The girls are writing up their stories and thoughts from Oregon. I should have them all by Thursday and will put them up Friday.
Each girl was asked to write about their trip out west. I will post them on Friday. I thought you would rather hear what they thought, than what I thought.
Click to see photos from Oregon
This report comes from Megan Ravenscraft.
When we arrived in Oregon last week for Nike Team Nationals we were thrilled
to have such an amazing opportunity and excited to compete with the best of
the best! On our flight into Oregon we meet a couple other boys teams that
were headed out to Oregon as well. The first guys team we meet actually was
the boys team from York who ended up winning.
Once we arrived Nike greeted us at the air port with signs welcoming the
runners. The Nike buses took us to the Embassy Suites in Portland. The
hotel itself was amazing. Nike had decorated it with custom made team banners.
Soon after arriving we loaded back onto the buses and headed over to Nike's
headquarters in Portland. One coach described the headquarters as the
athletes Disney World, and he was absolutely right.
The Nike Campus was stunning and bordered by a well kept running trail.
They directed our team into the Tiger Woods Building where Nike equipped
everyone of us with a pair of training shoes and a brand new pair of Nike Zoom
Crosses. We were all very excited about receiving these new spikes that
designed for both cross country and track. Nike informed us that these new spikes
would not be sold until the 2005 xc season. In addition to footwear Nike
gave us each our own track bag stuffed with free goodies including our warm ups
embroidered with our team name, a black Nike Team National pullover, a red
meet tee shirt and a fleece Nike hat. It was better than Christmas!!! After
receiving all our gear we put on our warm ups for a team photo shoot. Nike
treated us with so much respect, they really made us feel like we had
achieved a lot. After a quick run around the Nike Campus we got to hang out in a
rec-room Nike created for us in the Tiger Woods Wing. We had the chance to
socialize with other teams and hang out.
On Friday we got the chance to run through the much anticipated European
Style race course Nike had custom designed. I loved every aspect of the
course from the camel back hills (which were nothing compared to Hereford!) to
having to lung over hay bails. The only part of the course that seems to be a
little tricky was the mud. If you don't know it tends to rain A LOT in
Oregon making for some messy race conditions. We spent the rest of the day
hanging out at the hotel getting autographs of the Nike athletes from Bob Kennedy
to Allan Webb and Suzie Favor Hamilton. That evening we had a very nice
dinner and Nike had a wonderful speaker present a inspirational speech. Just
before bed we headed out to the parking lot to decorate our teams van we would
use to get to the race. Decorating the vans was defiantly one of the
highlights of the weekend.
As for the race, it was amazing. Getting out was a little tricky
considering there were some many amazing runners also trying to get out. I had
more fun in this race than any other race this year! It was amazing how you
could hear Nike announcing which team was winning while we were still running
the race.
Although my team did not finish as well as some would have hoped, I had
an amazing time and felt privileged to run against some of the best female
runners in the country. On our final night I began talking to some of the
girls from Colorado, before the awards ceremony. Katelyn and her teammates
congratulated us on our 20th place finish and told us what a huge accomplishment
it was just to qualify for this meet. When I asked Katelyn how her team
placed she modestly responded that they had a good day and came in 2nd. Only then
did it register. I was talking to Katelyn Kaltenbach, last years winner of
Footlocker Cross Country Nationals! It was Katelyn's kind words that made me
realize all runners, whether you are in the rear of the pack or the best
cross country runner in the nation, we all have one common goal. We are all
driven by hard work and our determination to run the best we are each capable
of.
I am very glad I had the opportunity to race at Nike Team Nationals and
I am sure this is something I will never forget. Most importantly I have
gained such a strong sense of determination by seeing and having the chance to
talk to some of the top runners in the nation. I am also very thankful to
Nike for making this experience so amazing for my wonderful teammate and I.