Donna on the Side at NTN - race day
by Donna Dye
Part 1 - the scene
Part 2 - winners
Part 3 - life on the side
Part 4 - inside on the side
Part 5 - the races
Part 6 - afterwards and workerbees
At last it's NTN. Even before the season began, there was speculation about NTN 2005. There was and is no other high school meet that generates the interest and excitement across the country as NTN. The State meet is important and exciting but a national battle for the best cross country teams is a whole other level of high school competition. After only 1 year, a the NTN tradition was born.
NTN is held on the infield of the Portland Meadows Race Course in Portland, Oregon. Using manmade hills and haybales, the infield is converted into a serious cross country course. Weeks of rain made for a muddy, sloppy and swamp-like course. But in the true cross country tradition--no complaints--only enthusiasm for the challenge of the race.
