The Final Movie, Now Back to the Books. And the Rollers.

Last Day on the Dachstein

Title #12, Sweetest of them all for Park City Miner XC?

From the Deseret News By Steve Mundee
SALT LAKE CITY — Considering that Park City has now won nine out of the past 10 state titles in cross country it sounds weird to say that the Miners were surprised to win the title again this year. However, that is the case with nationally ranked, No. 13 Ogden, competing.

"Nobody believed we could do it. I'm not even sure I believed it," said Park City coach Jeff Wyant. "These girls rose up."

Wyant has led the Miners to 12 total state titles during his tenure at Park City, but says that this year was one of the sweetest because they weren't expected to win the race. Wyant is also quick to credit the athletes for the program's continued strength.

"We train hard and we've been lucky getting girls who want to win," he said.

Alisse Walker and Annie Orr finished ninth and 10th, respectively. All seven Park City runners finished in the top 20, and they all finished within a 34-second window.

Ogden's team fell to third place, behind Pine View.

However, the Tigers saw athletes finish one and two individually in the race. Jamie Stokes took first place by a comfortable margin with teammate Sarah Feeny crossing the line next.

"It's been my goal for a long time," said Stokes. "I can't believe it actually happened."

She was the leader for nearly the entire race, winning with a 23-second margin.

"I didn't want to leave the race up to chance," she said.

3A Boys

Ogden edged Park City to grab their first state title since 2007.

"There is not a senior in the group, and they were hungry," said Ogden coach Dan Hall.

The Tigers were comprised of two juniors, three sophomores, and a freshman. When asked the secret for getting such a young team ready to compete so effectively coach Hall said, "It's work ethic; they want it."

Ogden wanted it so much the boys have been talking for weeks about championship rings and telling Hall that they are going to give him a Gatorade bath. Hall finished his comments by saying that the boys' victory was a relief and that "it was a sweet comeback" after the disappointing meet the girls team endured.

Ben Saarel of Park City finished first place in what he called a "crazy race," but had nothing but compliments for Jordon Cross, the second-place finisher from Ogden.

"Gross is an incredible runner and a great pace-setter," said Saarel. "He ran an incredible race."

Saarel's strategy was to hang with Cross for the majority of the race and overtake him towards the end, which worked to perfection.

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Congrats to the Miners. Look forward to getting in a few runs before Footlocker Regionals... -Torin

Life at the Dachstein

You know how people talk about where they work? Well, not too many places can compare to the last days at the Dachstein. Might have something to do with snow, sun, and the place being a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, a place 'forming the cultural and natural heritage of the world.'




The Austrian Alps are pretty crazy. Ramsau as a ski destination ranks at the top of my list. Now getting up in the morning and hopping on the 7:50 gondola that carries me to 2,700 meters to ski on the Dachstein glacier only confirms this.



I'm here with Team Sjusjoen. The vibe with the group is ideal. Everyday and every workout has a purpose and we're doing some real good work. At the same time, the mood and mileau is relaxed, encouraging, and really loving the opportunity we have here in Ramsau am Dachstein.

Team Sjusjoen Arrives at the Dachstein

Team Sjusjoen arrived just in time for the big snows and wind atop the Dachstein Glacier. We've been here for two days and have another two weeks here living high in the Austrian Alps. It's going to be a great camp...

Other Kinds o' Racing

Bike Magazine / Porsche Willow Springs Duathlon from Bike magazine on Vimeo.

I just finished a hi intensity training block... it's going to snow tomorrow in Park City. That should make cc practice with the high school interesting... heading to Austria in two days... yada, yada, yada. Why can't cross country skiers get in on this kind of racing action?

+Torin

Bolt: Small Story Behind the Story

A little video I got from Ziola Gomez, three time USA World Championship Marathon team member and fellow ITA teammate that captures a little story behind the big story of the 2011 IAAF World Track Championships. After this tough night for Usain, he went on to set a world-record in the 4x100 and re-claim his 200M in 19.4 seconds, the 4th fastest time in history. I can't wait to see him and Blake and Dix and hopefully Tyson throwing down in the most epic of Olympic sprint finals next summer.

Hurry Home Early

You can feel it in the air. The winter's a coming.
Soon you'll have to put away the running shoe.
For the cold wind, it's a calling for you.
Hey it's fall. You can't be blaming me at all.


Jack & Julie point out the constellations to me.
But the Big Dipper's all I could see.


Now don't go a drinking the clear Finnish turpentine.
It'll make you blind, burn you inside.


Oh, why do we do the things we do?
Some of us have the talent. But hard work will still have to get us through.