10/4/25 - MEXICO HOUNDS XC DERBY

Hot day!  Decent in the shade, hot when not.  But things went well in Mexico.  Thanks a lot to the Hounds for hosting again this year.  Looks like ome good times on a course that many seemed to enjoy.  It was great watching the many young athletes battle it out on that final long stretch to the finish.

Moberly is this Sunday, and that is always a fun time.  Everyone make it a point to improve.  Also, coaches please reinforce rules to your club members.  Blocking and such was reported from the Mexico meet.  It is time to refine and get closer to perfect.  REMINDER, the Moberly meet starts the 4K for 13-14 year olds.  This will be their distance for the remainder of the season.

After Moberly, we'll be in Hannibal.  If your coaches have not already shared the information with you then it is coming soon.  The flyer is out, but the info packet is under construction by Legion of Hannibal.  For some of you it will be a drive, but you might as well get used to it if you are going to regionals and beyond.  Deadline will be next Wednesday for coaches to enter athletes in the spreadsheets for this meet.  If you know any people out that way that may want to give this race a try, please share this link with them so they can register.

After that will be the CMAC championhips.  It wil be hosted at Gans Creek Cross country course in Columbia.  It is a dedicated course and it cost a nice few pennies to acquire.  Expect to hear something from CMAC with fundraising towards making that amazing course work for us.  Be prepared as there will be certain parking restrictions and such.  Also be prepared for other teams to show up and compete as one or two will every year.  But we will award our CMAC athletes exclusively.  That step up in competition is a good thing leading into regionals.

After the CMAC championships, we'll be jumping into post-season for those interested.  It is only for those that love the sport.  No parents needing to pull and beg their kids to go to practice, or to run on non-practice days, no walkers, no complainers at that point...   This is for the lovers of cross country and running.  Not necessarily just the talented kids.  We'll send out a link to pre-register for regionals and / or nationals soon.  But, for the time being, here is the info for the regional meet and the website for the national meet.

It was mentioned prior to almost every race to be on top of your families and athletes... but to NOT do any running assistance.  Don't pace them as they need to work through this on their own.  Families have all week to run with their little athletes, and they should.  But the meet is not the place to do it.

Our next CMAC All-Star / All-Squad practice will be 10:00am Saturday, 11/1 in Columbia at Stephens Lake Park for those that are interested.  Don't fill up on too much candy the day before, if any at all!  haha.

Finally, with regards to the post-season, expect to see the opportunity to sponsor the backs of the national team shirts.  They are going to be pretty cool!  Of course, keep an eye out for the chance to order those shirts too!

As always, keep improving.  Eat right, drink right and live right so you can achieve your goals!