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Dan Wilvers (South Lake Tahoe)
comments on Woodbridge Invite
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Dan
Wilvers (South Lake Tahoe)
In talking with Coach Dan Wilvers of South Lake Tahoe, a super school in the sport from California that competes in the Nevada State Federation for its sports programs because of its geographic location, I thought it might be nice if he would write up a few sentences on his experience at the September 16th, 2006 Woodbridge Invitational in Irvine. He indicated that it was a super experience, and that he had posted the following message to a Nevada High School sports site the day after the competition. I think his overall positive impression of the experience comes through in a big way! Oh my gosh!!!!! I have never seen the likes of the speed we saw last night. As you can see it was an all time meet. I'm still buzzing, from the all out effort my girls laid out. I'm not one to talk about my team publically, this will be an exception. We all have ideas of what we think our kids will do in a particular race. All week I kept looking at the 05' race times and privately I was hoping my top runner could avg. 6:10 a mile for three miles. Afterall it's early, we have no speed training, just hill and strength work. After Douglas (our only race) our best Lil K, averaged a around 6:28 per mile. Well the sweeps race went out at a pace akin to a track 800 meters and frankly it didn't slow much. As my kids went by I was thinking this is way too fast, and I had cautioned them a 100 times the first mile be conseravtive. Well they did run a conserative first mile, it turned out to be their slowest mile of the race. It what I'm still trying to process, my first runner freshman Kelsey Smith Sophomore Kylie Noll last years state runner up ran a 17:46 a 5:55.5 pace
per mile, Our two seniors, Kelsey and Kimmy both have had a difficult last month, Kimmy had a horiible virus that lasted from early August to early September, has been making big strides coming back, ran an incredible 18:42 a 6:14 pace and Big K with a very sore back ran an amazing 18:52 for a 6:17 pace. I know it's if's and buts, however a healthy Kimmy and Kelsey always run with Kate. Always. Our 6 and 7 runners, Jordan and Lacey literally got run off their feet. Jordan missed most of summer and September so far with injury, and Lacey is a swimmer learning to race. Both were in over their heads last night. And yet they competed and ran their hearts out. I'm so proud of them. After the race most of the girls were lying on the ground crying and upset. Why? Well, they only knew their finish places and with the exception of Lil' K none had ever finished that far back in a race. They were devestated. Needless to say I awoke them to their incredible run, though it took some coaxing, and in the end as the times were being revelaed I think they began to understand what had just happened. In the end we tied for fourth in the sweeps but lost the tiebreaker for fifth. I am besides myself with what I watched last night. I heard estimates of ten thousand fans, it seemed like 30,000, there were people everywhere, bouyed by perfect weather and a flat course and the screaming throngs. It seems what was impossible in my eyes took place. Not just with the champion teams and individuals but our team as well. Woodbridge is just one unbelievable race. If you make one race next year try to make this one, your kids will experience something beyond description. In closing my brother-in-law came. He is a sports affeciando without peer. " This was the most unbelievable sporting experience I have ever seen. These kids showed me something I didn't think HS kids could give. All out efforts that are unrivaled in any sport I have ever coached. I am way impressed." (He was referring to all the athletes not just ours)
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