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<br />4IB <br /> <br />Lakewood trail blazers chase state meet <br />by Kevìn Lenahan <br /> <br /> <br />lakewood cross country runners prepare for the upcomming state <br />meet with a stron through lakewood Park.Timesphoto by Quincy <br />Brinker <br /> <br />As daunting and intimidating as qùali- <br />fying for the state cross country meet might <br />be, it has become somewhat of an expectation <br />at LHS. It seems like Lakewood has always had <br />a great cross-country team. <br />From previous years, when races were <br />2.5 miles to the 3.I-mile race of today; the LHS <br />mens cross-country team has a record that de- <br />fies state. <br />This <br />year has brought <br />prospects into <br />consideration, <br />like Nick & <br />Casey Meesan, <br />Adam Hrdlicka, <br />Reid Fitzgetald <br />3lldMikeAn- <br />driani. These <br />firsryear team <br />leaders have P.R. <br />(personal record) <br />times rivaling <br />that of fouryear <br />runners. <br />This year <br />the quintuplets <br />find themselves <br />fighting over the <br />top ten places <br />each race. They <br />displayatWetic ability and the will to be at the <br />front of the pack every race~ <br />Lakewood's cross-country workout <br />routines support why they have placed in the <br />top 10 at the state meet numerous times. LHS <br />runners train hard, running around 6:"12 miles a <br />day on average. Variety & intensity keeps these <br />atlùetes focused on accomplishing personal <br />golli. <br />One of the most successful runners on <br />the team is Paul Verga, who is on the verge of <br />surpacingJ1istin Meesan's team best time in <br />just his second year. <br />"I don't really like team sports. I <br />picked this sport because you set goals for <br />yourself," Verga said. <br />All of these atWetes have one thing <br />in common; they want to be successful run- <br />ners. This mindset, along with the leadership <br />of coach Rick Ventura, guides these athletes <br /> <br />along the way to victory. Ventura takes pride in <br />what he does, which is consistently train highly <br />competitive and successful runners. Many have <br />gone on to compete after high school on the col- <br />lege level. <br />A competitive spirit instilled by the head <br />coach and embodied in a team mantra explains <br />their success.. <br />"The day I stop running is the dayyou <br />start digging my <br />grave," Ventura <br />said. <br />Leading the <br />pack on to states <br />this year isJustin <br />Meeson, a four <br />year varsity runner <br />whose experience <br />has made him the <br />team's unofficial <br />ca~tain. Following <br />inJustin's footsteps <br />are his two twin <br />brothers Casey and <br />Nìck. The Meesons <br />have left their mark <br />upon Lakewood <br />High School CtOSS <br />Country. <br />What will it take <br />for the Rangers to <br />go to states? Consistency; The varsity team needs <br />to average somewhere in the ballpark OfI7:30, <br />give or t3ke 30 seconds, to at least qualifY for the <br />state meet. <br />Every year results differ a little bit, but <br />so far it seems as if the Lakewood Cross Country <br />team will qualify provided they remain injury <br />free, <br />The end of the running season is ap- <br />proaching and this might be the last time the <br />team has a shot at states for a couple years <br />because they ar.e going to lose a lot of varsity run- <br />ners to graduatIon. <br />All three Meesons and the rest of the <br />LHS cross country team will be at the District <br />Meet Octob~r 23 at Edgewater Park, the Re- <br />gional Meet October 30 at Hedges Boyer Park <br />and, with any luck, the State Meet November 6 <br />at Sciato Downs. <br /> <br />