Day 2 of Region VI Track Competition

Okay so I am definately behind in my postings; I suppose I could say my excuse was family in town, recovery, the State track meet, a working trip to LA, a fishing trip in Homer and now just trying to catchup. Well tonight the 4X800 meter Lathrop girls team got recognized by the School District Assembly for winning the State Championship; however, I can't post the pictures yet as I am still trying to get to the State Championships two weekends ago! I like things to go in order so you all will just have to wait and re-live the past few weeks. :) - guess emoticons aren't automotic in blogger.com!



Okay back to the Region VI Track Meet. Here's Megan starting out on the 4X800 meter girls relay race. Gooooooo Megan!





and the "queen" of running anchor...........Heather. The Lathrop girls won in a time of 10:12.43 consequently qualifying for the State meet.

I missed the medal ceremony of the 4X800 relays though I don't quite remember what I was doing anymore. Maybe that was when Aunt Kristin and I left the races to go shopping or was it to prep for the family graduation party we were going to have later that night? or was it the Party Palace stop with Uncle Michael to one of Kristin's fav buildings in Fairbanks? Who knows but I dont' have the picture......

So moving right along, here's Heather in the 1600 meter race. She is amazing for not having much sleep. She ended up placing 2nd in 5:21.77.

Megan in the 1600 meter race. Megan ended up placing 5th with a time of 5:55.05. Perhpas not one of her fastest races but still what a great job Megan!!!

Below, Heather on the medal stand for placing 2nd in the 1600 meters.

Heather in the 800 meter race coming in for her finish.

And another 2nd place medal is adorned for the 800 meter race.

The regional track season draws to an end. Only state qualifiers move on which includes Heather and Megan for the 4X800 meter relay; and Heather for the 3200, 1600, and 800 meter races.

A friend of one of the coach's made this cake to celebrate the end of the season which sat on the bleachers below us for several races. Our challenge was not to step in the cake, fall in the cake, bounce the cake off the bleachers, or worse yet, kick it off on to the people below the cake, you get the drift.......not be an embarrassment to Heather or Megan.

Heather enjoying the end of quite the weekend; a 3200 meter race, a graduation, a graduation party until 2am, followed by three running events the next day and to top it off she was expected to entertain and be happy at her family graduation immediately following the track meet. Thanks to all the family who came and supported her!

Heather's Graduation

Oh wait........this isn't Heather graduating. Just another visitor in the neighborhood saying, "Hey you, enough already graduate will you?!"



Heather and Megan ready and excited.

Oops this is out of order. Heather enjoying family before finally getting ready to go.

Kristin and Michael ready as ever........

Heather walking in......

What a smile, someone is very excited..........

Walking up to receive diploma......

Receiving diploma......

I have it Mom, I'm done with High School!

After the tossing of the caps........oh no, where's my liripoop? (that's for all of you Balderdash players out there!)

Megan, Heather, Nanna and I enjoying the moment..........

The only picture I have with "Michael Squared."

Heather with her hilarious Aunt Kristin.

Poppop and the girls........

Heather with her Dad.....

Steve, Heather and I.........

Some silly pictures to end the night..........it was just so funny but why?!!!

Probably because of the host of photographers!

What Heather Did Before Graduation

While most seniors got to enjoy the morning sleeping in and relaxing before graduation, Heather was participating in the Region 6 Championship track meet. It was gearing up to be a big weekend for her; Regionals, graduation and the after party as well as visiting family. Poppop and Jean had arrived early Thursday morning, and Nanna later on Thursday. While we were at the track meet, we were all anxiously awaiting Aunt Kristin's arrival as I had told her the wrong start time of the 3200 meter race. Would she make it in time (even after stopping to join Uncle Michael for scones and coffee somewhere near Nancy Lake?) Thankfully, she arrived in the nick of time to see Heather start. Here's Heather leading after two or three laps into the eight lap race.


Heather approaching the end and winning the race in 11:41, a personal best for her.

A happy winner, an aunt and the mom......

Heather as the 2009 3200-meter Regional Champ!

Meanwhile "Michael Squared" had arrived at 1110 Violet Drive and were prepping for a bicycle ride. More to come about graduation night in a later blog.......as I have everyone's photo's to go through!!!

The Girls Race in North Pole

This week, North Pole High School hosted the real first track meet of the season (guess last week was a mini-meet.) It was cold and windy both days and not much snow as melted since last weekend. On Friday, Megan participated in the 3200 meter run. Megan is in the middle of the picture, one of the Lathrop girls starting her watch.

Megan ended up placing 3rd in a time of 13:03.

On Saturday, Heather was the anchor for the 4X800 meter relay. Her team had given her quite a lead which was good as she was supposed to take it easy since she now as a cold. But of course, she took off flying and started lapping people. Here she is on her 1st lap.

and finishing her 1st lap....her split was either 2:29 or 2:30.

In between races, all were trying to keep warm. Megan and her friends have several blankets, one I got from Nanna via her friend Trizah. (Thanks!!!)

Megan starting the 1600 meter run.

Megan coming through on one of her laps.

Megan finishing......she had to sprint with the two West Valley girls for the finish. She did it!!! coming in 5th overall with a time of 5:51.

I had to leave the track early and missed the girls racing in the 4X400 meter relays. Heather was on Lathrop Team A which came in first while Megan was on Team B placing 2nd but may have been disqualifed. Next weekend the girls race in Palmer and than the following races through State will all be at the Lathrop track.

And Mom Didn't Know......

Well, today late morning I found out that yesterday Heather had signed her letter of intent with University of Alaska for cross country running/skiing. A nice article was published on the Sports section front page as well as a small photo of her skiing. Here's the article...........

Nanooks sign Lathrop's Edic
Staff Report
Published Wednesday, April 22, 2009
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FAIRBANKS — Heather Edic excelled as a runner and skier at Lathrop High School. She’ll try to do the same for the Alaska Nanooks.
Edic signed a National Letter of Intent as a running recruit for the Nanooks but also plans to Nordic ski there beginning this fall, the university announced on Tuesday.
“We expect her to develop into a solid contributor for years to come in both sports,” Nanooks coach Scott Jerome said in a press release.
Edic ran cross country for four years at LHS, and won the Region VI title her senior year as the Malemutes upset rival West Valley by one point. The next weekend, Edic placed sixth at the Alaska cross country state championships in Palmer.
Edic ranks third on Lathrop’s all-time list with a 5-kilometer time of 19 minutes, 12 seconds, trailing only Kelly Bradshaw (18:16) and Sarah Gish (18:34).
Edic also proved her ability on the ski trails, as she finished in a tie for first with West Valley’s Marisa Rorabaugh for the 2009 Region VI 7.5K title.
“Heather knows how to train in Fairbanks,” Jerome said. “For some people, coming here is like going to the moon, but for her it is not a big change. She knows what to expect and she knows how to succeed up here.”
Edic has been a member of the club FXC ski team since 2007 and has competed in skiing at the Junior Olympics and Arctic Winter Games.
She will study mechanical engineering at UAF.
Contact the News-Miner sports department at 459-7581.

And here's the photo....

Needless to say, even though I knew she was going to sign with UAF, I was still surprised that I didn't know when she would sign and that it would be published in the paper before Mom knew. (I know of some parents that have been surprised by daughters before!!)

So guess it's true sometimes Mom doesn't always know............

Track in Interior Alaska

Today was the first "mini" track meet for Region 6 which means that not all events were run or "fielded". Both the West Valley and Lathrop track infields are still covered by at least one foot of snow. In general, our track season in Interior Alaska is so short compared to the Lower 48 and even to Anchorage as ANC has a dome available. As Heather says, here you "race" into shape. Though today was sunny it was still quite chilly; when Megan's first race started it was 37 degrees.

Remember the trampoline and the girls from last week's blog? Well, Heather ended up spraining her ankle so she still isn't running yet. So it's all about Megan.........

Here's a few pictures of Megan running the 1600 meters. She ended up coming in 4th with a time of 5:52 (I think.)

Megan also ran the 800 meter as well.

Megan came in 3rd with a time of 2:36.

Megan did well for her first High School Track meet. Perhaps next week, Heather will be joining her and maybe just maybe more of the infield snow will be gone.

Easter in Fairbanks

Every Easter for the past few years, my friend Cathy and I with our children go to Two Rivers Lodge for Easter Day brunch. Even though it was the morning after Prom night, the girls wanted to go as long as Two Rivers had their chocolate fountain. Of course I forgot to take pictures until we were almost ready to leave. (I was promised Prom pictures from the girls so hopefully I'll have some soon for another blog entry.)





This time of year in Fairbanks can be absolutely beautiful and bright with all of the snow and the 14 hours plus of daylight! Easter Day was just wonderful; clear sky and lots of sun. Later that afternoon with the sun shining directly on our deck, the thermometer reached 90 degrees. Cathy and I were sitting on the deck for a while in short sleeves and it felt so wonderful even if we were getting dripped on from snow melt coming over the gutter from being full of leaves. My proof of 90 degrees....of course it helps if the thermometer is in direct sunlight!



Later that evening, we were invited to the Buetow's for dinner.

Crazy Alaskan girls in barefeet cross the snow to get to the trampoline!