10/21 update

Braves,

We are so proud of this team. Not because the girls team is the greatest in BHS history or because the boys finished 2 places higher than last year, and ran the second fastest cumulative team time in the past 20 years at BHS, but because of the effort given each day, the support for each other, the determination to be your best every single day, your willingness to work hard and give your all no matter the workout, etc. I’ve said this many times but it can’t be overstated: it isn’t about what place you or the team finish, but it is about the journey and what you do to make those things happen. Accomplishments are made rewarding by what you do to get there. Finishing in 3^rd place was an exciting and historical thing for the team, and it is made better because of the work that it took to get there.

Our girls finished just 1 point ahead of Skyline, who was ranked ahead of us going in. The amazing thing is that several of our girls finished just ahead of one person which would have made us 4^th place. If just one of the scoring 5 had finished one place back we would have been fourth, as Skyline had the tie-breaker. In other words, it was a total team effort to lift us into 3^rd. During the race it was clear that every single one of them was giving their all. Laurie, Trish, and Anna Sophia all ran times faster than the previous school record, formerly held by, who else, Nan Evans Kennard. Going through the all time list, if you take the five girls from this year’s team and faced them off against any five girls from any year in BHS history, these five would win. That isn’t only because of these five of course, but the entire team and what you ALL contributed in practice and in meets to help everyone be successful, not just individuals. Team culture leads to team accomplishments, not individuals.

Our boys gave a similar effort, exhausting themselves every step of the way. They battled with all they had, just missing a top ten team finish. 10^th or 11^th doesn’t ultimately matter, what matters is the way these guys approached the season, which was with a dedication that surely propel them to new heights in the months and years to come. Dalton came away with a 10^th place finish, which was pretty awesome considering he spent most of the race in about 15^th, but really found another level over the final mile. Evidence of course that an individual contributes more to a team than their place in the race is Justin Wood. Justin has been an extension of our coaching staff and has made every single person around him better through his leadership and commitment to the team. He was constantly seen encouraging his teammates and working to make the team better. Regardless of where he finished his contribution to the team was cemented by his actions on a daily basis, which were consistently aimed and helping the team.

We were extremely pleased with all those who came to support even though they weren’t racing, understanding that this is just as much their team as it is of those were raced. You got out all over the course and made yourselves known and really pushed our team. Your support on race day made a difference, but what you gave in practice each day was even more important. It’s easier to work hard when those around you are working hard, and that is something you brought each day.

Two years ago we had 5 runners at state, Anna Sophia and Belle were the only girls and the only 2 of those 5 who also raced this year. The girls were 6^th at region (ahead of East who didn’t field a team) 2 years later and the girls have two region championships and finished 3^rd at state. Our boys returned 2 of the 7 runners from last year’s state team and finished higher than last year. The remarkable thing about that is the amount of determination shown from our ENTIRE team to make that possible.

Thank you to our seniors for your examples, leadership, and all you have given the program. Our team is better thanks to each of you. Moving forward we are hopeful that our teams will accomplish more great things and compete at the highest levels. As that happens, a great deal of credit will go to those who helped create a culture of hard work and determination. Any future accomplishments this team has will be owed in part to you, just like what we do now is in part thanks to those who have done it here before.

We thank all of you for your dedication this season during the past season. This has been our most enjoyable season yet because of each of you. Our job has become easier each year because more and more are giving their best each day, increasing their dedication, and working to help the team succeed. Thank you!

Moving forward, we feel extremely optimistic about the direction of our team. Our boys are returning all 5 scoring runners from state, with more right behind them eager to compete. Our girls, coming off their best season ever, return 5 of the seven from state, also with more right behind them ready to fight for positions, and if we take out the scores of our two amazing seniors, Laurie and Anna Sophia, and score the other 2 who raced at state, our team would have finished 9^th, with just ten more points than last year, one place behind last year, but that is with the addition of Farmington who wasn’t there last year and will most likely be 6A next year, so it is essentially the same spot. Which means they could be in for another great year next year if they put in the same work that got the team to this point this year. Just because we talk about it obviously doesn’t mean it will happen. A lot of work is going to have to be done.

We are going to continue training in preparation for Footlocker. Footlocker is a regional race in California, not far from Anaheim. The dates would be 11/29-12/2. We will spend some time at the beach Friday, and then after the race on Saturday go to Disneyland, returning home on Sunday. Parents will be driving kids down, chaperoning, and leading the trip. More info on that below.

Even if you aren’t planning on going to footlocker we encourage you to continue to come out so you can continue to improve. If you read up on the state championship girls team, Springville, and perennial national powerhouse American Fork, both mention the fact that they worked for those things since they were freshman/sophomores. Becoming a great team doesn’t happen overnight, it takes years of preparation (which is also evident by our results two years ago, missing out on state qualifying). If we want to continue to compete at the highest level we need to take that same approach, and understand that we have to improve as individuals and a team each year and each season. The next two months are a big chance to put that into practice by getting better before indoor track, and then of course through indoor and outdoor track.

Training until Indoor track will be Monday/Wednesday/Friday at the track like usual. The other days will be for you to go on long runs with your teammates or on your own. Again, this is for all who are interested, not just those going to footlocker.

Those interested in going to footlocker, Jeremy Adamson is going to lead the trip. We are hoping to have the price at $500 or below. We hope to have those prices finalized within the next week or so. The decision on if you are going or not will need to be made shortly after the prices are finalized. Jeremy is arranging hotels and Disneyland tickets and will make this a great trip for you. If you have any questions about Footlocker please let me know.

Indoor track will begin the week after footlocker. Indoor track goes from December until February, with meets on Saturdays, and some Friday’s in January and February. We compete at Weber, BYU, the Olympic Oval twice, and Idaho State. There are only about 5 meets in those two months. Training is M-F and is a huge part of why our track teams have had so much success the past few years (4 straight region wins for the boys with a 3^rd and 4^th place finish at state in those years), and I think our girls team this year could be the strongest that I have had in my years at BHS, due to our strong distance team in addition to our returning sprinters/hurdlers, and field eventers. Indoor is one of my favorite seasons because of the unique training opportunities and the dedication of those who participate.

Indoor is open to students in grades 7-12, and we love to have the younger kids join us. We train inside when the weather won’t allow us to go outside. The term indoor track really just means the races are indoors. When weather permits we will go outside as often as possible. If you have any questions about indoor track, please let me know.

Lastly, we will have a team dinner in the next couple of weeks, with details to be determined. We will send out some info regarding that as soon as it is available. I will be sending information along about footlocker in the next week or so and then this email list will be discontinued.

Thank you for all you do and have done. I hope to see all who can tomorrow at the usual time and place.

Coach Jacobson

10/14 update

Braves,

State Week. After months of hard work  we are ready to take the course at Sugarhouse Park and see what this team can do. In all my years of coaching I have never looked forward to a state meet as much as this one. This team, boys and girls, has put in more work than any other xc team we’ve had, and this week is the time to enjoy it, run together as a team, and simply leave it out there on the course. For our 3 seniors racing, Anna Sophia, Laurie, and Justin this is their final state meet. For them, and the entire team, let’s enjoy this week and race by competing the best we can and leaving with no regrets.

Nan Kennard left our team with some excellent advice. One that stood out to me most was the power of visualization. I encourage each of you to visualize your race, in particular, visualize how you want to feel at different parts of the race – like on the hills, up and down – or as you approach the finish. She shared how visualization trains the mind to behave a certain way and is a powerful tool. Take the next few days to visualize, as often as possible, the state race.

The girls race at 1:30, the boys at 3:00. Due to the early race times, the bus will leave at 11:00 AM. Talk to your 3^rd and 4^th period teachers Monday so you can get the work you will miss in advance.

Everyone is excused to get on the bus on Wednesday, and we want you all there. If you don’t ride the bus I cannot excuse you. For those not racing, we want you there to support the team as they race; this is just as much your team as it is theirs. I said this at practice to, but come ready to run because I have designated places all over the course that we want you to be at so our runners have support have key portions of the race. We’ve been supporting and encouraging each other all season long, and that doesn’t change on Wednesday. (Call it extreme, but I’ve made several maps for groups to follow so they can be at those points on the course for support – we need all of you there on Wednesday to help our team be the best we can be.)

Looking forward to getting back to work on Monday. Let me know if you have any questions.

Coach Jacobson

10/7 update

Braves,

Friday was a great day for the team. One of the great things about region and pre region is the chance to compare your times from the beginning of the year to this course. Looking at the times from those two points in the season shows the improvement that each of you have made through your hard work. One goal for the team is to always be getting better. While that isn’t realistic for every single race, over the course of the year the trend has been faster and faster.

Ultimately our success is not defined by achievements, places, or times. The question is, have you become improved your work ethic, as a teammate, and as a person over the course of the season? Do you give more at practices now than you did when you began? Do you root for the team and your teammates to be successful no matter the circumstances? Did you contribute positively to the environment, and attitude of your teammates at and away from practice? If you can answer yes to those questions then the season has been successful no matter the times you ran or the place you finished. While none of us is perfect in any of these areas, this team has done a better job at this than any other than I have been around. Credit to each of you for that.

The JV girls started off the meet for us on a high note. We had talked going into the meet about how they had a chance to set the tone for the meet. They did just that by getting 4 girls into the top ten and winning the JV race as a team. I was really impressed with how strong they finished and ran as a team. The JV boys followed that up with a strong race, and also ran very well as a team. Our first 5 runners finished right in a row, which is pretty amazing.

For the second year in a row, and for the second time in school history, the girls won the region championship. While we were the clear favorites going in, it was by no means going to be a walk in the park. Farmington had been running well of late and competed hard to try and flip the script. We knew that if we had a poor day and they had a great day they could possibly beat us. Knowing our team and what we are capable of, once the race began I had a sense of calm, knowing they would give their best and compete as a team. The race was very close through the first mile, and at one point I think Farmington was in front. As the race developed we started to improve our position. After each team’s 4^th runner finished we were tied for first. That is where we took control. Sammi came through some ten places ahead of their fifth runner, with Maddy and Sami also being in front of their 5^th. The girls ended up winning by 10 points. No individual can win or lose a race for a TEAM. It takes a total team effort, and these girls ran a great team race to come away with the win. They have now won the last two meets that they have participated in, showing that they are one of the best teams in the state, with one race to go. As I said on Friday, the best is yet to come for this team.

They boys varsity race was tightly contested between the 2^nd and 3^rd place teams, us and WX. Ultimately WX edged us out by 6 points, giving the boys a second straight 3^rd place finish. Considering a new team joined the region, it is still an improvement from a year ago. They battled and competed every step of the way. Over the course of the past 4 months we learn to recognize your running styles and their cues, and facial expressions and what they mean in terms of your effort and how you are feeling. Without exception it was clear each of you was giving all you could, and wanted to give more. While the boys were 3^rd on the day, there is no reason to be disappointed in yourselves, because you controlled what you could, which was your effort.

The fact that we can only take 7 runners from region to state is a difficult thing for us, because so many deserving runners don’t get the opportunity. While that is personally very challenging for those who just miss out, I cannot overstate how admirably those who have just missed the cut have handled their disappointment. Each of them has put the team ahead of themselves and rejoiced in team successes rather than dwelling on their own challenges. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to come up just short after giving so much for so long; it is brutal, and the way they have responded transcends the sport and shows true character. Sami, Naomi, Abby, Isabella, Scott, and Jake were all on the bubble of going or not and just missed the cut for state. That is an amazing group of kids, and a group we are enormously proud of. Your contribution to this team is greater than your place. Without each of you (those 6, and all on the team), our team and experience would not be nearly as great. Because of you are team is better and the experience more enjoyable.

For most of the team, region was the final race. However, we want all of you at practices, for the same reasons just stated above. You may not be racing at state, but we want you on that bus to sugar house and all over the course supporting those who are running. In fact, we are going to strategically place you around the course, moving from point to point, so we can optimize your support to help the team. Our girls have a chance to place really well – throughout the entire year they have only lost once to a 5A school, and our boys have a chance to burst onto the scene, similar to our girls last year, and show that we are for real heading into next season. This state meet could be the best combined effort (boys and girls) that Bountiful High has ever had. Let’s make some great things happen.

We will have a team dinner at the Steenblik’s home on Thursday at 6. Nan Evans Kennard will be coming to speak to the team that evening as well. She is a former Bountiful runner and state record holder, BYU national team champion in Cross Country (twice I believe), and professional runner. She is taking time from her family and incredibly busy schedule to talk to us, because it is something that she thinks is important. I hope you all will make arrangements to be there. It is going to be awesome.

I look forward to getting back to work on Monday.

Coach Jacobson