Coach's Comments
Cross Country Girls Place Well at Simeon

Natalia Hall finished eighth at Simeon High School

October 1, 2008 -- Coach Caleb Ishman’s Cougars Cross Country team met Simeon Career Academy and Englewood High School at Simeon in Chicago last week.

“Our three runners did very well against two significantly larger teams,” Coach Ishman says. “We all placed in the top half of a group of 48 young women. Natalia Hall finished 8th; Nika Capers, 16th; and Mellissa Richards, 24th. We can do better – and we will – but I’m happy with the results. There were some strong competitors there that day.”

The low humidity, sunshine, and light breeze made the running easier at West Chatham Park adjacent to Simeon Career Academy, but confusion regarding the course and some misdirection from the host team’s markers led to some frustrated words between the Simeon and Englewood coaches, each claiming a first-place runner.

According to Ishman, “It happens sometimes. It can happen. You get a high school student out at the back of the track who doesn’t really understand the course or whether the course changes for the final lap [as it did at this meet], and occasionally some misdirecting occurs. But I told our girls to just focus on what they can control and they did. Our ladies had a good solid run and I’m pleased.”

Coach Ishman shares final instructions with his team.


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