NCS

Last Saturday was the North Coast Section (NCS) Race for Cross Country in Hayward.  This is the first time that Parker has been able to run.  His Freshman year, we were in Hawaii, and his Sophomore year we were on a cruise.  We had both those trip booked before he even started high school.  Who knew that he would run cross country and that NCS was the Saturday before Thanksgiving?  Anyway, we promised him that we would book our next trip to Disneyland after NCS to he could participate.  He would run on Saturday and then we would leave for Disneyland on Sunday for a week with a short stop off in Pismo Beach to finally see the Holiday Melodrama.

 I guess the weather the last two years had been awful, but it was beautiful last Saturday. I got to drive half the team down to Hayward early in the morning.  

I love these boys!  They are just great kids with great personalities and I enjoy spending time with them.

We got there early so they could walk the course for those who haven't run it before.

(Like the massive lemons?)

After walking the course, they hung out and talked, 

wrestled, 

and did what teenage boys do.

Here is Parker and Tyler before the race.

About 200 runners ran in their heat.  It was crazy to see so many kids running at once and was the first time Parker had been in a group this big. (He's the fourth one back on the far right of the picture).

He was in 21-19th place as he came past us several times.  We thought he had to be in the top 16 to go to state.

As he came around this final time, he was in 19th place.  We ran to the finish line to watch him.  (Cross country involves a lot of running on the spectators part as well!)

As we were waiting at the finish line, he amazed us by coming in 11th.  Somehow he passed 8 people in the last quarter mile to finish 11th. We thought he had qualified for state because he was in the top 16.  We found out that you have to be in the top 16 to qualify for state.  However, the top seven runners go automatically.  Then, they take out the runners that qualified with their teams to go to state.  Then, only 5 individual runners get to go. Only two more runners after the top 7 got to go and Parker was one of them.

It was super exciting and his team was so excited, proud, and supportive of him.  Concord High ended up coming in 10th out of 19 teams.  Their 2nd best finish at NCS ever.

State Qualifiers!

Parker and his team from NCS.

State is next weekend.  Now, we just have to cancel our plans to Pismo (again)!  We are going from Disneyland to Frenso now for the state meet.  Guess it's a pretty good reason to have to cancel.  Congratulations Parker!  We are so proud of you!