Team Black Victorious in Final Scrimmage of Year

It’s been a long summer grind, and we are finally on the cusp of getting a chance to race together, in one uniform. In the last tune-up before we start the regular season, our colors blended for a terrific night in the heat.

Team Black wound up taking the honors of champion, fueled by the strong run by Chris Fountain. Adams led off with a course best 12:30, nearly a minute faster than his 2018 time. Nosek and Phillips nothced Top 10 performances and important points at 8 & 9. Fountain moved up from the previous scrimmage, roughly five places which made the difference on the team total. Fiedler was the final tally for Team Black, at 17th overall, completing an pack split of 3:35. Nick Allen pushed as #6, at 18:59.

The Orange Team kept if very close, with Elliot Lechocki breaking his mile pace from last Friday night. Occhipinti was paired all the way to the finish with Adams, scoring two points for Orange. Ethan Neal moved up the depth chart from last week as well, finishing 4th overall, about :50 faster than a year ago. Ramos joined the lineup and moved into the 12th spot on the depth chart. Lechocki wound up 15th overall, with a faster pace, and Adam Smith made his debut at 18th to finish scoring. Johnston was the next pusher who actually did the job of pushing a score up when he placed ahead of another scoring runner. Gannon and Lindow came up next to the line for Orange, ending the day at 23:35 and 23:48.

Dallal was the first to cross the line for the White Team today. Just 12 seconds off of Occhipinti, it was exciting to see the group so close to our two #1s. Lodwig came through next for this team, at 6th overall, and :45 off the lead. Cunz made the Top 10, and is looking better by the day when he pushes up into that next pack. Brady Johnson had the team best reduction in mile pace, knocking :12 off his mile pace on a longer course, and in markedly greater heat. Farmer closed out scoring at 21st overall. Walters dropped more than a full minute off of his mile pace from a year ago, and nearly 2:00 in overall time.

Team Sliver matched White on the total points, which included a big mile pace drop from Trevor Neal. Durbala was the first Silver runner to complete the longer course at 12:55, completing an overall team pack split of just :25. Nolan Allen helped his team with 7 points on his finish, and make our team pack split 1-7 rest at :54. That would be HUGE for us to continue! Parker Malone kept pace with his previous race time and is gaining ground on his goal of remaining in the realm of post season position. Trevor Neal moved up to snag 14th overall, and improved his mile pace by :07, a Silver team best. Holder joined us for his first run of the year and he completed scoring at 19th overall. Andy Conley carried his team(mate) to the finish as the sixth runner, and ending Silver’s day.

The best part of about this day wasn’t in the race results themselves, but in how the seniors relayed their expectations for how this season will run. Keeping to the mantra of “Humble and Hungry.” It will work well for this team.