XC Times For August 31, 2018

Our Next Meet Saturday September 8:

The XC Times

Les Duke Invitational @ Grinnell, Iowa 10am *Full Squad

The Following Week Saturday September 29th

Dan Huston Invitational Waverly, IA 10:30a

Down the Road Saturday October 13th

Jim Drews/Tori Neubauer Invitational La cross, WI 10:30a

Simpson Storm X-Country FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK and Twitter

Simpson Storm X-Country 2018 Bill Buxton Invitational August 31, 2018

In the Chute Julie Wahman Shelby Hunemiller, my daughter, the runner! Starting the 7th grade and with a little encouragement, I said “ try Cross Country, you might like it”. It’s now become her lifestyle. She has always worked hard at practices, setting personal goals to improve PR times, and pushes herself through to the finish line, even when she’s not feeling well.

She never gives up and always inspires others to do their very best at what she loves. As a parent, watching Shelby run in meets is absolutely my favorite thing to do!

I am so proud of her and everything she has accomplished so far while at Simpson. Roll on Storm!

Simpson Cross Country Mom,

Julie Wahman

Following our Iowa preps, collegiate and pros as they take their talents to the next level! www.nextleveliowa.com

Simpson Storm

Bill Buxton Invitational August 31, 2018 Tonight’s Preview

Tonight’s meet will feature teams Our home meet will feature the following teams Simpson Graceland DMACC Iowa Wesleyan Southwestern CC

Here’s What to Look For Men’s Race I couldn't be more excited to kick off the 2018 season on our home course!

It's always fun to be able to have a home meet, and we're thrilled we're able to host once again. Pickard Park is in great shape and it should offer an outstanding early season test.

Our 2018 roster includes a talented group of upperclassman with a lot of experience and an add a few talented freshman to our squad. The past two weeks have been enjoyable seeing the team work well together and lay the foundation for an exciting season. We will be lead by senior Trey Thompson and junior Jonathan Facio both who had outstanding track seasons and look to build upon them. After our top two, I'm excited to see who steps up and fills the void from a couple of strong seniors who graduated.

The Women’s Race It is a new year, with new faces and a new championship attitude. The young Simpson Storm are eager to impress. It is too early to predict how things will play out with our team, but one thing is for certain, Shelby Hunemiller-Sr. and Emily Bruchheit-So. will be upfront for the storm, following them will be veterans such as Ashlee Litterer-Jr and a healthy and happy Audrey Klein-Jr. Today, Ashlee Litterer drives the bus for our second pack until mile 1 and then watch our team shine! “"Find though she but little, she is fierce”

William Shakespeare

Here’s What to Look For Schedule of races: (times are approx.)

5:00p Women’s Race 5:40p Men’s Race XC 101: “The Curious Sport of Cross Country Some of you may be new to the, sometimes mystifying world of cross-country. It is sometimes a seemingly chaotic and weird event resembling more of a civil war reenactment than a high school running event. Fear not! Becoming the wise and savvy cross-country fan can be yours by simply mastering the simple guidelines of the “Master XC Fan.” Scoring: The numeric value of the 5 top places for each team is added together and the team with the lowest score wins. In case of a tie the 6th runner’s place is included and if there is still a tie the 7th runner’s place is included. Low team score wins.

Example: Storm Individual Results: Heath Moenck 1st Jamie Busby 3rd Katy McKenzie 6th Steve Prefontaine 8th Jenny Simpson 10th 1+3+6+8+10=28 points Team Score Simpson 28 (Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner!)

Stanford 35 Oregon 40 Colorado 51 In short, the team who gets their 5 runners across the finish line first generally wins. So, we like to see the long Red and Yellow line coming into the finish line area ahead of the competition.

Spectating: It is way too easy to only watch the start of the race and then go camp at the finish line.

This is minimal and your runner would much rather see your smiling and encouraging face out on the course where they probably need you more. The savvy xc fan plans their race ahead of time, determining how they can see their runner as many times out on the course as possible. Failing to leave the start and or finish line areas will possibly subject you to the mockery and scorn of other more seasoned xc fans.

Cheering: Parents: It is generally a good rule of thumb never to include pet names such as “honey,” “darling,” lovey,” “snuggle bunny” or “sweetheart” in any of your cheers. This will likely have a negative effect on your son or daughter. Also, telling your runner to sprint is never advised until perhaps the last 200m of a race. As a rule, be positive and supportive to your young runner while never saying derogatory things about any of the other competing runners. Simpson athletes and fans are always supportive and encouraging to all runners regardless of their team.

“The only thing we knew how to do, was to keep on keepin’ on”-Bob Dylan

At the Start line Trey Thompson I am very excited to begin my final season running for the Storm. My first “lasts” are beginning to approach and I have been reflecting on my journey up until this moment. 11 years ago, I ran my first road race when I was 12-years-old.

It was a mile race around a block and I did not do very well.

I still enjoyed it, but didn’t see myself pursuing running. I wanted to play football with my friends, but I did not like the idea of hitting people or being hit. My parents forced me to go out for cross country, and when I say forced, I cried almost every day because I didn’t want to go. In junior high, I wasn’t the fastest. I was a walker. I was getting beat by boys and girls alike from my school and other schools. I kept setting goals for myself to lower my personal best until I was good enough to beat people.

Flash forward to sophomore year of high school and I was our #1 runner on the team.

We only had 7 guys to make a full roster. I placed 10th at the district meet to qualify for Iowa’s state meet. I had such a fun experience at the state meet that I began setting goals disciplining myself to go back to the state meet, which I did two more times, eventually becoming a 1A All-State runner my senior year.

I was invited to come on an overnight visit to Simpson College a couple weeks after the state meet. I stayed with, who would become one of my best friends, Ian McKenzie. I immediately decided that Simpson was going to be my new home for the next four years.

With three years gone by of seeing close friends come and go into the adult world while thinking, “That won’t be me for awhile”, it is finally my turn to be the senior looking over a team.

My teammates this year are extraordinary people that make me excited to come to practice each day. This year will be a special one for Simpson men’s cross country and can potentially be the season that sets this program up for long-term success and I am honored to be the senior leading the charge.