That Takes the Cake

Maybe we can't have our cake and eat it, too, but at least we got the cake! I guess it was meant to be...

It was a nice sunny day for the cross country sectional at Standing Rock Park near Stevens Point. Bit breezy but not cold. Good day for a run.

Our confident boys knew the top-ranked teams to beat were Rosholt and Bonduel. They said all week they could be contenders. Today they proved they are!

The rule in each sectional is this: The top 2 finishing teams in each of 8 sectionals this weekend will advance to state next Saturday, conveniently held in Wisconsin Rapids. The score for teams is based on the first 5 members of up to a 7-member team to finish. All their "places" are combined for a score. Like golf, the low score wins. In the event of a tie, the finishing place of the 6th runner on the team is counted. In addition to teams, the top 5 individual finishers who are NOT a member of either of the top 2 teams advance to state.

OK, now for some action shots from the hilly course...

Connor was our first finisher on our team. He did well enough that if Assumption did not go as a team, he would qualify for state as an individual. Awesome run and finish!

Here Carter sprints to the finish. 

After the race was done, we still could not tell who finished where for teams. It was so close, we thought maybe we ended up 3rd after all. Awhile later, hubby came over and announced that the scores were posted and that we finished second behind Rosholt by one point and were going to state!

Much jubilation!!!

We weren't even done celebrating before the officials had to recalculate the score because they forgot to count one of the Bonduel runners. Suddenly, we were tied for second. Thanks to the rules and a great effort by all our runners, our 6th-place finisher was 2 ahead of Bonduel's.

Once again: We're going to state!! Much jubilation!!
 

 Very happy team!

Very happy coaches, too! This the first time in 40 years, an Assumption Boys Cross Country team is going to state!! This is the first team since our school joined the WIAA to go, as well.

 Lots of fan support today, which was awesome... and definitely helped!

 

Team stands proud after receiving the plaque and medals.

Checking out the "State Qualifier" medals and marveling that they will be running with "the best runners in the state next week!" That's you, too, boys. Only 15 other Division 3 teams accomplished the same thing this season! Awesome!

Great finish, Carter. As for Dad... Best. Photo. Bomb. Ever.