Jacob the great!

 

Focussing on the start.

  Runners on your marks....get set....go!  This last weekend Jacob ran in the regional cross country race.  The teams and the individuals that qualify will go to state this next weekend.  Jacob has gradually been improving his time over the semester, so our hopes were high.  The whole team has been doing well this year too.



They're off! Jacob's in the middle.

The view from behind.

We walked from one place to the next trying to yell our support and encouragement.  Dad was keeping the time.  Because of the level of the race, there was quite a bit more excitement in the crowd.  The lead runner who always seems to be out in front during these races, suddenly fell out and almost didn't come back.  He was injured but decided to finish.  He managed to pass the 4 or 5 racers that had passed him and still finished 3rd, amazing.

Usually at the end of a race you'll see runners do a couple of things, either kick into high gear, stay the same, or stumble to the end.  Jacob usually stays the same but this time he "kicked it"!  I couldn't get a picture of the finish because there were so many people, but I got a clear  view of his face.  To see the effort in his face made me emotional.  Usually he improves by a few seconds, but this time he shaved off 21 !!  It was his best time ever!! We are both so proud of him!

The regional champs.  The tallest in the picture is the stake president's
son, Jordon Marsh who finished 4th.  The boy in the middle is the one
who started out first and ended 3rd. 

The final count put Jacob 10 seconds or one position shy of making it to state.  So close!!  He came in second among his own team and his team finished 6th (they were 11th last year).  The girls finished 3rd and are all going to state.  Cool.

Jacob's efforts certainly show that he can accomplish great things if he puts his mind to it. 

I believe he will do just that.