Keeping Track from Start to Finish
By
Aaron Kopitz

Its been an amazing season for the Cross Country team as they finish up with their last meet, the NCAA Regionals, on November 4. The team has had a lot of good personal development this year said Track and Cross Country coach Steve Eles, who is very pleased with the accomplishments the team has made. The Cross Country team started practice back in August, then went to the Big Bay area where they trained and continued to hone their good work ethic.
	A few runners have definitely grown leaps and bounds, and one in particular has most certainly set the stage. Katie Scott, a sophomore here at Lake State and a red-shirt freshman on the team, has been on the podium every race. Recently at the GLIAC Championships she placed ninth with a time of 22.05.0 for a 6K. Scott earned All-GLIAC Second Team honors and was the second freshmen to cross the finish line in the race.  She shattered Lake States school record on a 6K course by 85 seconds and ran a 5K split of 18:22 that would have broken the Lakers school record for that event.
	On the mens side, Tom Thorton, a junior, placed twenty-fourth with a time of 25.48.6 for an 8K race at the GLIAC Championships and beat his personal best time by 34 seconds. Coach Eles was happy to see this happen and commented no one has broken 26 minutes; its nice to see someone go under. Sadly to say, Cross Country doesnt last forever and Track has already started.
	Track practices began three weeks ago and the first meet is the Blue-Gold Alumni meet on December 9th at Lake State. All students are encouraged to attend; it will begin at noon and last until three oclock.  Cross Country and Track will also be holding its first ever Turkey Trot 5k run/walk Saturday November 18th. This event is to encourage students and staff to get out, enjoy a run and get some exercise before Thanksgiving. They will also be hosting the 11th annual Cabin Fever 5k run/walk Saturday April 21, 2007.
	Some people may not understand or be familiar with Cross Country and Track and how it operates, so here are three traits that, according to Coach Eles, every athlete on the team should have. They need to be dedicated to their work both academically and athletically, be involved with fundraising and enjoy the sport. This goes for both Cross Country and Track and if running isnt your thing then try track. If you can stick with Track and experiment with the different events well find something for you. said Eles. The team takes walk-ons, as long as they have the willingness to grow. So, if you think you have what it takes to do one of the most elemental and fortitude testing sports here at Lake State, then consider the Cross Country and Track teams.
