Nov. 4
November 4, 2008
Roger "Jay" Rebstock
November 6, 2008
When the racers gathered for the Terrebonne Parish Cross Country Championship at South Terrebonne High School last week, it was slightly different from the invitational meet held there three weeks earlier.
The course was the same distance, but a 20-degree drop in race-time temperature (84 degrees on Oct. 8 compared to 64 degrees on Oct. 29) had some concerned about how well the runners would perform.
“I think they (runners) would rather run in cool weather than hot weather, but when it turns cool, their chests hurt a little bit more. Their noses run a little more, so it’s more aggravating,” said Vandebilt coach Dave Malone.
“Overall it’s probably a little bit harder because it’s a temperature change right in the middle of the season. You go from extremely hot and humid to fairly cold and needing a jacket. So it’s a tough transition,” he added
Malone did not need to worry as his Terriers boys’ and girls’ teams swept the overall team championships for the fifth straight year. The boys’ have won six consecutive championships.
On the boys’ side, Vandebilt edged out the Gators for first place gaining 33 points to South Terrebonne’s 38. Terrebonne was third with 56 points and H.L. Bourgeois was fourth with 109.
In the girls’ event, Vandebilt compiled 29 points for first place. South Terrebonne was second with 40, and H.L. Bourgeois placed third with 98.
“I’m really proud of the way both teams competed today,” Malone said. “That boys’ race was one of the best parish races we’ve had in several years. The girls looked really good today. South Terrebonne definitely gave us a run for our money, but we were just a little stronger.”
South Terrebonne coach Scott Guidroz said the conditions were better than in previous days.
“When that cold air came in on Monday, their (Gators cross country team) chests were hurting because of that cold air getting in their lungs,” he said. “But today, I think it was nice. It was a perfect day for them to run.”
South Terrebonne senior Chase Menard and Ellender sophomore Hali Yarmush would not let the elements stop them from trouncing the field in their individual victories in boys’ and girls’ races.
During warm-ups, Menard was barefoot, listening to his iPod and tossing around athletic tape like a football with teammates.
“Sometimes I’m OK running when it’s cooler. I just have to pay attention to my breathing,” he said. “It could cause a runny nose, but I’m getting used to it.”
Yarmush was layered in black Under Armour coldgear to battle the chilly conditions.
“The cold weather flares up my asthma a little more,” she said. “I don’t sweat as much, so what doesn’t sweat out usually goes into my bladder.”
Vandebilt’s Ross Mullooly challenged Menard on the first lap, but over the final two laps, Menard steadily widened the gap to win by 44 seconds. Guidroz was not surprised by Menard’s performance.
“Not a bit. I wasn’t expecting anything less from him,” Guidroz said.
“Ross came with me that first mile, so I figured he’d stay with me,” Menard said. “I did what I wanted to do – dig in that second mile and I just left him.”
Menard won in 16:11. Mullooly placed second in 16:55, and Vandebilt’s Christopher Watson was third with a time of 17:02.
“I’ve been wanting this since last year,” Menard explained. “I’ve come a long way since my sophomore year when I first started running. I’m proud of this accomplishment.”
Yarmush’s victory was more lopsided. Her lead grew from 30 seconds, to 90 seconds, to finishing over two minutes ahead of the pack.
“I was really slow on that first lap,” she said. ” I was able to pick up the pace and, I actually finished a minute and seven seconds faster than I did the last time I was here.”
“She has such high expectations for herself and a strong work ethic that she will only get better,” said Ellender coach Cynthia Newman of her star runner.
Vandebilt is hosting the District 8-4A Cross Country Champion-ship Meet today on its campus, 209 South Hollywood Road in Houma. The girls’ race starts at 4 p.m. and the boys’ race starts at 4:30 p.m. Vandebilt, Ellender, Morgan City, Shaw, Belle Chasse and Helen Cox are competing.
Central Lafourche is hosting an invitational meet today at the Raceland Recreation Center soccer fields. The girls start at 3:45 p.m. and the boys at 4:30 p.m.
South Terrebonne’s Hannah Theriot reaches the finish line at the Terrebonne Parish Cross Country Championship Meet. She placed second, finishing in 22 minutes. * Photo by KEYON K. JEFF
