Yorkville Middle School Cross Country

Coach Miller on January 24, 2013

We are actually doing exactly what you said for the three groups this next season. As for the weekday meets, there are a few reasons we don't run the top 7 group on the weekday meets. The main reason is because they are running much more mileage. This past season they were running 30 miles a week, and if they run two meets in a week that means they have to run 26 miles in 4 days. We can't have them running 6 miles every day, which is what we would have to do if they ran during the weekday meets. I hope that explains things better, but please let us know if you still have concerns. We think this upcoming season will be much better for all three groups since one coach will be in charge of each group so we can personalize things more. One of the things I didn't like from this past season was that we did focus too much on the top 7, but with how big the team has gotten that was inevitable. With the changes next season we think everyone will get recognition and support from the coaches.

Anonymous on January 23, 2013

hello. i know last season you had the top 7 not run at certain weekday meets, and i know many people on the team didnt think it was fair. and now this upcoming season you are doing the same. i think the seventh graders going into eighth will not like this either. Cross country is an amazing sport and we have such an amazing team, it is great to feel comfortable being with all different types of runners, the top 7, those right outside the top 7, and those runners who arent quite as fast as some people. i understand you feel this will help us improve more, but this feels like youre making the top 7 be a completely different team, as it felt towards the end of last years season. Cross country is a sport i love, and i assure you most others on the team do too, but i think during practices we should focus more on doing harder workouts for group one, pretty hard for group two, but not quite as much mileage, and a hard workout for group 3, but less milage than other groups. This will help each group focus more on what they need to work on and i think the top 7 should still run on weekday meets. i dont understand why the top 7 cannot run in weekday meets, that just makes them not really on the team, and many runners in last years season would look at group one and think they are part of the team, but not really because they dont run with a majority of the team. i also heard from the coaches it is because they needed rest and stuff for the super big races, but even if they are running 4 or 5 miles at tempo run or almost race pace, they are still going to be doing a hard workout and not get the full 'rest they need'. I know we are a great team and i hope in the upcoming season we can do even better in state, and hopfully win a plaque, but im hoping you reconsider making the 'top 7' be a completely different team. i believe the way cross country worked out during the beginning of the season was better when everyone ran as a team, we all felt accomplished to win overall, even if the persons score didnt actually count on the score. i think most kids agree the way the old cross country season was better, even if we didnt do as well in state or whatever, because in the end its only middle school, and many kids are kind of here for fun, and dont want to be discriminated against.thank you for the understanding.

Anonymous on January 21, 2013

Track sectional is already set for middle school 2013!!!! Who is running????