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Canaan Meester-Kitterman - Finishing Off
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Hello again Distancepreps readers!
The season feels like it just started last week, and yet the state meet is just days away! For me this season had a slow start. I wasn't hitting the marks I wanted to coming into the XC season, but I was reminded to be patient and keep working hard, and as the season progresses, I can tell that the extra summer track has helped me. This season has had some highlights for sure. My season really felt like it picked up after the first inaugural IMG XC invite. It was the hardest course I ran on all year and a great confidence boost when I landed my first win of the season. After IMG I raced in my first ever Tri-county Championship meet. Our county meet has usually been a smaller event, with just Manatee County schools, but this year we raced with Sarasota and Charlotte County at the Bobby Jones Golf Course in Sarasota. The races were packed! I took 3rd overall and 1st in my county.
At the conclusion of the tri-county championship Bill O'Brien took the stage to present the 27th annual Bill O'Brien Award. It was an honor to meet with Mr.O'Brien again, accept the award, and shake his hand. Thank you Mr.O'Brien for taking the time to recognize us distance runners in Manatee County, for your many years of supporting the sport, and for your generosity!
Each year Mr.O'Brien goes out of his way to make the award unique. This year was no different, and he presented me a framed certificate of recognition and a jersey with the original design that Bill himself created for Manasota Track Club, founded in 1975. The Bill O'Brien award has been awarded each XC season to one girl and boy as "Outstanding Distance Runner of Manatee County". This year I was joined in receiving the honor with Julia Ortiz! Congrats Julia!! Sophomore year was my first year to receive the Bill O'Brien award too! It's cool also, because the first year I received the award, I received it along side Olivia! (Olivia Ortiz is Julia's older sister). Mr.O'Brien shared that there were two firsts for the Bill O'Brien award this year, first time anyone has received it 3 times, and the first time two siblings have received it, ever... in its 27 years, the Ortiz sisters are the first siblings! Congrats!!
If you would like to read more about Bill O'Brien, founder of Manasota Track Club, and his connection to the sport of running... Here is an article printed in the Bradenton Herald last year;
Coming out of the Tri-County meet I was feeling really good moving toward my District 2A 10 meet. My school used to be in 3A and over the last couple of XC and track seasons I met a lot of great people and runners in 3A. But this year being moved to 2A, I didn't really know anyone, and I wasn't familiar with the teams that would be at my series meets. But, as I suspected, there are equally friendly and talented competitors in 2A. It's been good getting to talk with new and different runners this year! I always enjoy meeting new people. I had a pretty good district meet this year, and even though I was in a new division and a new course, I managed to go another season as district champion. I ran a PR of 16:01 that race, which is a good point in the season (I think) to be setting PRs! I went on to Region 2A 3 where I was runner up. It was a tough course, with lousy weather, but I was pleased to place 2nd. That is the highest place I have ever gotten at a regional XC meet. Congrats to my toughest competitor, Leonel Delacruz (from Immokalee) on a well earned win! Also to Anita Munoz, also from Immokalee, who was the regional winner for the girls race. Senior year is crazy busy! There's been so much to do already, and we've only just finished the first quarter! Scholarships to research and apply for, college applications, and Senior events and meetings and all of that while keeping up with classes! But all in all, it is turning out to be the best year of high school. College visits also go hand in hand with senior year. It is one of the coolest experiences to go check out different colleges, meet coaches and teams, tour campuses, and hear about different degree options. Each one offers something unique and has a completely different atmosphere to it. As I visit each college I find that I am getting more and more excited about attending college next fall. I look forward to meeting new people, seeing new things, and to be studying something that truly interests me. To finish this off, I want to be sure to wish everyone who advanced to states, VERY GOOD LUCK!! I'm shooting for top 5, and maybe my season will stretch on from there with a chance to represent the West Team at the FACA Senior meet, or maybe another awesome trip to Foot Locker South Regional. I am looking forward to taking the rest of my college visits, and coming closer to making a final college decision! To all of the Florida HS XC runners, I hope this season has been a rewarding and memorable one for you and your teams! Run Happy! ~C.C~ |
