Final DXC Update - Nike Nationals

Darts - 

Another DXC Season is in the books. The program continues to strengthen and grow because of what each of you are willing to put into it. I look back on this season with a lot of great memories. I feel that we progressed together and we truly became the legendary TEAM that we set out to become. It is a TEAM full of selfless individuals who are willing to sacrifice and work for something extraordinary. We have accomplished a great deal: boys and girls were both BYU Champs, USU Champs, District Champs, Bob Firman Champs, and Region Champs. Our JV Squads ran some incredible races all season long - completely annihilating the competition. The boys and girls both brought home state trophies with their 2nd place finishes. And both TEAMs qualified once again for the Nike Nationals (one of only 6 programs to do so). I was proud of our seniors for being great leaders all season long and for pulling us closer together - you have truly left your mark. I was proud of our young runners for working so hard, for trusting the program, and for being willing to become a major part of DXC - I am expecting big things from all of you in track and next year in XC. I am thankful for 2 awesome coaches (Brad and Paul) who are there for me and for each of you on a daily basis. And I am very thankful for supportive parents who helped us, encouraged us, and trusted us along the way. 

We had our final race of the year last Saturday in Portland at NXN (Nike Nationals). The entire trip was filled with inspiring experiences, and I think each of the runners who were fortunate to attend came home with a desire to work even harder and to be even more unified with their entire TEAM. We want to head back next year ready to do even better.

The girls started us off and proved that they belong. After earning an at-large invitation, we finished 15th and beat 6 teams that qualified automatically. We placed higher than any of the major high school web sites had us projected (Milesplit - 16, Dyestat - 17). But most importantly we ran with a lot of heart and toughness. Aubrey was our top finisher in 38th place. It is the highest finish ever for a Davis girl (http://www.davisxc.blogspot.com/p/dxc-records.html). Aubrey was 7th out of the runners with teams in the race. She had to work her way up through a lot of runners, but ran as she always does - with intensity and with full purpose and effort. Ally was back to form as a strong #2 for the TEAM, staying strong and positive through the middle and really throwing down over the final 400m. Grace had her best race of the year and finished 3rd for our girls, really showing toughness and sass in the hills and the mud - on her birthday no less. Miah dug deep to finish right behind Grace - giving us 4 stellar sophomores at the front - all of whom are going to do even better in a year. Tatum inspired our entire TEAM with a gutsy race after training for the past 2 months with a nagging hip injury. Tatum finished in the same second with Miah (19:41) - and even helpied Miah to find another gear up the final hill. Our 3-4-5 runners truly showed teamwork through the race and especially when it got tough. Sam and Josey also worked well together through the race and weren't far back at all. In fact, only 2 other teams had stronger #7 finishers (the 1st and 3rd place teams). It was awesome seeing the Hedquist sisters together on the course in Josey's final XC race of her career. The girls worked very hard for this opportunity, and it was fun to watch them prepare and race so hard for each other - and then fun for them to play in the mud and enjoy the moment. Thank you, girls, for showing us all how to work, play, and win together!

Championship Girls Results (Team score in parenthesis)
38. Aubrey Argyle 18:28 (7)
104. Ally Geisler 19:13 (59)
133. Grace Neuenschwander 19:38 (88)
140. Miah Weaver 19:41 (95)
143. Tatum Beard 19:41 (98)
149. Sam Hedquist 19:50 (104)
156. Josey Hedquist 20:00 (111)
*199 Total Runners
Team Scores
1. 70 Manlius (NY)
2. 149 Great Oak (CA)
3. 173 Carmel (IN)
4. 198 North Naperville (IL)
5. 199 Desert Vista (AZ)
6. 240 Wayzata (MN)
7. 260 Blacksburg (VA)
8. 272 Hebron (TX)
9. 276 Rhode Island (RI)
10. 278 Saratoga Springs (NY)
11. 294 Saugus (CA)
12. 314 Palatine (IL)
13. 337 Camas (OR)
14. 342 Willmar (MN)
15. 347 Davis (UT)
22. 442 American Fork (UT)

The boys race was full of energy and excitement. NXN 2014 proved to be one of the most competitive team races ever. Our boys established a decent position early, ran smart through the first half, and then really got after the final half of the race. You could see determination on each of their faces as they conquered the hills and worked their way up through the groups. Josh ran gutsy and strong as always - he started moving at mile 1 and flew past other runners all the way to the finish. He showed so much grit and desire. Josh's 46th place finish was our 4th best ever at NXN and a very strong way to end his high school xc career. Stokton was right behind Josh at the finish. Stokton went out strong and kept working and pushing all the way to the finish in his final xc race as well. Stokton shows so much courage and fearlessness when he races (we're going to miss that). Camren Todd had the race of the day for us. Cam must have been around 100th at the mile (maybe even farther back) - and then he became the silent killer. He worked his way up through so many groups - sometimes passing 10 runners in a single surge - leaving mounds of runners in his wake. At the finish line, Cam was only 8 seconds behind Josh, giving us a killer 1-2-3. Cam also finished as the 4th fastest sophomore of the day and the 8th highest finish in our history. It was great to have him running so strong. Colton put himself right in the race as well - he lead the way for our pack and really helped us get going through the first mile and then stayed strong through the tough parts of the course like he always does. I don't know a runner who works harder than Rimann - and it continues to make us stronger as individuals and a TEAM. Logan probably passed 35 runners in the final 800m of the race and moved us up from 7th to 6th. His finish is legendary - in a large part because he is so dependable. He always comes through for the TEAM. He had woken up with a head cold, but was brave enough to get out there and give his all for his TEAM. It was fun to watch him fly by mobs of runners over the final stretch. He captures what all of us have - a complete desire to get every possible point for the good of the TEAM. Colter and Frasier both ran with just as much effort for their TEAM. I love that neither of them are satisfied, but they both have hearts and minds that are in the race. It was fun to watch them compete and dig deep throughout the race.

At the end of the battle, we finished 6th place. We were only 5 points out of 5th (AF), 9 points out of 4th, and 22 points from the podium. It was a valiant effort from each of the boys and definitely something they will stay proud of the rest of their lives. 

We can all learn from the heart and unity of these 7 boys. I know 5 of them are coming back, but we are going to need to work all together (the entire TEAM) to keep that heart, desire, and unity alive and put us back in a position to do it again in a year. 

Boys Championship Results
46. Josh Ward 16:05 (20)
54. Stokton Smith 16:10 (24)
58. Camren Todd 16:13 (27)
103. Colton Rimann 16:32 (61)
110. Logan MacKay 16:35 (68)
167. Colter Blanchard 17:11 (122)
178. Frasier Williamson 17:24 (133)
*199 Total Runners
Team Scores
1. 111 Manlius (NY)
2. 159 Wayzata (MN)
3. 178 North Central (WA)
4. 191 Liverpool (NY)
5. 195 American Fork (UT)
6. 200 Davis (UT)
7. 224 Ventura (CA)
8. 251 South Huntington (NY)
9. 262 Edina (MN)
10. 269 Fontana (CA)
11. 271 Christian Brothers (NJ)
12. 285 Timpanogos (UT)

Great job as well to Daniel Tumblin and Mitch Perry who both ran solid in the open race. Daniel finished 24th in 17:49 - after the course had been pretty beat up from the championship races.

When you consider the boys and girls together, we had the 4th best average for programs that qualified both boys and girls -
Average Team Finish:

Manlius - 1
Wayzata - 4
Carmel - 9.5
Davis - 10.5
American Fork - 13.5
La Salle - 13.5

I also thought it was awesome that so many of you were watching and supporting from home - either with Adam Aposhian or on your own. Your love and support could be felt. What a great TEAM!!

As the season comes to a close, I hope you are all ready to move forward and have a great indoor and outdoor season. Don't be afraid to work for your dreams. Set goals, work for those goals, and stay determined through the ups and downs that inevitably accompany our sport. Be a TEAM through track like you were through cross country - care for each other, inspire each other, race for each other. Run, train, and race in a way that makes you proud - live your lives that way as well. I am honored to be called your coach. 

Sincerely, 

Coach Talley