MBA JS XC Wonders What's Up
Short Version: The Cumberland River smelled nice?
Long Version:
With today’s temperature dropping below 7 million degrees for the first time in recent memory, the MBA JS XCers felt disoriented as they boarded the bus with Coaches Reynolds and Deresu for a jaunt across the river. Our gracious hosts over at the USN River Campus added to the harriers' discombobulation by somehow fashioning an olfactory force field to fend off the offensive double stench of river and landfill. Mysteriously, a pleasant breeze did break through the barrier. As an eerily nice added touch, even the clouds floated by just a little too fluffily. Clearly, something was off.
Coach Reynolds should shoulder some of the blame for the confusion. He had misled the squad by calling today's race "just a workout". If it was just a workout, why were all the other teams there? Why were there tons of rabid spectators? Why did the boys need to don their uniforms? Why did Jude's family show up with an absolutely stunning display of refreshments for the team? Surely this was more than just a workout.
With at least a patissier's gross of runners assembled at what looked very much like a starting line, the Big Red (smart fellows that they are) put it all together: this was their first race of the season!!! For many of the MBA XCers, it was their first race EVER. One such runner was Zander Pughsley, who instantly put the team on his back with a driven and determined start. Sparked by Zander's electric start, the likes of John Crosslin, Gus Rogers, Paul Campbell, Isaac Simpson, Cullen Weaver, Reed Pennington, Joah Dowell, and Jack Newman jumped into the race as well.
The confusion, however, was not at an end. Why did Coach Reynolds hug an opposing team's coach? How did William Oliver find himself promoted to assistant coach? Why was the Ensworth coach on a bike? How does Coach Hackney's bag always have exactly the right number of safety pins? Did she also get a new car? Why were all these coaches such a big part of the confusion anyway?
Fortunately, the boys put an end to (most of) the confusion by competing just as you'd expect an MBA team to compete. What remains confusing is exactly who won the meet. CPA had rocketed out to a quick start as well. Did they hold on for the victory? USN, running on their familiar home course, also put up an excellent and spirited fight. In addition to the new scoring system, the infuriatingly similar uniforms of USN and MBA provided the final bit of confusion. Who won #a30046 or #a30045 or a sickening shade of purple? Apparently, we'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out...
Update: Turns out that placing 9 runners in the top 15 is pretty hard to beat. Roll Red!!
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With today’s temperature dropping below 7 million degrees for the first time in recent memory, the MBA JS XCers felt disoriented as they boarded the bus with Coaches Reynolds and Deresu for a jaunt across the river. Our gracious hosts over at the USN River Campus added to the harriers' discombobulation by somehow fashioning an olfactory force field to fend off the offensive double stench of river and landfill. Mysteriously, a pleasant breeze did break through the barrier. As an eerily nice added touch, even the clouds floated by just a little too fluffily. Clearly, something was off.
Coach Reynolds should shoulder some of the blame for the confusion. He had misled the squad by calling today's race "just a workout". If it was just a workout, why were all the other teams there? Why were there tons of rabid spectators? Why did the boys need to don their uniforms? Why did Jude's family show up with an absolutely stunning display of refreshments for the team? Surely this was more than just a workout.
With at least a patissier's gross of runners assembled at what looked very much like a starting line, the Big Red (smart fellows that they are) put it all together: this was their first race of the season!!! For many of the MBA XCers, it was their first race EVER. One such runner was Zander Pughsley, who instantly put the team on his back with a driven and determined start. Sparked by Zander's electric start, the likes of John Crosslin, Gus Rogers, Paul Campbell, Isaac Simpson, Cullen Weaver, Reed Pennington, Joah Dowell, and Jack Newman jumped into the race as well.
The confusion, however, was not at an end. Why did Coach Reynolds hug an opposing team's coach? How did William Oliver find himself promoted to assistant coach? Why was the Ensworth coach on a bike? How does Coach Hackney's bag always have exactly the right number of safety pins? Did she also get a new car? Why were all these coaches such a big part of the confusion anyway?
Fortunately, the boys put an end to (most of) the confusion by competing just as you'd expect an MBA team to compete. What remains confusing is exactly who won the meet. CPA had rocketed out to a quick start as well. Did they hold on for the victory? USN, running on their familiar home course, also put up an excellent and spirited fight. In addition to the new scoring system, the infuriatingly similar uniforms of USN and MBA provided the final bit of confusion. Who won #a30046 or #a30045 or a sickening shade of purple? Apparently, we'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out...
Update: Turns out that placing 9 runners in the top 15 is pretty hard to beat. Roll Red!!
Montgomery Bell Academy
4001 Harding Road
Nashville, TN 37205
(615) 298-5514
