Runner on The Track-get out of the way! A Fan's Perspective.

The first "Tri Rivers Indoor Track Meet" has come and gone without much fanfare or many problems. First impressions...Cornell must not host many meets that have any kind of audience. I suspect that may be the only meet this season with a "standing room only" overflow crowd.  AWESOME turnout ...good job Tri Rivers fans!  It was great to see so many ORIOLES in the stands. The bleachers were NOT condusive to videotaping or picture taking (so I apologize, but no fun video this time) by specatators. You can't even see the section of the track that runs (literally) under the bleachers and balcony, you are pretty high up above the action, and the lighting is weird. By and large it appeared that the group of athletes was probably smaller than we will see during the regular season, perhaps because of the timing of the meet.

All that aside, for being the first time this was attempted, the people running the meet did a pretty darn good job, and it was a great way for the kids to get a meet in and some of the butterflies out, without all the shivering that accompanies early meets!  Thanks to the Conference AD's for putting this together. Here's to what is hopefully a new Tri Rivers tradition.!

Our Orioles looked a little nervous, but ready to run, and run they did. More on that in a moment...because though this is an "Oriole" blog, I am compelled to draw attention to a few non-oriole moments.

First...Holy Cow...Shelbie Beatty!  This young lady from East Buchanan has shown herself to be a skilled point guard for the Buccaneers, but wow...she is a a force on the track as well.  She won the 1500, lapping everyone else on the track & looking like she could run another five laps, and also took home gold in the 800 & bronze in the 200.  Shelbie was impressive, and people should take note! Another Bravo goes to the entire Ed Co team. Throughout the meet the Vikings could be seen at points all over the track, wildly & enthusiastically cheering on whoever was competing for them in any given event. This is true track etiquette at it's finest, and the coach should be proud of those kids. Kudos to you, Ed Co!  Also, a female runner from the 4 x 400 of perhaps  North Linn? (though I'm not certain), showed real class by apologizing to the Springville runner when they came into the exchange zone so close together that they almost clipped each other...though she wasn't "at fault".  Something I've noticed about track athletes in general, and especially our conference, is that they are very good sports, and have a lot of integrity.  We can be proud to be Tri Rivers members.

And how did our Orioles fare, you ask? Not too bad, all things considered. I'm not sure what places the guys brought home. It was all but impossible to hear the announcer, and with no electronic timer, there was no way to track who placed.  I'll add that info later if I can track it down.

The Oriole Men looked good though..the relay teams look to really be stronger and faster this year.  Spencer, Jordan, Travis, Kahrim & Shawn gave all out performances.  Cody Holmes, a freshman & track newbie, ran the 800 turning in a really impressive 400 split.  From the cheap seats I'd say that kid could be a real 400 runner.  Also new to the track, freshman Brandon Mysak showed a lot of potential. We could not see the throwers from where we were, but I've no doubt they held their own. A special nod goes to Ben Kruk, who ran the 1600 all the way through despite loosing a shoe part-way through the race. That is true dedication...Good job Ben!

The Lady Orioles, under the guidance of "Coach Abby" (and HOORAY to coach Eastman for being right there in the cheering section, rooting for her girls!) appear to be mixing it up a little this year. With no Sprint Med or 4 x 100 events in this meet, they ran a couple different combinations in the relays, and a lot of girls in Opens. Coming away with Gold in the 55 meter and 200 meter open(s) was none other than our own Brittany Clark, who completely owned her heat in the 200. Taking second place in the D med was the team of April Coppess, CJ Fitzgerald, Brittany Clark, and anchor Mattea Otten, who ran the 800 as if she'd been doing it all her life. Fabulous perfomance by Mattea. Miss Erica Ogden, fairly new to the sport, brought home the bronze in her very first 1500 and showed her "distance runner" colors. Also bringing home silver, the 4 x 200 relay team of Coppess, Vaughn, Thies, and Clark, who were on point to win the gold until another athlete stepped right into the exchange and caused a collision (plus a tear in a brand new pair of spikes!!) and time delay.  Kudos aplenty to those girls for still making up enough ground and time to take 2nd! Closing out the night was the 4 x 400 team of Thies, Coppess, Vaughn and Otten. (For those who may not be aware, the 400 is considered the toughest event in track) Two member of this relay had already run in 3 events, and Mattea, who anchored, had run the 800 and 55 meter hurdles earlier..but the ladies gave it their all, and came away with a bronze, leading the coach to make this post meet comment..."I'm very proud of the 4x4 which is going to be another strong event for us this year". Courtney Ruzika and Gentry Stewart deserve a pat on the back for being brave enough to run the open (afore mentioned really tough) 400 open, with barely a week of actual practice time. Both did a fine job.

Coach Fliehler is establishing a new "Athletes of the Meet" tradition this year and wants the public to keep an eye out for the girls who are wearing the orange "Wheaties" shirt, and the orange "Sunkist" shirt during the workout runs through town. From the coach, "The Wheaties t-shirt represents toughness and strength. The Sunksit t-shirt that represent the positive attitude I want my athletes to exemplify.

This week Sydney Vaughn earned the Wheaties shirt due to her strong start in the 55 and gutsy racing in the open 200 and 4x4. She also ran an amazing leg of the 4x2 putting her team into 1st before having her race compromised by a runner from another team. Great first meet Syd! The Sunkist shirt will be seen on Erika Ogden for epitomizing the positive, can-do attitude running nearly twice her normal distance and doing so without complaint and after having two shots at doctor's visits earlier that day. If you see these orange shirts around town give Syd and Erika a honk- inspiring performances that will continue throughout the season."

With new coaches, (Coach Voshell and Coach Fliehler), a few new team members, and the returning veteran athletes, The Oriole Track Teams are off to a great start in the 2009 season.

You can see both the teams in action again on Friday the 3rd at Cascade.

Co Ed meets are a GREAT way to see both the Men and Women all in one night, and its a straight shot from Springville, so keep positive thoughts for sunshine and come on out to watch these kids!