Congratulations to everyone who competed in Footlocker this year! The amazing Shalaya Kipp made it all the way to Footlocker National Cross Country Championships held on December 13, 2008 at Balboa Park in San Diego. Competing for the West Region All-Star team, Shalaya finished 28th among the top 40 female cross country athletes in the entire country! Shalaya’s trip makes it 2 years in a row for Skyline athletes… who will be the third?

On December 6th, a total of 11 Skyline athletes made the trip to Walnut, California to compete in various races (grouped by grade) at the Footlocker West Regional Cross Country Championship. In addition of Shalaya (7th in the seeded race), medals were won by Rebekah Winterton and Gamechu Goesse. Check back very soon for photos of the trip!

Bad news, everyone. The Gallery died. More specifically, the Gallery database became corrupted and couldn’t be repaired. To make matters worse, the person I had helping with it installed a new Gallery over the top in an attempt to fix the problem. That erased all the photos, which otherwise would could have been recovered. So, I am faced with the prospect of having to rebuild the gallery. I’ll start with the most recent photos, most of which I’m pretty sure I still have. The farther back I go the less likely I’ll be able to find them. Oh well…..

Wow, lets cut through the drama and take a look at all the phenomenal running that happened on Wednesday, October 22nd. There was some magic that definitely should be noted.
Rebekah Winterton was able to sneak into 9th place with a time of 19:09! Following her older sister, freshman, Jacqueline Winterton, finished in 19:28! With neither of these girls being a senior, there will be more magic to come!
On the boys side, Morgan Empey took 6th with a time of 16:00, breaking up the strong pack of Alta! Gemachue Goesse posted a time of 16:25 (almost 50 seconds faster than he ran at state last year)! Let’s keep more tricks up our sleeves for future races and keep on dazzling everyone.
Even though the girls team result was disappointing, I want to give credit to the girls for perusing the challenge. We set a high goal, one that had never been achieved by Skyline, we went after a state championship. I just want everyone to remember champions can be made even when championships are not won. What we’ve learned from this season is the what makes a champion. The miles of dedication put in, the power of our minds, the strength of our bodies and the drive in our hearts. I’m certain now what we will do is wash our uniforms and wear the Skyline name with pride at Footlocker!

Thanks to everyone for making this a fantastic year!

Lets keep it strong until December!

Seems we’re all sitting in different cars on the roller coaster. Some of us are enjoying the thrill of being on top; others are dealing with the whiplash, while the rest of us feel like we’re still waiting in line to ride. I watched some people have outstanding results at Region. I know a lot of PRs were set and we made several teams mad. (If anyone is looking for a picture of Avery, I’m sure you can find it on the Alta website, where she stopped a perfect sweep of 10.)                                                                                                              
For those who aren’t exactly feeling the thrill, and a dose of whiplash is what you’ve received, look at the big picture, your running as a whole, where you’ve started from and what you still have in front of you. One race or one little slump of races is only a dot in the long run (run, haha). Let’s not become impatient waiting in line and give up. Let’s not turn to the bumper cars forgetting we are in line for the chance at our goals.

If you’re running at State, let’s plan a surprise party! I can tell you from personal experience ANYTHING is possible at State! Until then let’s be positive and keep our motivation high. Great things will happen if we allow it.

JV Girls
1. Jen Evans A 12 21:26
2. Rachel Pearson A 11 21:28
3. Kalee Negley A 12 21:38
4. Kelsey Brown A 12 21:41
5. Kayla Lockhart A 12 21:52
6. Avery Barrett S 12 22:10
7. Becca Eldridge A 12 22:12
8. Melanie Easter A 11 22:25
9. Samantha Wright A 10 22:41
10. Kyle Butters A 10 22:58
11. Celeste Gutzman A 9 23:06
12. Danielle Dewaal A 11 23:11
13. Kylee Gabrielsen A 11 23:20
14. Krysta Jensen J 10 23:24
15. Patricia Wheeler-Larsen S 11 23:25
16. Katarina Schmidt S 11 23:37
17. Sarah Brown A 9 23:49
18. Chamei Chang A 10 24:04
19. Jamie Howell A 10 24:45
20. Lyndsi Beckstrom A 12 24:56
21. Danielle Burt A 10 24:57
22. Haylie Michels A 12 25:11
23. Katy Lehman S 12 25:24
24. Danie Fairbanks A 11 25:33
25. Nicole Wedge A 10 25:39
26. Lauren Ashcroft J 10 25:50
27. Haley Ahlman A 11 26:11
28. Britney Speirs J 9 26:45
29. Nancy Linford A 10 26:52
30. Emily Budge A 12 26:54
31. Morgan Allred A 10 27:16
32. Victoria Cochrane B 10 27:50
33. Cassidie Sperry J 9 28:06
34. McKenzie Momberger B 10 28:19
35. Ada Lowder H 10 28:23
36. Whitney Tripp A 10 28:32
37. Megan Dolle H 9 28:43
38. Sophya Castleton B 29:47
39. Aubrey Shepardson J 10 30:00
40. Leslie Allen B 30:06
41. Elisabeth Kaseda H 12 30:53
42. Whitney Lott H 9 31:13
43. Gesa Koy A 11 31:37
44. Shaley Hurless J 10 32:00
45. Kellie Landes B 33:52
46. Richelle Radeke J 9 36:18
47. Brenna Martinez A 12 38:49
48. Melissa Hopes A 12 40:13

Team Scores
Alta 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (7, 15
Jordan 9, 13, 14, 16, 21 (25) 73
Brighton 15, 17, 20, 22, 26 100
Skyline 6, 10, 11, 12 NS
Hillcrest 18, 19, 23, 24 NS

JV Boys
1. Zach Evans A 11 17:15
2. Braiden Winegar A 11 17:48
3. Ryan Fuller A 10 17:58
4. Adam Price H 11 18:06
5. Ryan Westenskow A 12 18:11
6. Conner Wniegar A 11 18:15.1
7. Tyler Draper H 11 18:15.5
8. Aamon Floyd A 9 18:24
9. Clint Gillespie B 12 18:32
10. Ethan Darling S 12 18:40
11. Gerardo Cervantes H 10 18:45
12. Trevor Brunnenmeyer S 10 18:46
13. Andrew Forrest H 11 18:47
14. Joseph Vincent H 11 18:50
15. Ryan Gregerson H 12 18:51
16. Damir Sabanovich J 12 18:55
17. Tyler Grundstrom H 10 18:56
18. Spencer Gillespie B 10 19:00
19. Jordan Hammond A 10 19:01.2
20. Jayson Kenney A 9 19:01.7
21. Thomas Adgood B 10 19:09.3
22. Peter West A 10 19:09.9
23. Gustavo Arbizu J 12 19:12.0
24. Matthew Howard S 10 19:12.7
25. Hunter Craig B 11 19:17
26. Kyle Kimball J 11 19:21
27. Kiffer Creveling S 12 19:24
28. Matt Doane A 11 19:27
29. Scott Egbert H 10 19:31
30. Addison Walter J 10 19:35
31. Colin Dutson J 9 19:37
32. Derek Jessee S 11 19:55
33. Chase Oesch H 9 19:56
34. Dane Bartholomew A 10 19:58
35. Andrew Kittas S 11 19:59.1
36. Bryce Hunt H 10 19:59.4
37. Peter Creveling S 10 20:00
38. Jared Scorsone H 12 20:01
39. Matt Ross J 11 20:03
40. Mitch Woodhead J 9 20:06
41. Michael Affleck B 11 20:10
42. Martin Solis J 10 20:16
43. Thomas Frahselx J 11 20:17.2
44. Mike Dobecki B 9 20:17.4
45. Can Stowell B 9 20:19
46. Grey Davis B 10 20:20
47. Clint Hubbard H 10 20:21
48. Dan Limb H 10 20:22
49. T.J. Heap A 10 20:23
50. Kyle Bergener T 10 20:32
51. Adam Boud S 10 20:33
52. Stanford Cline B 9 20:36.0
53. Brent Winterton S 12 20:36.4
54. Andrew Wirkus B 9 20:53
55. Benson Weeks A 12 21:00
56. Clayton Russell J 10 21:08
57. Daniel Robinson J 10 21:41
58. Brandon Shields J 12 21:51
59. Alberto Parra T 10 21:59
60. Darren Hill J 10 22:09
61. Steven Miller B 11 22:24.0
62. Eric Judd J 10 22:24.4
63. Ty Rosser B 10 22:29
64. Aaron Edwards A 11 22:40
65. Sean Gillespie B 9 22:43
66. Connor Gillies T 10 23:04
67. Bryan Parry A 12 23:18
68. Philip Sossenheimer S 10 23:34
69. Nate Humphrey J 10 23:37
70. Scott Johnson B 12 25:01
71. Josh Zufelt B 9 25:05
72. Nich Offermann S 26:37
73. Keegan Helgren J 10 26:45
74. Brooks Fackrell A 11 29:11
75. Edward Jeong J 10 31:56

Team Scores
Alta 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 (8, 19) 17
Hillcrest 4, 7, 11, 13, 14 (15, 17) 49
Skyline 10, 12, 22, 25, 28 (29, 30) 97
Brighton 9, 18, 20, 23, 33 (34, 35) 103
Jordan 16, 21, 24, 26, 27 (31, 32) 114
Taylorsville 36, 37, 38 NS

Girls Varsity
1. Danielle Menlove J 9 17:53CR
2. Shalaya Kipp S 12 18:35
3. Stephanie Burt J 12 19:06
4. Kaitlin Syndergaard A 10 19:29
5. Megan Combe S 12 19:33
6. Jenny McCune A 12 19:40
7. Jacqueline Winterton S 9 19:42
8. Taylor Berhow S 12 20:01
9. Rebekah Winterton S 11 20:05
10. Amy Reid J 9 20:15
11. Alisha Valles B 10 20:17
12. Sierra Batey A 10 20:21
13. Haley Dutson J 12 20:24
14. Kayla Negley A 11 20:30
15. Katie Speed S 10 20:43
16. Rylee Barstow J 9 20:51
17. Sierra Murri A 9 21:02
18. Kayla Bradfield J 12 21:07
19. Allie Erickson A 12 21:14
20. Kyra English A 11 21:15
21. Kayleigh Dahl T 11 21:20
22. Janine Smith B 12 21:24
23. Aly-Marie Clements T 10 21:31
24. Annicka Carter H 11 21:43
25. Cheyenne Thompson H 12 21:44
26. Jen Hillam B 12 21;53
27. Mikaela Yerkes H 9 21:58
28. Taylor Olson S 12 22:22
29. Rachel Fuller B 10 22:30
30. Danielle Cushing J 10 22:32.0
31. Ashley Annen B 22:32.3
32. Justine Kueffner T 10 22:44
33. Taylor Reich H 9 22:54
34. Courtney Rice H 9 22:55
35. Kristin Hardman B 11 23:07
36. Kristen Brunson T 10 23:10
37. Madyline Huff H 11 23:51
38. Brooke McAffee H 10 23:56
39. Janese Frost T 10 24:12
40. Georgie Corkery B 10 24:42
41. Whitney Morgan T 12 26:19
42. Kristen Gardner T 11 26:27

Team Scores
1. Skyline 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, (15, 28) 31
2. Jordan 1, 3, 10, 13, 16, (18, 30) 43
3. Alta 4, 6, 12, 14, 17, (19, 20) 53
4. Brighton 11, 22, 26, 29, 31, (35, 40) 119
5. Hillcrest 24, 25, 27, 33, 34, (37, 38) 143
6. Taylorsville 21, 23, 32, 36, 39, (41, 42) 151

Boys Varsity
1. Jason Lynch H 12 16:00
2. Garrett Jones A 11 16:08
3. Kyle Moffet A 12 16:09
4. Jack Webster A 12 16:11
5. Parker Syndergaard A 12 16:19
6. Daniel Reich H 11 16:29
7. Brian Howell A 11 16:31
8. Reid Jones J 12 16:40
9. Gemachu Goesse S 11 16:42
10. Josh Kennedy H 10 16:44
11. Dillon Corbett B 12 16:46
12. Morgan Empey S 12 16:51
13. Blake Bartholomew A 12 16:52
14. Ian Anderson S 11 16:53
15. Ben Christensen B 12 16:54
16. Ben Taylor S 12 16:55
17. Matt Lynch H 10 16:59
18. Bret Clapier S 11 17:07
19. Josh Haertel J 10 17:09.6
20. David Burt J 9 17:09.9
21. Jake Neilson J 12 17:19
22. Isaac Hales S 12 17:20
23. Brian Felt B 11 17:24
24. Derek Croft H 11 17:32
25. Christopher Lam J 11 17:34
26. Brad Marshall H 11 17:35
27. Greg Fuller B 12 17:36
28. Shaine Kirtright A 9 17:38.1
29. Mitch Pettit T 10 17:38.8
30. Kevin Lynch H 9 17:43
31. Nick Holton B 12 17:51
32. Keaton Shoell B 12 17:56
33. Sterling Swensen J 12 17:58
34. Sean Smith S 12 18:28
35. Monty Bergener T 11 18:29
36. Devon Smith J 12 18:54.6
37. Ben Martin T 10 18:54.9
38. Matt Bennion B 19:12
39. Bryce Stamp T 12 19:13
40. Jose Magallanes T 12 19:22
41. Spencer Heywood T 10 19:38.3
42. Marcus McEntire T 10 19:38.7

Team Scores
1. Alta 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, (13, 28) 21
2. Hillcrest 1, 6, 10, 17, 24, (26, 30) 58
3. Skyline 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, (22, 34) 69
4. Jordan 8, 19, 20, 21, 25, (33, 36) 93
5. Brighton 11, 15, 23, 27, 31, (32, 38 107
6. Taylorsville 29, 35, 37, 39, 40, (41, 42) 180

    After talking with several of my teammates, I realize the majority of us are feeling it right now, like we’re stuck in a slump and our shoes are filled with mud. I saw a lot of distressful faces on the bus ride home from UVU today. So many of use are feeling frustrated! After a good week of workouts we can’t seem to find the tangible results we want. So why is it we’re having these lucrative workouts and then in our races we’re hesitant? Are we scared? Do we think if we go all out in the race and don’t reach our goals we’ve failed? In a workout if you give it everything and die no one cares, so we do. I watch everyone day after day drain everything they have into practice. But when we get on that starting line we doubt our selves. We think, “if I stay with that person I might die!” It’s risky, I understand. But is it worth it? To go all out and come up short is better than to give half and come in safe. I will always respect a runner who goes out too fast over one that finishes too strong.

Mental blocks (whatever kind you have) are something that come with running, let’s learn from our racing experiences, climb the hill and hose the mud out of our shoes. Region is in a week, good news is we are physically ready, we just have to want it and know we can achieve it.  

You’re all remarkable and inspire me!