Emma’s senior year track season was a roller coaster of emotions filled with some challenges and some very exciting accomplishments. She started out her season in peak shape, having run over the winter with Kokopelli and raced in the UW Indoor track meet. The season started out a little slow but she overcame some obstacles and had her best track season ever. She had lots of PR's as well as some 1st and 2nd place finishes. She broke her high school record twice in the 3200m and qualified for both the 3200m and the 1600m in the State Track and Field Championship races.
MEET #1 - LEGEND TITAN TRACK CLASH
APRIL 5, 2024
1600M - 5:20.36 (1st place)
The first race of the season is always a tough one because the racing legs are not quite there yet. Emma showed up for her first race of the season all ready to rock. A few other fast runners were at the meet from Niwot and Cherry Creek. Emma was seeded 4th and placed 1st place, passing the girl from Niwot on the last 100m of the race. Even though her time wasn’t as fast as she would’ve liked, it was a good start to the beginning of the season.
APRIL 5, 2024
1600M - 5:20.36 (1st place)
The first race of the season is always a tough one because the racing legs are not quite there yet. Emma showed up for her first race of the season all ready to rock. A few other fast runners were at the meet from Niwot and Cherry Creek. Emma was seeded 4th and placed 1st place, passing the girl from Niwot on the last 100m of the race. Even though her time wasn’t as fast as she would’ve liked, it was a good start to the beginning of the season.
MEET #2 - POMONA INVITATIONAL
APRIL 12-13, 2024
1600M - 5:23.69
3200M - 11:07.05 (2nd place)
Two-day meets are tough, especially when you are traveling to Denver both days to race. Emma ran in the 3200m on Friday evening around 7:30pm and crushed this race. She is definitely a stronger runner in the 3200m. She was seeded 4th and turned in a 2nd place finish, tying her time from the State race the previous year. I think even she surprised herself with how well she ran that race.
The following day we headed back up to Jeffco Stadium in Denver so she could run in the 1600m. A combination of nerves and fatigue set in and she wasn’t able to perform the way she wanted to in that race. She was a few seconds slower than the week before and that was hard to swallow. Still, on tired legs she ran the best she could for that race.
APRIL 12-13, 2024
1600M - 5:23.69
3200M - 11:07.05 (2nd place)
Two-day meets are tough, especially when you are traveling to Denver both days to race. Emma ran in the 3200m on Friday evening around 7:30pm and crushed this race. She is definitely a stronger runner in the 3200m. She was seeded 4th and turned in a 2nd place finish, tying her time from the State race the previous year. I think even she surprised herself with how well she ran that race.
The following day we headed back up to Jeffco Stadium in Denver so she could run in the 1600m. A combination of nerves and fatigue set in and she wasn’t able to perform the way she wanted to in that race. She was a few seconds slower than the week before and that was hard to swallow. Still, on tired legs she ran the best she could for that race.
3200m
1600m
MEET #3 - LIBERTY BELL INVITATIONAL
APRIL 26, 2024
3200M - 11:05.92 (1st place)
This was such an interesting race up at Echo Park Stadium. The weather was already starting to turn colder, and the rain made for a slick track. Mike volunteered and was one of the ones pushing as much water off the inside lane of the track as possible. Even though it was cold and rainy, Emma ran such an amazing race. She and the 1st seeded girl from Heritage HS were neck and neck the entire race. By lap 6 Emma realized that their pace was not fast enough, so she picked up the pace for the last 2 laps and tied her previous PR and placed 1st. It was a remarkable race to watch and one that I will never forget.
APRIL 26, 2024
3200M - 11:05.92 (1st place)
This was such an interesting race up at Echo Park Stadium. The weather was already starting to turn colder, and the rain made for a slick track. Mike volunteered and was one of the ones pushing as much water off the inside lane of the track as possible. Even though it was cold and rainy, Emma ran such an amazing race. She and the 1st seeded girl from Heritage HS were neck and neck the entire race. By lap 6 Emma realized that their pace was not fast enough, so she picked up the pace for the last 2 laps and tied her previous PR and placed 1st. It was a remarkable race to watch and one that I will never forget.
MEET #4 - CHERRY CREEK INVITATIONAL
MAY 4, 2024
1600M - 5:07.16 (2nd place)
With the state meet on the horizon a good qualifying time was on everyone’s mind for the 1600m. Emma choose to run just the 1600m this weekend so that she could focus on getting a good enough time to qualify for the State Championships. There were a few other girls from Cherry Creek HS who were doing the same thing. Emma was able to go from a 5th seeded place to finishing in 2nd place with a new PR of 5:07.
MAY 4, 2024
1600M - 5:07.16 (2nd place)
With the state meet on the horizon a good qualifying time was on everyone’s mind for the 1600m. Emma choose to run just the 1600m this weekend so that she could focus on getting a good enough time to qualify for the State Championships. There were a few other girls from Cherry Creek HS who were doing the same thing. Emma was able to go from a 5th seeded place to finishing in 2nd place with a new PR of 5:07.
MEET #5 - JOHN TATE ELITE
MAY 11, 2024
3200M - 10:54.98 (1st place)
It’s been an interesting several weeks of cancelled meets on Friday nights due to weather, only to turn around the next day and drive to a different meet. Fortunately, her last couple of meets have been her best. Today we witnessed the most incredible race Emma has ever run. She came into the 3200m today knowing that she needed to break 11 min in order to qualify for the State Championships next week. This race was not a competitive meet at all and there were no girls anywhere close to her pace. The competitive meet happened last night north of Denver and her coaches decided not to sign up for that meet this year. She had lots of support today, which was awesome. Her HS coaches and her club coach were all out there doing what they could to keep her on pace. It was fantastic to watch! Emma finished in 10:54.98, broke her school record by 6 sec and is now seeded 15th for state and will be running next Thursday in that race. What was so impressive about this race was the sheer grit and determination Emma had to run this race fast all on her own. Way to go Emma.
MAY 11, 2024
3200M - 10:54.98 (1st place)
It’s been an interesting several weeks of cancelled meets on Friday nights due to weather, only to turn around the next day and drive to a different meet. Fortunately, her last couple of meets have been her best. Today we witnessed the most incredible race Emma has ever run. She came into the 3200m today knowing that she needed to break 11 min in order to qualify for the State Championships next week. This race was not a competitive meet at all and there were no girls anywhere close to her pace. The competitive meet happened last night north of Denver and her coaches decided not to sign up for that meet this year. She had lots of support today, which was awesome. Her HS coaches and her club coach were all out there doing what they could to keep her on pace. It was fantastic to watch! Emma finished in 10:54.98, broke her school record by 6 sec and is now seeded 15th for state and will be running next Thursday in that race. What was so impressive about this race was the sheer grit and determination Emma had to run this race fast all on her own. Way to go Emma.
Lapping all of the other girls
Emma and coach Lisa Rainsburger
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MEET #6 - CO STATE TRACK MEET
MAY 16-17, 2024
3200M - 10:51.23 (9th place)
1600M - 5:04.36 (14th place)
The celebrations continue as we watched Emma run in the Colorado State Track and Field Championships this morning for the 3200m. She was seeded 14th and came in 9th for a podium finish in 10:51. This is a new PR for her just 5 days after her last PR. Just to put this race in perspective, the top 18 girls in CO for 5A all had sub 11 times coming into this race today. The race was held at Jeffco stadium which sits at 5,551 ft. Needless to say, making the state meet in CO for the 5A division is tough. Emma ran another excellent race. The start was crazy with many girls almost flinching over the line before the gun went off because the starter took forever. Then right after the gun went off a girl next to Emma spiked Emma’s shin on accident and a few seconds later that girl lost her shoe. That girl ran the entire race with only one shoe. The front pack took the pace out way faster than most of those girls probably wanted. First lap was around a 74. By the first mile Emma was sitting in the middle of the pack and had well under a sub 11 time in her pocket. She kept clipping away to grab that 9th place finish after passing a girl on the last lap. It was amazing to watch her strength and grit. This girl knows how to get it done and I’m so proud of her for running such a strong race. It was so fun to have the grandparents in town to watch her run today!
MAY 16-17, 2024
3200M - 10:51.23 (9th place)
1600M - 5:04.36 (14th place)
The celebrations continue as we watched Emma run in the Colorado State Track and Field Championships this morning for the 3200m. She was seeded 14th and came in 9th for a podium finish in 10:51. This is a new PR for her just 5 days after her last PR. Just to put this race in perspective, the top 18 girls in CO for 5A all had sub 11 times coming into this race today. The race was held at Jeffco stadium which sits at 5,551 ft. Needless to say, making the state meet in CO for the 5A division is tough. Emma ran another excellent race. The start was crazy with many girls almost flinching over the line before the gun went off because the starter took forever. Then right after the gun went off a girl next to Emma spiked Emma’s shin on accident and a few seconds later that girl lost her shoe. That girl ran the entire race with only one shoe. The front pack took the pace out way faster than most of those girls probably wanted. First lap was around a 74. By the first mile Emma was sitting in the middle of the pack and had well under a sub 11 time in her pocket. She kept clipping away to grab that 9th place finish after passing a girl on the last lap. It was amazing to watch her strength and grit. This girl knows how to get it done and I’m so proud of her for running such a strong race. It was so fun to have the grandparents in town to watch her run today!
3200M
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1600m
MEET #7 - RUNNING LANE TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS (HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA)
MAY 25, 2024
1600M - 5:00.74 (12th place)
Emma headed to Running Lane in Huntsville, AL with the Kokopelli team. She was really hoping for a sub 5 min 1600m time and was super close. She finished the race in 5:00.74. She was so devasted at missing it by only 1 second. She did run her little heart out, busting her dragonflies by the end of the race. She even ran into an old friend of ours from our Dupont days who gave her a big hug. Even though she was upset by her performance, she still managed to get a PR and finish out her high school running career with a bang!
MAY 25, 2024
1600M - 5:00.74 (12th place)
Emma headed to Running Lane in Huntsville, AL with the Kokopelli team. She was really hoping for a sub 5 min 1600m time and was super close. She finished the race in 5:00.74. She was so devasted at missing it by only 1 second. She did run her little heart out, busting her dragonflies by the end of the race. She even ran into an old friend of ours from our Dupont days who gave her a big hug. Even though she was upset by her performance, she still managed to get a PR and finish out her high school running career with a bang!
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