As the sun rose over Fairbanks nation the Panthers Cross Country team was in route to East Lansing, Michigan for the MSU Spartan Invitational. This is the first time in program history that they have traveled to another state to compete. “We’ve been planning for this all season, it’s a great opportunity to see some college races and also a great test run for our team, a new journey and an opportunity to run with some expectation and pressure.” said Coach Van Winkle. “I want this to feel like a state competition, we need to practice seeing our teams at that level and be able to respond and compete.” The travel distance to get to East Lansing is around 220 miles from the Fairbanks High School and so as the sun came up the Panthers took off at 6am. “The trip to the meet went well, we made 1 stop just south of Bowling Green, at a rest area where we devoured a couple packs of bagels provided by the Staton family. The apple cinnamon bagel was the obvious choice to make.” according to Van Winkle.
As the caravan pulled up to the team drop site, just after 10 am, at the Forest Akers East golf course, they were met by a large encampment of college teams, pop up tents and runners everywhere. They had arrived at what appeared to be the center of the running universe. The college races were set to start at 11 am and athletes were beginning there warm up routines. The Panthers unpacked, set up their own camp, grabbed some course maps and settled in for some college racing action. “The atmosphere was amazing. Great music, great T-shirts…… It’s cool to see college teams, I mean I thought the college guys would look different but they really looked a lot like the rest of us.” noted Senior Caleb Wenger. “Yeah, seeing college teams running together, going through the same warm up routines as us was like, this is what runners do!” added Freshman Riley Jones.
The Forest Akers East golf course was beautiful. The race course made a couple loops around and with a slight breeze, blue sunny skies and plenty of shade trees, the site was, for spectators, second to none. For the racers the course was soon to be discovered. “It’s always challenging have a blind view to a course. With so many logistical details to get to the meet we didn’t put a lot of emphasis on the race course itself, so we weren’t sure how it would run, are there a lot of hills or a lot of curves? Making a big trip like this is a new experience for us, so I’m sure we will take a lot away from this.” commented Van Winkle.
As the college races wrapped up it time for the high school racers to get ready. The Panther boys set out to warm up and upon their return to the team camp discovered their race bibs in the shape of a spartan helmet. “I’ve never seen bibs like this before, I mean, come on it’s a spartan helmet.” said Nicholas Johnson.
Now with bibs pinned to their singlets and spikes on the boys where ready to sink there claws into some Spartan turf, but not before Junior Tim Staton applied his sun screen, “are those sparkles in your hair Tim?” asked Coach Van Winkle, “yeah the girls sparkled me!” Tim, “Oh, ok, let’s get going to the line” Van Winkle, “I will freckle and burn with out my sunscreen!!” Tim, “Alright well hurry up” Van Winkle.
During this exchange it became clear that the team campsite had become the race hair station for the girls team as they were getting prepped for their 2pm race. The hair station drew in Tim who more than glistened in the sun while he applied SPF 50 but also sparkled, and Cam Nisley had mystiously acquired a red race strip down the middle of his hair. “To the line, to the line!” Van Winkle
At the line the boys finished some final stride outs and the official gave the start line instructions. Bang!! The race was off and across the turf the runners went. Zeke Gingerich shot out trying to get early position and the rest of the team settled in. Across the soft, sandy golf course turf and hilly terrain the race wore on the boys. Struggling to find their pace the boys worked out a 26 place finish out of 31 teams.
Boys Results - White Division 3 & 4
58 - Zeke Gingrich - 19:16.74
95 - Caleb Wenger - 20:04.17
122 - Cameron Nisley - 20:52.07
188 - JJ Meihls - 22:54.78
192 - Bryce Nisly - 23:04.87
193 - Nicholas Powell - 23:04.93
193 - Nathan Parks - 23:09.86
197 - Nicholas Johnson - 23:12.62
265 - Tim Staton - 32:39.71
Team - 26 out of 31
Back at the team camp the girls finished their hair, got out to the course and cheered on the boys. As the boys finished up it was the girls turn to get ready. The boys gave some tips to the girls as they reacted to their race. “It was definitely slow, I wanted to go faster but it was like the ground was a sponge and I didn’t like the hills.” said Zeke about the race. With that in mind, spikes on, spartan helmet bib pinned, and far less sun screen drama, the girls made their way to the start line.
Again at the line the girls made some last minute strides and the official gave the command “are you ladies ready to race?!?” Bang!!! The girls were out on the course. With the boys comments in mind the girls focused on a tough race course and steadied their resolve. Over the course the girls showed a strong pack of 3 in the top 25 and a 4th runner in the top 60. The team grouped back up after the race and the team camp was buzzing, “You finished 4th out of 28 teams!” said Assistant Coach Emily.
Girls Results - White Division 3 & 4
7 - Rachael Hoover - 20:44.36
10 - Mara Vicari - 20:54.63
23 - Elaina Lahmers -21:42.56
58 - Mollie Thrush - 23:15.54
133 - Elizabeth Philippo - 26:15.80
151 - Meredith Reinhard - 26:42.05
152 - Hannah Neihaus - 26:42.51
191 - Marissa Wenger - 28:34.97
232 - Nicole Nabbale - 35.57.91
236 - Riley Jones - 36:59.05
Team 4 out of 28
“The girls ran great today, I was nervous after seeing the boys run that maybe the early morning or the 4 hour trip was taking it’s toll on us, but the girls showed up. Obviously it’s hard to race after a long car ride and after talking to our athletes the course was running like a minute slower than we are used too. It was a challenge, and a great experience.” Coach Van Winkle
With the races wrapped up the days schedule still had a couple photo opps and a dinner at Leo’s Lodge before the long drive home. To the bridge and to the stage.
Spartan Photo’s
Leo’s Lodge
The real race! At the lodge Nicholas Powell and Nathan Parks took to ordering food, “Leo’s Favorite Sirloin Dinner” 8oz of top choice sirloin stake, salad and baked potato, “It was the biggest meal on the menu, and we were hungry!” said Nathan. The waitress presented the food to the boys at the same time and a race was suddenly demanded. “We need to see a clean plate, Tim will be the judge, ready set go!” said the official. 29:27.4 was the official winning time of Nicholas Powell in a food eating challenge that proved to be a battle of attrition. “I didn’t know he had it in him” commented Nathan of Nicholas’s victory. “Oh I’ve got it in me, the whole dinner, 8oz of steak, potato, salad, it’s in there!” remarked Nicholas Powell.
6pm and the team is wrapping up and heading home from Michigan. It was a long day, a true team effort from Athletes, Coaches and Parents and one for the memory books.
Great job Panthers!