The Portage Invitational is definitively the most unique race the team runs. There is plenty of competition, almost 50 teams in our division, and a little over 300 kids at the starting line. The team’s goal was to run a smart race, keep a steady pace for the first mile, to keep the negative progression the rest of the way. That last mile was important for picking people off especially with how much of a straightaway it is. One who did that was Charles Brooks. Charles hit a 20:17 PR for the number one varsity spot and made it count on the last mile! The rest of the boys had close splits the second mile and kept it close to their teammates to the finish. We are still trying to hit those PRs but this race was nothing we squandered. It was a smart race and more experience at getting those splits down.  This year has flown by, as it always does. We have the conference finals meet and regionals left for certain. We need to be healthy and come to our races mentally and physically prepared. That is what our full week of practice will give us! The boys still have a lot of goals to hit and for upperclassmen especially, every practice and race counts! Conference finals are Wednesday, October 20th, at Holland Christian, an unfamiliar course, but we’ll be ready!