State Cross Country Meet...

South O'Brien Cross Country team is Ranked

#8 in State!!

R.J was surprised with "Good Luck" at State Balloons from Bill T. How sweet.

R.J and his BIGGEST FAN!

R.J and Dad

R.J and Mom
Each runner was given two chips to tie on their shoes. This is how they keep track of their rankings. All computerized.
The Team Prayer...
I texted R.J's Aunt Mary and she was cheering from home...she texted back...
"Ok, Lets go Buddy!"
"GO FOR IT!"
"Your time to Fly!"

State Cross Country meet on October 31st, 2009. Fort Dodge, Iowa
The people...people EVERY where. 1,200 contestant plus family, friends and fans. There were cars parked on the road for miles...

On your marks...
Get SET...

GO!!!

The last stretch of the 3.1 mile run...

R.J placed 51 out of 924 1A Iowa High School Team Runners.

81 as an individual runner...

Afterwards...the texts came rolling in...

"Awesome job!"

"Cool"

"Wonderful!"

"Great!"

"Super!"

Coach Foss takinf the chips off.
The entire 2009 Cross Country Team From The IHSAA website...Results...
8. 212 SOUTH O'BRIEN, PAULLINA ( 18:28 1:32:16)=====================================================

1 11 874 Cole Pleggenkuhle 1A 12 17:38

2 32 876 Nate Struve 1A 11 18:09

3 44 873 Daniel Patterson 1A 9 18:26

4 51 872 Randall Niemen 1A 11 18:36

5 74 871 Luke Hoger 1A 9 19:27

6 ( 97) 875 Collin Schroeder 1A 11 20:47

7 (103) 870 Daniel Haden 1A 9 21:55

Individual
81 51 872 Randall Niemen 1A 11 SOUTH O'BRIEN, PAULLINA 5:46 6:15 18:36 6:00