Before I get to the awards and the pictures, I want to extend a thank-you to the athletes, parents, and my fellow coaches for making this season truly memorable. And not just because of COVID. I've been coaching since 2006, and I can probably count on one hand the number of teams that got along as well as this one. We asked a lot of you, and were put in unusual circumstances given the pandemic, but you responded admirably.
To our seniors - hopefully you get both winter and spring sports, which for most of you is indoor/outdoor track. Regardless, your legacy is already a historic one at Taunton High. Our season was shortened this year, but 2018 and 2019 were our best won-loss records since joining the Hockomock League in 2012, the 5th place finish at last year's league meet was our best in team history. Oh, and you won the league indoors last year for the first time ever.
To our underclassmen - assuming we're back to normal by fall 2021, you can raise the bar even higher. The upperclassmen have established a culture that you can have fun AND compete for championships. We return a lot of talent, and should have a lot more new runners next year, too.
Here were the awards announced at our impromptu outdoor "banquet" (also known as Coach Kelley bringing food for after the run).
MVP - Lily Valcovic
Rookie of the Year - Colby Dunham
Coaches Awards: Olivia Dias, Livvy Weber
Finally, here are the links to pictures taken by Heather Dunham (Colby's mom) from our meets.
(Franklin Meet)
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pA-om81w4oDMr90kfP5H2Ki0pd0vWoEf?usp=sharing
(Mansfield Meet)
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14lVmOyLS6GaPWDylqOnJwqyyV6MYc3Ev?usp=sharing
Snakebit by injuries to some of our upperclassmen, we fell 24-32 to Mansfield in our first official dual meet. Here are the varsity results, with nearly half the Taunton athletes making their 5K debut.
4 (21:48) - Lily Valcovic
5 (22:16) - Colby Emersyn...only 20 seconds off the freshman course record held by one of the Franklin varsity runners. (No 8th graders at other schools, so the fairest comparison I could think of)
6 (22:52) - Emersyn DePonte
8 (23:38) - Livvy Weber
9 (24:03) - Kiley Quinlan, 9 second home course PR
10 (24:08) - Phylicia Dias, 2 second home course PR
13 (24:52) - Nia Mainer-Smith
16 (26:30) - Victoria Arruda
17 (26:38) - Abby Fernandes...both of our other 8th graders beat Mansfield's #9!
JV
1 (13:52) - Sarah Mendonca
3 (14:12) - Megan Conlon, 9 second PR
4 (14:18) - Savannah Skeldon, 48 second PR!
5 (15:02) - Lauren Iolli
7 (15:37) - Mackenzie Wallace, 32 second PR!
8 (15:42) - Kim Ryan
In light of the recent ratings (Attleboro became classified as a "Red" category town in Wednesday's weekly state update), and out of an abundance of caution, the meet scheduled for Tuesday at Attleboro has been postponed. No makeup date has been set.
Here is the training schedule for this week.
First, we have an updated spectator policy. All XC fans are asked to watch from outside the track/stadium area. Fortunately, the majority of the course takes place on the fields, and this way we're not limited to 2 fans/athlete, so all the siblings can watch. As always, make sure anyone that shows up to cheer you on is wearing masks and being socially distanced.
Here is the schedule of the races, with the groups listed. We're only having 5 athletes per team on the starting line at a time. In the varsity race, runners from the 2nd wave do count towards scoring, we just simply subtract the 3 minute stagger from the "overall time" for them and score the race after we've recorded the "net times."
2:45 - Report to track for your assignment regarding Course Setup. Should only take 15-20 minutes, plenty of time afterwards for you to warm up, etc.
3:45 (may be later if KP arrives late) - Varsity Race
(Names listed alphabetically)
Wave 1 - DePonte, Dunham, Mainer-Smith, Valcovic, Weber
Wave 2 - Arruda, O. Dias, P. Dias, Fernandes Quinlan (starts 3 min after Wave 1)
4:25 - assuming about 10-15 minutes after end of varsity race
Wave 1 - Conlon, Iolli, Mendonca, Rodriguez, Skeldon
Wave 2 - Kelly, Urquhart, Wallace (starts 3 min after Wave 1)
4:45 - Cleanup. Varsity, I'd recommend after your race you watch the start of the JV race, you can clean up the set of flags/chute posts at the starting line after they go by.
I'll have everyone in groups of 2 or 3 to clean up. It should take you no more than 15 minutes to get to your spot, undo any flags from the posts, and bring them back to a designated "drop off" area on the fields so it's easier for me to put them away in my car after everyone's done.
I'd expect us to be done about 75 minutes after the varsity race, so 5:00 if we begin at 3:45, maybe closer to 5:15 if we don't get going until 4 p.m.
Before I get to the training for the week, I have an update regarding the usual "Spike Nights" at Marathon Sports in Mansfield. Although they aren't doing team nights, they are giving the traditional 20% discount to any HS athlete regardless of which day they go to the store (just tell them you're from our team). They offer "virtual fitting" but they can take up to 4 customers at a time inside their store. They are open from 10-6 weekdays and Saturdays, 11-6 on Sundays. Obviously you can shop elsewhere if you prefer. So while there's no free pizza and a traditional Team Spike Night, they still offer the same discount.
Week 1 Training
We will meet at the far side of the track, on the straightaway near E-Pole Elementary. Please keep your bags six feet away from others - similar to the setup Boys Soccer has had along the fence. During the warmup, drills, and cool-down, you should still stay with your group. There is a chance people will move up/down a group after the first scrimmage, but for now these will remain.
Please let me know in advance if there are any days you will be unable to practice. We will start at 2:45 on weekdays, with the possible exception of Wednesday (may be a 3 p.m start - will notify everyone in advance if so)
Group 1 - Arruda, DePonte, O. Dias, P. Dias, Dunham, Mainer-Smith, Quinlan, Valcovic, Weber
Group 2 - Conlon, Iolli, Melito-Santos, Mendonca, Rodriguez, Ryan, Skeldon, Urquhart, Wallace
Every day starts with warmup (2 laps or perimeter of school) and drills back on the track.
Monday, Sept 21
Whole Team: After Drills, Coach Kelley explains the Spectator Policy for Home and Away Meets
Group 1 10 minute “extended warmup” (after drills)
Mile Time Trial...staggered start, so you don’t need your mask during it
10 minute cooldown
Group 2 25 to 30 minute run, 2 sets of Core
Tuesday, Sept 22
Group 1 35 to 40 minute run, 2 sets of Core
Group 2 10 minute “extended warmup” (after drills)
Mile Time Trial...staggered start, so you don’t need your mask during it
10 minute cooldown
Wednesday, Sept 23 (Might be a 3 p.m. start, we will announce ahead of time if so)
Group 1 40 to 45 minute run, 6 x 100m strides at mile pace on track
Group 2 25 to 30 minute run, 8 hill sprints on short grass hill (from fence to track)
Thursday, Sept 24
Group 1 10 minute extended warmup
5x800 at 5K pace on home course, 2 minutes rest between each
10 minute cooldown
Group 2 30 to 35 minute run, 2 sets of Core
Friday, Sept 25
Group 1 35 to 40 minute run, 2 sets of Core
Group 2 10 minute extended warmup
4x800 at 5K pace on home course, 2 minutes rest between each
10 minute cooldown
Saturday, Sept 26 (8 a.m. start)
Group 1 50 to 55 minute easy run (8th graders can do 30 to 35 minutes)
Group 2 30 to 35 minute run
