24:23. Hannah Ye ('21) finished just over a minute behind in 73rd place. Captain Katelyn Walker ('19) ran a time of 26:27, placing her in 91st, and Fiona Fawcett ('22) followed five places behind her in 26:33. Katie Rippon ('20) finished in 127th place overall in 28:59. Abi Phillips ('21) started the race but fell in the first mile and was unable to finish, and Cathy Nicholson ('21) was unable to compete due to a stress fracture. Full race results can be seen here. The girls team placed 15th overall.
The Varsity Boys' race went off at 3:00 p.m. Joshua Deitrich ('19) finished in 75th place overall with a time of 20:38. Dennis Nicholson ('19) ran the race in just under 22 minutes and in 107th place. Spencer Armstrong ('19) finished in 127th place with a time of 22:58. Marc Sherman ('20), Captain Micah Pope ('19), Ryan Cooper ('21), and Richard Turley ('22) followed behind in 136th, 147th, 160th, and 163rd places respectively. Full race results can be found here. The boys finished in 20th place overall.
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| Three of the four senior boys before the start of the race (Photo: Mr. Bryan Deitrich) |
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| The team meeting after the race (Photo: Mr. Bryan Deitrich) |
For the last race of the season, we gave it all we had. We worked hard through injury and adversity and did our best. While we were not as fast as we wanted to be and did not end up where we though we would in the final meet, we finished out the season strong.
Friday, November 16, 2018
2018 New Castle County Championships
Saturday, November 3rd was the New Castle Country Championships. The races were held at the Winterthur Estate. We ran our best despite the challenge of a hilly, two-lap course. The windy weather may have presented even more of a difficulty, but it also made for some cooler temperatures. In this race, the top six boys and girls ran in their respective varsity races, and we entered four boys in the JV boys' race.
The JV boys' race was the first race we in which Red Lion competed. Ryan Cooper ('21) finished in 22:00 and 153rd place overall. This time was only two seconds slower than Cooper's all-time personal best. Richard Turley ('22) finished in 250th place overall with a time of 24:00, and Adam Rao ('20) finished in 24:31 and came in 262nd place. John Cusatis ('22) finished in 28:42, putting him in 336th place. Full results can be found here. Unfortunately, the JV boys' race results are not accurate according to our runners and Coach Shirley, so the actual times and places of our runners may have been different than those that were recorded and published online.
The varsity girls' race was the next. Faith Hollister ('22) finished in 23:15 and 73rd place overall. Hannah Ye ('21) followed in 24:21 and 98th place. Abi Phillips ('21) finished in 25:30 and 120th place overall, and Captain Katelyn Walker ('19) followed six places behind her in 25:44. Fiona Fawcett ('22) ran 26:41 and placed 148th, and Katie Rippon followed in 154th place. Full results can be found here. Red Lion finished in 20th place overall.
The varsity boys' race was the last of the meet. Joshua Deitrich ('19) finished 56th overall, running 18:42. Dennis Nicholson ('19) finished in 20:34 and 131st place. Andrew Tanyous ('22) finished in 157th place, and Marc Sherman ('20) followed ten places behind him. Michael Gasorek ('22) and Captain Micah Pope ('19) finished the race in 178th and 193rd places, respectively. Full race results can be found here. The Red Lion boys' team finished in 24th place overall.
This was a challenging race, but many of our runners posted solid times. After the race, we stopped at Coach Boyd's house for tacos and pie. Before the race, Coach Shirley told the team to "run for the tacos," which is exactly what we did. I have enjoyed seeing the strong relationships our team has formed this season, and many of us agreed that celebrating the second to last race of the season with tacos made the race worth it.
The JV boys' race was the first race we in which Red Lion competed. Ryan Cooper ('21) finished in 22:00 and 153rd place overall. This time was only two seconds slower than Cooper's all-time personal best. Richard Turley ('22) finished in 250th place overall with a time of 24:00, and Adam Rao ('20) finished in 24:31 and came in 262nd place. John Cusatis ('22) finished in 28:42, putting him in 336th place. Full results can be found here. Unfortunately, the JV boys' race results are not accurate according to our runners and Coach Shirley, so the actual times and places of our runners may have been different than those that were recorded and published online.
The varsity girls' race was the next. Faith Hollister ('22) finished in 23:15 and 73rd place overall. Hannah Ye ('21) followed in 24:21 and 98th place. Abi Phillips ('21) finished in 25:30 and 120th place overall, and Captain Katelyn Walker ('19) followed six places behind her in 25:44. Fiona Fawcett ('22) ran 26:41 and placed 148th, and Katie Rippon followed in 154th place. Full results can be found here. Red Lion finished in 20th place overall.
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| The start of the varsity girls' race. (Photo: Mr. Bryan Deitrich) |
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| Joshua Deitrich ('19) finished the race in a time of 18:42. (Photo: Mr. Bryan Deitrich) |
Saturday, October 27, 2018
2018 Diamond State Athletic Conference Championships
October 25 marked the first of three championship races this season, the Diamond State Athletic Conference (DSAC) Championship. Red Lion hosted the meet on our home course at Lums Pond State Park. The cool, sunny weather made for wonderful racing conditions. There were four separate races: varsity girls, varsity boys, junior varsity girls, and junior varsity boys. Red Lion participated in the two varsity races.
The varsity boys' race was first, going off at 3:30 p.m. Andrew Avila, of the Charter School of Wilmington, won the race in 16:40. Spencer Armstrong ('19) came in first for Red Lion, running 20:21 and placing 45th overall. Despite being tripped early on in the race, Joshua Deitrich ('19) finished just one second behind him. Dennis Nicholson ('19) finished in 20:50, and in 53rd place overall. Andrew Tanyous ('22) and Marc Sherman ('20) ran times of 21:21 and 21:30, respectively. Michael Gasorek ('22), Captain Micah Pope ('19), Richard Turley ('22), Ryan Cooper ('21), and Seyram Gafrey ('21) followed, rounding out the ten Red Lion boys. Full race results can be found here.
The varsity girls' race started twenty-five minutes after the boys' race. The race was won by Newark Charter's Madi McWatters, who finished in 19:49. Red Lion's Hannah Ye ('21) finished in 26th place overall with a time of 22:53. She was followed by Faith Hollister ('22), who finished in 23:10 and placed 31st overall. Captain Katelyn Walker ('19) finished in 24:41, placing 44th overall, and Abi Phillips ('21) finished just fourteen seconds behind her in 46th place. Fiona Fawcett ('22) finished in 52nd place with a time of 25:45 in her first race back from a few weeks off due to a hip injury, and Katie Rippon ('20) finished in 63rd place overall, running 28:19. Full race results can be found here.
I can't believe we are so close to the end of the season. Our runners did their best today, even though we faced some tough competition. We have two more races left, which are the New Castle County Championship and the DIAA State Championship. We are starting to taper our workouts as we anticipate our final races, but we are also still putting our work in at practice. I have been very happy to see the improvements we've made as a team this season, and I hope that we stay strong and persevere through the end.
The varsity boys' race was first, going off at 3:30 p.m. Andrew Avila, of the Charter School of Wilmington, won the race in 16:40. Spencer Armstrong ('19) came in first for Red Lion, running 20:21 and placing 45th overall. Despite being tripped early on in the race, Joshua Deitrich ('19) finished just one second behind him. Dennis Nicholson ('19) finished in 20:50, and in 53rd place overall. Andrew Tanyous ('22) and Marc Sherman ('20) ran times of 21:21 and 21:30, respectively. Michael Gasorek ('22), Captain Micah Pope ('19), Richard Turley ('22), Ryan Cooper ('21), and Seyram Gafrey ('21) followed, rounding out the ten Red Lion boys. Full race results can be found here.
The varsity girls' race started twenty-five minutes after the boys' race. The race was won by Newark Charter's Madi McWatters, who finished in 19:49. Red Lion's Hannah Ye ('21) finished in 26th place overall with a time of 22:53. She was followed by Faith Hollister ('22), who finished in 23:10 and placed 31st overall. Captain Katelyn Walker ('19) finished in 24:41, placing 44th overall, and Abi Phillips ('21) finished just fourteen seconds behind her in 46th place. Fiona Fawcett ('22) finished in 52nd place with a time of 25:45 in her first race back from a few weeks off due to a hip injury, and Katie Rippon ('20) finished in 63rd place overall, running 28:19. Full race results can be found here.
I can't believe we are so close to the end of the season. Our runners did their best today, even though we faced some tough competition. We have two more races left, which are the New Castle County Championship and the DIAA State Championship. We are starting to taper our workouts as we anticipate our final races, but we are also still putting our work in at practice. I have been very happy to see the improvements we've made as a team this season, and I hope that we stay strong and persevere through the end.
Thursday, October 25, 2018
RLCA vs. Wilmington Christian School vs. First State Military Academy and Senior Night
This past Tuesday, October 16th, we hosted a tri-meet against Wilmington Christian School and First State Military Academy at Lums Pond. Cooler temperatures (and the fact that the course was only slightly muddy) made for excellent racing conditions.
For the Red Lion boys, Joshua Deitrich ('19) finished in 18:26, putting him in second place overall. Spencer Armstrong ('19) and Dennis Nicholson ('19) ran times of 21:24 and 21:25, respectively, to finish in eighth and ninth places overall. Michael Gasorek ('22), Andrew Tanyous ('22), Marc Sherman ('20), and Ryan Cooper ('21) rounded out Red Lion's top seven boys. Richard Turley ('22), Captain Micah Pope ('19), and Adam Rao ('20) all had strong performances, and Seyram Gaffrey ('21) ran a new personal best of 34:42.
Full results for the boys' race can be found here.
The girls' race was won by Hannah Ye ('21), who finished in 22:59. Faith Hollister ('22) placed second overall, running 23:33, and Captain Katelyn Walker ('19) finished fourth overall and third for Red Lion with a time of 24:54. Abi Phillips ('21) followed two places behind her in 25:58. Katie Rippon ('20) finished in 29:50, scoring as the fifth Red Lion girl. Fiona Fawcett ('22) and Cathy Nicholson ('21) were not able to run due to injury. Red Lion won the girls' race because they were the only complete team, with five girls running in this race. Full results can be found here.
As this was our last home meet of the season, we also recognized our seniors both on the line and in a team meeting following the race. Joshua Deitrich, Spencer Armstrong, Dennis Nicholson, Boys' Captain Micah Pope, and Girls' Captain Katelyn Walker were recognized for their contributions to the team through the years they have run with us. (I will add photos of the seniors as soon as I can.)
We are quickly approaching the end of the season. We only have a few more "hard workouts" and then we will begin to taper our training in preparation for the final races. Our next meet will be the Diamond State Athletic Conference Championship on October 25, which we will be hosting at Lums Pond. We are looking forward to the competition we will have there. Until then, we will continue working hard at practice in preparation for our final meets.
Full results for the boys' race can be found here.
The girls' race was won by Hannah Ye ('21), who finished in 22:59. Faith Hollister ('22) placed second overall, running 23:33, and Captain Katelyn Walker ('19) finished fourth overall and third for Red Lion with a time of 24:54. Abi Phillips ('21) followed two places behind her in 25:58. Katie Rippon ('20) finished in 29:50, scoring as the fifth Red Lion girl. Fiona Fawcett ('22) and Cathy Nicholson ('21) were not able to run due to injury. Red Lion won the girls' race because they were the only complete team, with five girls running in this race. Full results can be found here.
As this was our last home meet of the season, we also recognized our seniors both on the line and in a team meeting following the race. Joshua Deitrich, Spencer Armstrong, Dennis Nicholson, Boys' Captain Micah Pope, and Girls' Captain Katelyn Walker were recognized for their contributions to the team through the years they have run with us. (I will add photos of the seniors as soon as I can.)
We are quickly approaching the end of the season. We only have a few more "hard workouts" and then we will begin to taper our training in preparation for the final races. Our next meet will be the Diamond State Athletic Conference Championship on October 25, which we will be hosting at Lums Pond. We are looking forward to the competition we will have there. Until then, we will continue working hard at practice in preparation for our final meets.
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Red Lion vs. Delaware Military Academy vs. Conrad Schools of Science
This past Wednesday, October 10, we had a tri-meet against Delaware Military Academy and Conrad Schools of Science, held at Banning Park. The unexpected heat and humidity made for tough racing conditions, but our runners did as well as they could given the extra "cross-country weather" we had that day.
The boys' race was first. Joshua Deitrich ('19) finished in fifth place overall in 19:36. Spencer Armstrong ('19) and Dennis Nicholson ('19) finished in 19th and 21st places respectively, running respective times of 21:20 and 21:49. Andrew Tanyous ('22) and Michael Gasorek ('22) rounded out Red Lion's top five male runners. Here is the full finishing order for the boys' race:
- Joshua Deitrich ('19) -- 19:36 (5th place)
- Spencer Armstrong ('19) -- 21:20
- Dennis Nicholson ('19) -- 21:49
- Andrew Tanyous ('22) -- 22:36
- Michael Gasorek ('22) -- 22:42
- Marc Sherman ('20) -- 22:48
- Ryan Cooper ('21) -- 24:15
- Richard Turley ('22) -- 25:10
- Adam Rao ('20) -- 27:05
- John Cusatis ('22) -- 33:29
- Seyram Gaffrey ('21) -- 45:33
DNS -- Captain Micah Pope ('19) [broken wrist]
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| Sophomore Ryan Cooper finished seventh for the Red Lion boys, with a time of 24:15 (Photo: Katie Rippon) |
The girls' race started five minutes after the boys' race. Hannah Ye ('21) placed fifth overall for the girls' race and first for Red Lion, running the course in 24:31. Faith Hollister ('22) and Captain Katelyn Walker ('19) finished in 25:10 and 26:41, respectively. Abi Phillips ('21) finished just fifteen seconds behind her. Cathy Nicholson ('21) finished in 28:13 and rounded out Red Lion's five girls. Fiona Fawcett ('22) could not run due to a hip injury, but she hopes to be back into running soon.
This was a tough race for Red Lion, but our runners prevailed despite the heat and humidity. The temperatures next week will be a lot cooler and we are excited to finally see some fall weather.
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| Hannah Ye ('21) ran the course in 24:31, finishing first for the Red Lion girls and fifth overall (Photo: Katie Rippon) |
This was a tough race for Red Lion, but our runners prevailed despite the heat and humidity. The temperatures next week will be a lot cooler and we are excited to finally see some fall weather.
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
2018 Salesianum Invitational
Our sixth meet of the season, the Salesianum Invitational, was held at Brandywine Creek State Park on October 6th. Brandywine Creek is notorious for being one of the more (if not the most) challenging courses in Delaware, because of several hills throughout the course. The biggest hill on the course, right after the first mile, is called Maintenance Hill. But the overcast weather and temperatures in the lower 70s made for wonderful racing weather, and our runners did very well despite a harder course.
There were twelve different races at this invitational. Red Lion runners entered in three of them: the boys' Junior Varsity A race, the girls' Small School Varsity race, and the boys' Small School Varsity race. Full results for all the races can be found here.
The boys' JV A race was the first race in which we participated. Richard Turley ('22) finished in 100th place overall with a time of 26:06, and Adam Rao ('20) finished seven places behind him in 27:16.
The girls' Small School Varsity race followed. Hannah Ye ('21) finished in 24:10 and placed 46th overall. Faith Hollister ('22) was nine places behind her in 24:43. Captain Katelyn Walker ('19) finished 74th overall in 26:11. Abi Phillips ('21) finished 81st overall in 27:05, and Fiona Fawcett ('22) and Cathy Nicholson ('21) followed in 84th and 87th places respectively. The girls' varsity team placed 11th overall.
The boys' Small School Varsity race was the last one in which Red Lion ran. Joshua Deitrich ('19) came in 32nd place overall with a time of 19:40. Dennis Nicholson ('19) and Spencer Armstrong ('19) finished in 82nd and 83rd places respectively; their respective times were 22:09 and 22:14. Andrew Tanyous ('22) ran 22:35 and placed 99th overall. Marc Sherman ('20) and Michael Gasorek ('22) finished within nine seconds of each other in 119th and 120th place respectively, and Ryan Cooper ('21) followed in 130th place, running 25:23. Captain Micah Pope ('19) was unable to run due to a broken wrist, but he will hopefully be back in action soon. The boys' varsity team placed 17th overall.
This was a challenging race for our team, as many of our runners had never run this course before, but we did very well nevertheless. For this race, we were focused less on where we would end up or the times we would run (although those things are important!); we focused more on getting to know the course, since it is where the State Championships will be held next month. We are putting our work in and looking forward to our future races. Our next meet is tomorrow at Banning Park, so stay tuned for more updates!
There were twelve different races at this invitational. Red Lion runners entered in three of them: the boys' Junior Varsity A race, the girls' Small School Varsity race, and the boys' Small School Varsity race. Full results for all the races can be found here.
The boys' JV A race was the first race in which we participated. Richard Turley ('22) finished in 100th place overall with a time of 26:06, and Adam Rao ('20) finished seven places behind him in 27:16.
The girls' Small School Varsity race followed. Hannah Ye ('21) finished in 24:10 and placed 46th overall. Faith Hollister ('22) was nine places behind her in 24:43. Captain Katelyn Walker ('19) finished 74th overall in 26:11. Abi Phillips ('21) finished 81st overall in 27:05, and Fiona Fawcett ('22) and Cathy Nicholson ('21) followed in 84th and 87th places respectively. The girls' varsity team placed 11th overall.
The boys' Small School Varsity race was the last one in which Red Lion ran. Joshua Deitrich ('19) came in 32nd place overall with a time of 19:40. Dennis Nicholson ('19) and Spencer Armstrong ('19) finished in 82nd and 83rd places respectively; their respective times were 22:09 and 22:14. Andrew Tanyous ('22) ran 22:35 and placed 99th overall. Marc Sherman ('20) and Michael Gasorek ('22) finished within nine seconds of each other in 119th and 120th place respectively, and Ryan Cooper ('21) followed in 130th place, running 25:23. Captain Micah Pope ('19) was unable to run due to a broken wrist, but he will hopefully be back in action soon. The boys' varsity team placed 17th overall.
This was a challenging race for our team, as many of our runners had never run this course before, but we did very well nevertheless. For this race, we were focused less on where we would end up or the times we would run (although those things are important!); we focused more on getting to know the course, since it is where the State Championships will be held next month. We are putting our work in and looking forward to our future races. Our next meet is tomorrow at Banning Park, so stay tuned for more updates!
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
RLCA vs. MOT Charter
Our fifth meet of the season was a home meet against MOT Charter, and was held on October 2nd at Lums Pond. The weather was warm and humid, and the course was still a little bit muddy, but the nice breeze made for good racing conditions, and many of the runners finished with solid times despite the slightly warmer temperatures.
On the girls' side, Hannah Ye ('21) of Red Lion finished first with a time of 23:52. Faith Hollister ('22) and Captain Katelyn Walker ('19) followed behind in 24:47 and 25:35 respectively. Abi Phillips ('21) finished fourth for Red Lion and in fifth place overall in 25:52, and Fiona Fawcett ('22) finished in sixth place overall in 26:14, rounding out the five Red Lion girls who ran yesterday. Cathy Nicholson ('21) did not run due to shin splints, but plans to run in our next meet on Saturday. I have now been cleared for a "return to running" program, and I hope to start running in meets by the end of this month.
The boys' race was won by Red Lion's Joshua Deitrich ('19) in 19:44. This was Deitrich's first time running a time under twenty minutes for this course. Spencer Armstrong ('19) and Dennis Nicholson ('19) finished neck-in-neck; both of them finished in 21:58, and they placed fourth and fifth overall respectively. Andrew Tanyous ('22) and Michael Gasorek ('22) finished with times of 22:19 and 22:43 respectively, and were in eighth and ninth place overall. Marc Sherman ('20) and Captain Micah Pope ('19) finished in fourteenth and sixteenth place respectively. Richard Turley ('22), Ryan Cooper ('21), Adam Rao ('20), and Seyram Gaffrey ('21) rounded the eleven Red Lion boys running in this race. Gaffrey finished in 39:39, setting a new personal record by just over three minutes.
Our runners performed very well in this race, and there were many strong finishes. Our next meet will be the Salesianum Invitational, held this coming Saturday at Brandywine Creek State Park. Brandywine Creek in notorious for being a challenging course, but we will approach it just as we do any other race. Until next time, go Lions!
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| The team doing some practice sprints to warm up before the race (Photo: Mr. Aaron Hamrick) |
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| Captain Katelyn Walker ('19) placed third among the Red Lion girls with a time of 25:35 (Photo: Mr. Aaron Hamrick) |
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| Joshua Deitrich ('19) won the boys' race in 19:44 (Photo: Mr. Aaron Hamrick) |
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
RLCA vs. Delmarva Christian
September 25th marked our fourth meet of the season. We hosted Delmarva Christian School at Lums Pond State Park. The weather was overcast and rainy, and the course was extremely muddy once again, but many of the runners posted solid times despite the "adverse conditions."
The girls' race was won by Hannah Ye ('21) with a time of 24:21. She was followed by Faith Hollister ('22) and Fiona Fawcett ('22), who ran times of 25:07 and 26:13 respectively. Captain Katelyn Walker ('19) finished thirty nine seconds behind her, rounding out the four Red Lion girls participating today. Abi Phillips ('21) was not feeling well enough to run, and Cathy Nicholson ('21) was unable to make it to the race. I am just a week out (I hope!) from being cleared to run again.
On the boys' side, Joshua Deitrich ('19) won the race with a time of 21:47. Spencer Armstrong ('19) followed with a time of 22:33, beating Joshua Desiderio of Delmarva Christian by one second. Dennis Nicholson ('19), Andrew Tanyous ('22), and Michael Gasorek ('22) swept fourth, fifth, and sixth place respectively. Ryan Cooper ('21) and Richard Turley ('21) finished in eighth and ninth place respectively, and Seyram Gaffrey ('21) finished his debut race of the season, rounding out Red Lion's eight boys. Captain Micah Pope ('19) dropped out of the race due to shin splints, and John Cusatis ('22), Adam Rao ('20), and Marc Sherman ('20) were not able to come due to illness.
While some of our team members were unable to participate in the race, those who could raced well. This was a much smaller meet than the invitational race on Friday, and everything went very smoothly. We have a week to recover before our next meet, which will also be at Lums Pond. Until then, we will continue to put our work in at practice. We are running strong despite the "extra cross-country weather" we have had recently, and we will continue to follow our team motto for the season and "embrace the grind."
The girls' race was won by Hannah Ye ('21) with a time of 24:21. She was followed by Faith Hollister ('22) and Fiona Fawcett ('22), who ran times of 25:07 and 26:13 respectively. Captain Katelyn Walker ('19) finished thirty nine seconds behind her, rounding out the four Red Lion girls participating today. Abi Phillips ('21) was not feeling well enough to run, and Cathy Nicholson ('21) was unable to make it to the race. I am just a week out (I hope!) from being cleared to run again.
On the boys' side, Joshua Deitrich ('19) won the race with a time of 21:47. Spencer Armstrong ('19) followed with a time of 22:33, beating Joshua Desiderio of Delmarva Christian by one second. Dennis Nicholson ('19), Andrew Tanyous ('22), and Michael Gasorek ('22) swept fourth, fifth, and sixth place respectively. Ryan Cooper ('21) and Richard Turley ('21) finished in eighth and ninth place respectively, and Seyram Gaffrey ('21) finished his debut race of the season, rounding out Red Lion's eight boys. Captain Micah Pope ('19) dropped out of the race due to shin splints, and John Cusatis ('22), Adam Rao ('20), and Marc Sherman ('20) were not able to come due to illness.
While some of our team members were unable to participate in the race, those who could raced well. This was a much smaller meet than the invitational race on Friday, and everything went very smoothly. We have a week to recover before our next meet, which will also be at Lums Pond. Until then, we will continue to put our work in at practice. We are running strong despite the "extra cross-country weather" we have had recently, and we will continue to follow our team motto for the season and "embrace the grind."
2018 Middletown Invitational
The Middletown Invitational, held at St. Andrew's School this past Friday, was our third race of the season. The course winds through the fields near the school and ends with a winding, hilly section through the woods. The course combined with the overcast and slightly cooler weather made for pleasant conditions for the runners. Four separate races were held, with two varsity races and two junior varsity races. Red Lion participated in three of them (we did not need to enter the JV girls' race).
The boys' JV race was the second race of the meet, and by far the largest, with over 350 runners. Ryan Cooper ('21) finished first for Red Lion with a time of 25:02, placing 261st overall. Adam Rao ('20) and John Cusatis ('22) followed, earning 277th and 331st place respectively. Adam was only thirty-five seconds behind Ryan, and John ran a time of 28:15 in his debut race.
The varsity girls' race was next. Faith Hollister ('22) finished in 56th place overall and first for Red Lion with a time of 22:49. Fiona Fawcett ('22) finished 83rd overall in 24:15, and Abi Phillips ('21) finished just thirteen seconds behind her in 89th place. Captain Katelyn Walker ('19) finished in 94th place, with Hannah Ye ('21) and Cathy Nicholson ('21) finishing in 99th and 128th places respectively. The girls finished in 14th place overall.
The varsity boys' race was the last of the meet. Joshua Deitrich ('19) finished first for Red Lion and 47th overall, with a time of 18:54. Michael Gasorek ('22) and Andrew Tanyous ('22) finished in 136th and 142nd place respectively. Their respective times were 21:36 and 21:47. They were followed by Dennis Nicholson ('19) in 147th place, Captain Micah Pope ('19) in 150th, Marc Sherman ('20) in 155th, and Richard Turley ('22) in 162nd. The team finished in 23rd place overall.
Here are the links to the full varsity results and full JV results.
We saw some very solid performances at this meet. This was only our third meet and our first larger meet, and we are already looking strong. I am excited to see what we can accomplish as we continue to work hard in practice. Go Lions!
The boys' JV race was the second race of the meet, and by far the largest, with over 350 runners. Ryan Cooper ('21) finished first for Red Lion with a time of 25:02, placing 261st overall. Adam Rao ('20) and John Cusatis ('22) followed, earning 277th and 331st place respectively. Adam was only thirty-five seconds behind Ryan, and John ran a time of 28:15 in his debut race.
The varsity girls' race was next. Faith Hollister ('22) finished in 56th place overall and first for Red Lion with a time of 22:49. Fiona Fawcett ('22) finished 83rd overall in 24:15, and Abi Phillips ('21) finished just thirteen seconds behind her in 89th place. Captain Katelyn Walker ('19) finished in 94th place, with Hannah Ye ('21) and Cathy Nicholson ('21) finishing in 99th and 128th places respectively. The girls finished in 14th place overall.
The varsity boys' race was the last of the meet. Joshua Deitrich ('19) finished first for Red Lion and 47th overall, with a time of 18:54. Michael Gasorek ('22) and Andrew Tanyous ('22) finished in 136th and 142nd place respectively. Their respective times were 21:36 and 21:47. They were followed by Dennis Nicholson ('19) in 147th place, Captain Micah Pope ('19) in 150th, Marc Sherman ('20) in 155th, and Richard Turley ('22) in 162nd. The team finished in 23rd place overall.
Here are the links to the full varsity results and full JV results.
We saw some very solid performances at this meet. This was only our third meet and our first larger meet, and we are already looking strong. I am excited to see what we can accomplish as we continue to work hard in practice. Go Lions!
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
RLCA vs. MOT Charter
Our second meet of the 2018 season was held against MOT Charter at Lums Pond State Park on September 18th. The sky was overcast with a little bit of rain. Despite the muggy weather and the extremely muddy course, many of our runners posted solid times.
Red Lion's Josh Deitrich ('19) led the boys' race once again, finishing with a time of 20:06. Cooper Unruh ('19) of MOT Charter finished in second place overall with a time of 21:36. He was followed by four more runners from MOT. Spencer Armstrong ('19) finished in 23:20, was Red Lion's second runner who placed seventh overall. Dennis Nicholson ('19), Andrew Tanyous ('22), Captain Micah Pope ('19), Marc Sherman ('20), and Michael Gasorek ('22) all finished within one minute and twenty seconds to round out Red Lion's top seven boys. MOT Charter was the winner of the boys' race.
On the girls' side, Faith Hollister ('22) won the race in 24:00. MOT Charter's Georgia Hitchens ('22) finished twelve seconds behind her in second place. Red Lion's Hannah Ye ('21) and Fiona Fawcett ('22) finished third and fourth overall with times of 24:32 and 24:38 respectively. Katelyn Walker ('19), Abi Phillips ('21), and Cathy Nicholson ('21) finished out Red Lion's six girls in fifth, seventh, and tenth place respectively. The Red Lion girls won the race, which means our record is now 2-0.
Full race results can be found here.
Though this was a very challenging race, we are working hard in practice and we are getting stronger and growing closer together as a team. As this was only the second race of the season, we have many more chances to compete and to see the results of the work we are putting in every day. We continue to "embrace the grind" and I cannot wait to see what will happen as the season progresses. Our next meet will be the Middletown Invitational at the end of this week, where we will have a larger field of competition, so stay tuned for a review coming soon!
Katie
Red Lion's Josh Deitrich ('19) led the boys' race once again, finishing with a time of 20:06. Cooper Unruh ('19) of MOT Charter finished in second place overall with a time of 21:36. He was followed by four more runners from MOT. Spencer Armstrong ('19) finished in 23:20, was Red Lion's second runner who placed seventh overall. Dennis Nicholson ('19), Andrew Tanyous ('22), Captain Micah Pope ('19), Marc Sherman ('20), and Michael Gasorek ('22) all finished within one minute and twenty seconds to round out Red Lion's top seven boys. MOT Charter was the winner of the boys' race.
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| Joshua Deitrich ('19) won the boys' race (Photo: Katie Rippon) |
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| Marc Sherman ('20) looked strong as he crossed the finish line. He finished sixth for Red Lion and fourteenth overall (Photo: Katie Rippon) |
On the girls' side, Faith Hollister ('22) won the race in 24:00. MOT Charter's Georgia Hitchens ('22) finished twelve seconds behind her in second place. Red Lion's Hannah Ye ('21) and Fiona Fawcett ('22) finished third and fourth overall with times of 24:32 and 24:38 respectively. Katelyn Walker ('19), Abi Phillips ('21), and Cathy Nicholson ('21) finished out Red Lion's six girls in fifth, seventh, and tenth place respectively. The Red Lion girls won the race, which means our record is now 2-0.
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| Faith Hollister ('22) was the winner of the girls's race (Photo: Katie Rippon) |
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| Captain Katelyn Walker finished fourth for the Red Lion girls and fifth overall (Photo: Katie Rippon) |
Full race results can be found here.
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| The course was very muddy, and so were everyone's legs by the end of the race (Photo: Katie Rippon) |
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| Hannah Ye ('22) spotted a double rainbow over the Red Lion Estates after the meet (Photo: Hannah Ye). {Thank you, Hannah, for letting me borrow your phone so I could take pictures!} |
Though this was a very challenging race, we are working hard in practice and we are getting stronger and growing closer together as a team. As this was only the second race of the season, we have many more chances to compete and to see the results of the work we are putting in every day. We continue to "embrace the grind" and I cannot wait to see what will happen as the season progresses. Our next meet will be the Middletown Invitational at the end of this week, where we will have a larger field of competition, so stay tuned for a review coming soon!
Katie
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
RLCA vs. Caravel Academy vs. St. Elizabeth HS
Our first meet of the 2018 season was a tri-meet against Caravel Academy and St. Elizabeth High School and was held yesterday at Lums Pond State Park, our home course. Despite the rainy weather and lots of mud, the flat and winding course and some cooler temperatures outside made for a fine setting for the first race.
Joshua Deitrich ('19) led the Red Lion boys, placing first overall with a time of 20:17, and beating St. Elizabeth's Daniel SteenKramer (second overall) by just over a minute. Marc Sherman ('20) and Dennis Nicholson ('19) followed with times of 23:59 and 24:04 respectively, finishing in 9th and 10th place overall for the boys' race. Michael Gasorek ('22), Captain Micah Pope ('19), Andrew Tanyous ('22), and Ryan Cooper ('21) rounded out the top seven Red Lion boys.
For the girls' team, Caravel's Katy Peyton finished first with a time of 22:39. Red Lion's Faith Hollister ('22) finished first for the Red Lion girls and in third place overall with a time of 24:19. Fiona Fawcett ('22) finished behind her in 25:14, and Hannah Ye ('21) followed close behind with a time of 25:26. Captain Katelyn Walker ('19), Abi Phillips ('21), and Cathy Nicholson ('21) rounded out Red Lion's six girls. I will be out for a few more weeks due to a shin injury but I am looking forward to being able to return to running soon so we can have a full girls' team.
Full race results can be found here.
For this first race, we are all still focusing on getting back into shape for the season. This was a challenging race. According to Faith Hollister ('22), the race involved "a lot of elbows," and Hannah Ye ('21) said she was "slipping through the course." Captain Katelyn Walker ('19) summed up the race as "pain, perseverance, and puddles." Despite the challenges, we are already looking strong. Our team posted some solid times for this first meet, and we know we can do even better. We are putting our work in at practice and we have a whole season ahead of us. For now, we are "embracing the grind" (as Coach Shirley keeps reminding us), and I am excited to see what we can accomplish in the meets to come.
Joshua Deitrich ('19) led the Red Lion boys, placing first overall with a time of 20:17, and beating St. Elizabeth's Daniel SteenKramer (second overall) by just over a minute. Marc Sherman ('20) and Dennis Nicholson ('19) followed with times of 23:59 and 24:04 respectively, finishing in 9th and 10th place overall for the boys' race. Michael Gasorek ('22), Captain Micah Pope ('19), Andrew Tanyous ('22), and Ryan Cooper ('21) rounded out the top seven Red Lion boys.
For the girls' team, Caravel's Katy Peyton finished first with a time of 22:39. Red Lion's Faith Hollister ('22) finished first for the Red Lion girls and in third place overall with a time of 24:19. Fiona Fawcett ('22) finished behind her in 25:14, and Hannah Ye ('21) followed close behind with a time of 25:26. Captain Katelyn Walker ('19), Abi Phillips ('21), and Cathy Nicholson ('21) rounded out Red Lion's six girls. I will be out for a few more weeks due to a shin injury but I am looking forward to being able to return to running soon so we can have a full girls' team.
Full race results can be found here.
For this first race, we are all still focusing on getting back into shape for the season. This was a challenging race. According to Faith Hollister ('22), the race involved "a lot of elbows," and Hannah Ye ('21) said she was "slipping through the course." Captain Katelyn Walker ('19) summed up the race as "pain, perseverance, and puddles." Despite the challenges, we are already looking strong. Our team posted some solid times for this first meet, and we know we can do even better. We are putting our work in at practice and we have a whole season ahead of us. For now, we are "embracing the grind" (as Coach Shirley keeps reminding us), and I am excited to see what we can accomplish in the meets to come.
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
Red Lion XC Fundraiser 5K
This coming Saturday, August 18th, we will be holding a community fundraiser 5K race at Lums Pond State Park at 9 am. We will meet at our home cross-country course entrance (same parking lot as Go Ape). The race is open to all ages, and there will be male and female divisions as well as division by age groups. There will be awards for the top runners in each group. Participants should arrive earlier than 9 am to allow time for registration (sign up will be the day of; email Coach Shirley [paul@gccwilm.org] to express your intent to race).The fee will be $20 per person, and all proceeds will support the team and allow us to participate in meets and invitationals which will prepare us for the tougher competition in the post-season races. Please spread the word to friends and family. We hope you can join us!
Welcome to XC 2018!
Hello everyone!
I'm Katie Rippon, a runner on the Red Lion (Reach Christian Schools) varsity cross-country team and rising junior at Tall Oaks Classical School. When Naomi Mengel ('18), former captain of the girls varsity team, suggested that I take over the blog this season, I decided it would be a great opportunity for me. While I am new to blogging, I am passionate about writing and am going to give this a try.
Today was our first practice as a team, at which we had both new and returning runners. Former captains Ben Schneider ('17) and Luke Sherman ('18) came out to run with us this morning and share their words of wisdom with the current team members. Personally, I am really looking forward to seeing what God will do with our team in the upcoming season.
Stay tuned for more team updates and race results as the season progresses! Go Lions!
Katie
"But they who wait for the LORD will renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
-- Isaiah 40:31
I'm Katie Rippon, a runner on the Red Lion (Reach Christian Schools) varsity cross-country team and rising junior at Tall Oaks Classical School. When Naomi Mengel ('18), former captain of the girls varsity team, suggested that I take over the blog this season, I decided it would be a great opportunity for me. While I am new to blogging, I am passionate about writing and am going to give this a try.
Today was our first practice as a team, at which we had both new and returning runners. Former captains Ben Schneider ('17) and Luke Sherman ('18) came out to run with us this morning and share their words of wisdom with the current team members. Personally, I am really looking forward to seeing what God will do with our team in the upcoming season.
Stay tuned for more team updates and race results as the season progresses! Go Lions!
Katie
"But they who wait for the LORD will renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
-- Isaiah 40:31
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