The Fans

At every cross country meet there are fans. But the cross country fans pictured below are some of the loudest, craziest fans out there. You guessed it: They're the Leones.

Kathleen (right) and her friend wait for the runners to pass. And when they do, you can count on these two to be jumping up and down and screaming their lungs out.

Some of the youngest fans were also some of the cutest.

Lucia was never run from point to point so fast as she was at those meets when we wanted to get to the best vantage points quickly.

Okay, this fan just looks exhausted.  

And then there are the Leone fans who decided to enter the "open race" after the official meet had wrapped up. Check out Andrew booking it down the finish line.

And Joe makes his move on this woman in the closing stretch. 

And did you ever see such a face on a runner? That's my man, Joe, competing in the open race—in hiking boots, no less—and making it interesting for everyone.

William Runs Cross Country

As a sixth grader, William debuted in his first year of cross country with Holy Family Warriors. A natural runner, William had a ton of fun in his first year.

We are proud of William, our runner! He did consistently well all season.

William's pal helps him stretch pre-race.

The middle schoolers, ready to race. 

Ready, set, run!

William sprints to the finish.

After a hard-run race.

Frassati Runners 2012

Another great season of Frassati Runners.

My friend Angela and I have been running this middle school summer running program for four years, but handed it off to a talented bunch of high schoolers this year. Those high schoolers included Anna Marie and Kathleen. They did amazing things with the program this year (and provided a much-needed break for some moms).

Therese, third from left, with her race-day ribbon.
(The younger set had their own little race on this final day of Frassati Runners.)

Andrew, fifth from right with his final Frassati race-day ribbon.

William (orange shorts) with his final Frassati race-day ribbon.

Cross Country Racers

Still processing the excitement of the kids' triathlon, we moved right into our Frassati Runners and Holy Family Homeschoolers annual cross country race. The racers were divided by age bracket and by gender.

Kathleen decided to sit out this race. And Anna Marie, now a high schooler, was too old for the race. (It seems just the other day she was looking up to all those big kids. Now she was one of them, helping to mentor the younger runners and monitor the finish line.)

The Leone racers this year were William, Andrew, and Therese. William and Andrew ran the big cross-country course, while Therese ran in the pee-wee race on the track.

All our competitors did well. But a very special mention goes to William who WON HIS RACE! William is so proud of his first place trophy. For those who know of William's story, this is a very big deal. I am so proud of him and so happy for him.

This is when I first caught site of William, coming down the course in the lead. At this point, they've already been running for about eight minutes.  William holds the lead (although it was a tough battle) between here and the finish line. 

William and his friend Kurtis battle it out for first and second place.
I was monitoring this top part of the course, so I didn't get to see the finish, but apparently it was very close.

That's Andrew in the tie-dyed shirt. He was racing with kids twice his size, bless his heart. He is such a trooper!

Here is Therese (in purple, on the right) preparing for her pee-wee race.

The pee-wee race participants gather.

Quick photo of Therese with her foot on the starting line.
She came in 4th place. Go Therese!