The community- and team-driven efforts in creating and constructing a home cross country course at Yelm High School paid off as Yelm’s boys and girls cross country programs competed in their inaugural meet at their home course on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
Prior to the competition, the team recognized seniors from the boys and girls teams, including Julian Flores, Noah Cornwall, Alex Hurd, Damon Rabalais, Cristian Flores, Luke Bachus, Elizabeth Redding and Liberty Manley.
Yelm boys head coach Alex McIntire said the Yelm community supported its athletes in a big way. From parents and local businesses donating time and energy toward creating the course, to athletes on the boys and girls teams spending countless hours making the coach’s vision come to life — McIntire believes everyone can be proud of the course.
“Hosting on the home course that we built was an emotional experience. I have had hopes for a course on campus for about eight years, and to see it all come together was one of the more rewarding experiences in my life. We broke ground on the project last December with the help of cross country parents and Alvarez Excavation. From then on, the entire project was 100% donated through the time and resources of cross country athletes, families and generous community members. It was one of those great reminders that people are good,” McIntire said. “I would like to thank all of the volunteers who have transformed the vision of a home course into a reality. I feel privileged to serve Yelm as a teacher and a coach. This is a community that I am proud to work for. I am so grateful.”
Girls head coach Jolynne Hopkins said the girls team had a great race in its inaugural home meet. The team’s goal was to give 100% effort and leave nothing behind, she said.
“We talked about how this was our home course, and we wanted to leave the race feeling like we [gave it all in that] race. All of the girls ran very well, and I hope they are very proud of their performance,” she said. “Their hard work this season is showing results.”
Hopkins said the team had three returning runners out of 15 total athletes on the team. She said it took some time for the new athletes to find their cross country rhythm, but as the season begins to wind down, “they are all in.”
“The girls’ attendance at the morning run would increase a little each week. Last week on race day we had nine girls show up at 6:20 a.m. to run before school. They are bonding as a group, and I’ve seen some true friendships develop as the season went on,” Hopkins said. “Running fast is fun, but I also want the girls to develop a confidence in themselves that came from our time together, a confidence that they can do hard things and that they belong. I hope that this will last them long beyond Yelm High School.
“I believe that running is a lifelong sport and their lives will be better because of the skills and habits they learn while running with us,” she continued. “The girls are a motivation for all of us. They make me want to be a better coach.”
McIntire said despite the boys’ loss against Olympia and South Kitsap, watching Tornado athletes compete against two “very good teams” on the course Yelm built meant everything.
“These boys put so much into their team. I wouldn’t describe it as work that they are doing but a lifestyle that they are choosing to live. More than half of the team is all-in year round. They run in the morning before school starts and gather again for practice in the afternoon,” he said. “This summer they were dedicated to each other. Our top end ran 50 to 70 miles a week throughout the summer, creating a really great foundation for the season and trust within each other. Yelm boys understand that success is a byproduct of consistency in running and in life. I believe they are very committed to that philosophy.
“A hard loss going into the postseason can have its advantages. The boys are fired up,” McIntire added. “They know that the path to state will not be easy, but they want it. I am confident that the Yelm boys will find their spot at the state meet. They deserve to be there.”
The boys team will take a two-week break until its next race, which will be the South Puget Sound League championship on Thursday, Oct. 24. McIntire said the next two weeks will include great strength workouts and a tune-up in speed.
“This is when we sharpen the sword and gear up to peak at the right time,” McIntire said. “We will get through to the district meet by simply doing what we have done all season. To get to state, Yelm will need to get to another level. Historically, our boys team has consistently accomplished that goal.”
