So. Dustin Horter won the Alliance Invitational in a time of 15:28. His time was the 2nd fastest ever on the Alliance course. Sam Wharton of Tippecanoe holds the course record set in 21013 of 15:15. The #3 time on the course was run by Zach Wills of Mason in 2011 of 15:29. Dustin is currently ranked OH #4 with a 15:21.40.
Lakota East sophomore, Dustin Horter, participated in and was highlighted in our Saucony Flo Summer Training Blog. Saucony Flo Summer Training Blog. We do not often have the opportunity to blog during the XC and track seasons, but Dustin has agreed to provide us with his thoughts on his races on a weekly basis throughout this season. In this, the fourth of the series, Dustin comments on his race in the alliance Invitational - 9/19/15. (Horter did not race the weekend of the 12th)
Thoughts on the Race at Alliance Invitatonal - 9/19/15
The day, at first, seemed nice and calm. The whole team got to "sleep in" to arrive at Lakota East by 7:45 and get to Alliance for one of the biggest regular season meets of the year. Alliance has always been a huge confidence booster for the team, so today was a very promising day for good PR's, or so it seemed. When we arrived at Alliance, the conditions we had seen earlier, cloudy and about 75 degrees, soon shifted a rainy and around 65 degrees. The guys began to warm up a mile and a half in the light drizzle. We then came back to camp and stretched. The team seemed a little anxious this week so they got over to the line really early; probably 25-30 minutes before the start of our race. We ended up doing our initial drills and strides, then doing more to stay loose. We finally lined up on the line and the gunman fired the gun. I got off to a quick start. I have to say I was pretty anxious myself facing competition like Mitchell Poynter, so I think that could've contributed to my fast start. I got to the first mile in about 4:44 which was just fine. During this time, it had started to pour rain, and it did so for the remainder of the race. I got out of the woods onto the straight path up the tree line of the course, which seemed like it went on forever. Once I got out of that portion, I started to create more separation from Poynter and it started to become another race I had to push myself in. I got to the two mile mark in 9:50 which was off of the original pace set by my coach and I, so I had to just keep going along with what the race had turned out to be. Once I got out of the second loop of the woods, I was basically home free. The final 200m up hill was tough, but I managed to make it to the line in 15:28, coming in first place. This wasn't the best race I've ever run, but given the weather and conditions of running, it was just fine for me. God was good. Once again the team and I waited at the line for others to come in, shook hands, and got each other water.
Moment of the Week: I got to see a really good boys and girls open race this weekend including huge PR's from Jacob Lemen and Ian Stumpf again. The course conditions weren't fantastic, but I feel like the guys and girls did a really nice job hustling through the line and perfecting some of their craft on the course. Not everyone had a PR today, but the effort was there; we just need more hard practices and another solid week of practice should do some good at our next meet, Harrison. I also got to see my friend Emma Cunningham from Lakota West race for the first time since AAU Nationals which was pretty cool. She did a nice job out there despite a tweaked hip that almost kept her out of the race. Great job Emma!