EMMA’S TRACK MEET #1 – BANANA BELT CLASSIC
MARCH 11, 2023
Emma’s first track meet was down in Pueblo at Dutch Clark Stadium where she ran the 3200m. These aren’t my favorite track meets early in the season because there is no competition for the distance runners. Emma’s goal was to get under 11:15 which would give her a pretty hefty PR. She and I figured out her splits and came up with hand motions for me to give her after each lap so that she would know if she was on pace. It’s too bad we can’t rely on the coaches to help her out. They all don’t seem to know how to coach her which is why we hired her club coach during the season to give her workouts and tell her what races to run during the season. Emma crushed this race, beating the next girl by 1 min and 15 sec!. She got a huge PR, finishing 1st in 11:12.27. If this wasn’t amazing enough, she also got nominated shortly after by Mile split as one of the top 5 female performers in CO for that week. After a week of voting, she ended up as the 2nd most voted. Way to go Emma! This was a great start to her official HS track season.
MARCH 11, 2023
Emma’s first track meet was down in Pueblo at Dutch Clark Stadium where she ran the 3200m. These aren’t my favorite track meets early in the season because there is no competition for the distance runners. Emma’s goal was to get under 11:15 which would give her a pretty hefty PR. She and I figured out her splits and came up with hand motions for me to give her after each lap so that she would know if she was on pace. It’s too bad we can’t rely on the coaches to help her out. They all don’t seem to know how to coach her which is why we hired her club coach during the season to give her workouts and tell her what races to run during the season. Emma crushed this race, beating the next girl by 1 min and 15 sec!. She got a huge PR, finishing 1st in 11:12.27. If this wasn’t amazing enough, she also got nominated shortly after by Mile split as one of the top 5 female performers in CO for that week. After a week of voting, she ended up as the 2nd most voted. Way to go Emma! This was a great start to her official HS track season.
EMMA’S TRACK MEET #2 – LARRY PICKERING INVITATIONAL
MARCH 18, 2023
Well, it was another amazing race by Emma today! She ran the 1600m this week and was only seeded 5th since her previous times have never been that competitive. She knew the #1 seeded girl broke 5 last year so she had her sights on that girl. The goal today was to break 5:15 which would give her a 15 sec PR. She ran a smart race, running right with that girl for the first lap, a little behind her on lap 2 and 3 and then on the 4th lap she started to pick up the pace. At the last curve she pushed it into high gear after listening to her head coach’s words of encouragement. By the 100m mark she was right in line with the other girl and just like that she passed her and kept going to finish 1st in a time of 5:11!!! It was incredible! We were all stunned and so proud. I’m still in awe at what she did today and how much time she has cut already this year. Way to go Emma!!!
MARCH 18, 2023
Well, it was another amazing race by Emma today! She ran the 1600m this week and was only seeded 5th since her previous times have never been that competitive. She knew the #1 seeded girl broke 5 last year so she had her sights on that girl. The goal today was to break 5:15 which would give her a 15 sec PR. She ran a smart race, running right with that girl for the first lap, a little behind her on lap 2 and 3 and then on the 4th lap she started to pick up the pace. At the last curve she pushed it into high gear after listening to her head coach’s words of encouragement. By the 100m mark she was right in line with the other girl and just like that she passed her and kept going to finish 1st in a time of 5:11!!! It was incredible! We were all stunned and so proud. I’m still in awe at what she did today and how much time she has cut already this year. Way to go Emma!!!
EMMA’S TRACK. MEET #3 – POMONA INVITATIONAL
APRIL 14-15, 2023
After driving over an hour to this track meet in Denver and battling the snow, wind, and rain to get there, we hunkered down in the car while Emma went back and forth between the team tent and our car. Eventually they took down the tent and had all the athletes sit in the bus to stay warm. Despite the crazy weather conditions, this meet was an exciting one to watch as she ran against some of the top distance runners in Colorado. Although she was a little frazzled before the race with where to check in, when she stepped up to the starting line she was focused. Luckily the snow and rain had stopped when the race started. She shot out and just like that she was running faster than she did during the first 3200m of the season. She ran this race in 11:05.54 which was a new PR. Afterwards she quickly cooled down and then we headed to get her some dinner before heading back home in the rain and snow. We helped her repack her bag for the next day's race and all went straight to bed.
The next day we headed back up to Jeffco stadium to watch Emma run in the 1600m. After not a great nights sleep and tired legs, Emma struggled during this race. For the first lap or so she was right on target but by lap 3 she had lost that mental focus and she just ran to finish. It definitely wasn't her best time but it also wasn't her worst time. This race was a learning experience for her and one in which she needed to not repeat.
APRIL 14-15, 2023
After driving over an hour to this track meet in Denver and battling the snow, wind, and rain to get there, we hunkered down in the car while Emma went back and forth between the team tent and our car. Eventually they took down the tent and had all the athletes sit in the bus to stay warm. Despite the crazy weather conditions, this meet was an exciting one to watch as she ran against some of the top distance runners in Colorado. Although she was a little frazzled before the race with where to check in, when she stepped up to the starting line she was focused. Luckily the snow and rain had stopped when the race started. She shot out and just like that she was running faster than she did during the first 3200m of the season. She ran this race in 11:05.54 which was a new PR. Afterwards she quickly cooled down and then we headed to get her some dinner before heading back home in the rain and snow. We helped her repack her bag for the next day's race and all went straight to bed.
The next day we headed back up to Jeffco stadium to watch Emma run in the 1600m. After not a great nights sleep and tired legs, Emma struggled during this race. For the first lap or so she was right on target but by lap 3 she had lost that mental focus and she just ran to finish. It definitely wasn't her best time but it also wasn't her worst time. This race was a learning experience for her and one in which she needed to not repeat.
EMMA’S TRACK. MEET #4 - COUGAR CLASSIC
APRIL 28, 2023
This was a tough race for Emma since she once again did not have competition, and she had to run the 1600m against 17mph winds. She still gave it her all and ran a good race considering the windy conditions. She finished the 1600m in 5:23.65. In hindsight, she probably should've skipped this race.
APRIL 28, 2023
This was a tough race for Emma since she once again did not have competition, and she had to run the 1600m against 17mph winds. She still gave it her all and ran a good race considering the windy conditions. She finished the 1600m in 5:23.65. In hindsight, she probably should've skipped this race.
EMMA’S TRACK. MEET #5 - SPARTAN INVITATIONAL
MAY 6, 2023
Emma was really hoping to break 5 minutes in the 1600m today and ran with this goal in mind. With no competition today she really had to push herself to reach this goal. She was on pace for the first half of the race and then lost a little momentum during the second half. Although she didn't break 5 minutes, she did run in a new PR of 5:10.98. Way to go Emma!
MAY 6, 2023
Emma was really hoping to break 5 minutes in the 1600m today and ran with this goal in mind. With no competition today she really had to push herself to reach this goal. She was on pace for the first half of the race and then lost a little momentum during the second half. Although she didn't break 5 minutes, she did run in a new PR of 5:10.98. Way to go Emma!
EMMA'S TRACK MEET #6 - ST. VRAIN INVITATIONAL
MAY 12, 2023
As the last meet of the season to qualify for state, Emma entered the 1600m race. She needed at least a 5:05 to qualify for the extremely competitive 1600m field this year. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to pull that off this race. She was extremely disappointed in herself this race, even though she gave it her best with the energy and will power she had for that day. She expended too much energy getting pushed around to the second lane and then getting stuck behind slower runners. This race is so fast and short that there isn’t any time for the field of girls to spread out. It’s always so hard to run with that much pressure on the line. We were so proud of her for pushing herself and still getting her 2nd best time of the season with a 5:11.90. This time would’ve qualified her for state last year. For some reason this year is ultra-competitive. At least she has one more year to qualify for state in the 1600m.
MAY 12, 2023
As the last meet of the season to qualify for state, Emma entered the 1600m race. She needed at least a 5:05 to qualify for the extremely competitive 1600m field this year. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to pull that off this race. She was extremely disappointed in herself this race, even though she gave it her best with the energy and will power she had for that day. She expended too much energy getting pushed around to the second lane and then getting stuck behind slower runners. This race is so fast and short that there isn’t any time for the field of girls to spread out. It’s always so hard to run with that much pressure on the line. We were so proud of her for pushing herself and still getting her 2nd best time of the season with a 5:11.90. This time would’ve qualified her for state last year. For some reason this year is ultra-competitive. At least she has one more year to qualify for state in the 1600m.
EMMA’S TRACK. MEET #7 - CO 5A STATE TRACK MEET
MAY 19, 2023
If there is any race that has incredible amounts of pressure it is the state race. As Emma’s official first solo event for state in track and field, she was both excited and nervous. With only the top 18 girls to qualify in each event, she was fortunate enough to qualify early in the season for the 3200m. Seeded 15th, she went out with the pack of girls who all stuck together for the first mile. During the second mile is where things got interesting. The lead pack took off and ran that second mile faster than the first while the second pack was just trying to hold the pace they were already running. Emma didn’t get the time she wanted, but she did manage to come in 14th which was one place higher than her seeded place and was only shy of her PR by 2 seconds. She ran this race in 11:07.63. I have no doubt that next year she will achieve her goal of breaking 11 minutes.
MAY 19, 2023
If there is any race that has incredible amounts of pressure it is the state race. As Emma’s official first solo event for state in track and field, she was both excited and nervous. With only the top 18 girls to qualify in each event, she was fortunate enough to qualify early in the season for the 3200m. Seeded 15th, she went out with the pack of girls who all stuck together for the first mile. During the second mile is where things got interesting. The lead pack took off and ran that second mile faster than the first while the second pack was just trying to hold the pace they were already running. Emma didn’t get the time she wanted, but she did manage to come in 14th which was one place higher than her seeded place and was only shy of her PR by 2 seconds. She ran this race in 11:07.63. I have no doubt that next year she will achieve her goal of breaking 11 minutes.
Season Results:
The Banana Belt Classic
Dutch Clark Stadium, Pueblo
3200M – 11:12.27
March 11, 2023
Larry Pickering Centennial Invitational
Dutch Clark Stadium, Pueblo
1600m – 5:11.92
March 18, 2023
The Pomona Invitational
Jeffco Stadium, Lakewood
3200m – 11:05.54
1600m – 5:32.06
April 14-15, 2023
Cougar Classic Invitational
Garry Berry Stadium, Colorado Springs
1600m – 5:23.65
April 28, 2023
Doherty Spartan Invitational
Garry Berry Stadium, Colorado Springs
1600m – 5:10.98
May 6, 2023
HOKA St. Vrain Invitational
Everly-Montgomery Field, Longmont
1600m – 5:11.90
May 12, 2023
Colorado State Track and Field Championships
Jeffco Stadium, Lakewood
3200m – 11:07.63
May 19, 2023
The Banana Belt Classic
Dutch Clark Stadium, Pueblo
3200M – 11:12.27
March 11, 2023
Larry Pickering Centennial Invitational
Dutch Clark Stadium, Pueblo
1600m – 5:11.92
March 18, 2023
The Pomona Invitational
Jeffco Stadium, Lakewood
3200m – 11:05.54
1600m – 5:32.06
April 14-15, 2023
Cougar Classic Invitational
Garry Berry Stadium, Colorado Springs
1600m – 5:23.65
April 28, 2023
Doherty Spartan Invitational
Garry Berry Stadium, Colorado Springs
1600m – 5:10.98
May 6, 2023
HOKA St. Vrain Invitational
Everly-Montgomery Field, Longmont
1600m – 5:11.90
May 12, 2023
Colorado State Track and Field Championships
Jeffco Stadium, Lakewood
3200m – 11:07.63
May 19, 2023