What does High School Cross Country Mean to You?

Rebecca was recently included in a nice video piece on PennTrackXC.com. In the video, Rebecca, Artie Gilkes, Luke Watson, Katie Kisenwether, and Lori Shontz talk about what high school country means to them. It holds a very special place in all of their hearts and they give us a glimpse as to why.

So what does high school country mean to you? Add your answers to the comments section.

Results from Rebecca’s Busy Weekend

Rebecca completed her long weekend with flying colors. Rebecca’s girls from State High got the weekend started off on the right foot with victory at the Big Valley Invitational. It was close race and they were able to beat Lewisburg 69-72.  Listen as Rebecca recaps her team’s performance.

Right after the JV race, Rebecca and Artie hopped in their car to make sure Rebecca didn’t miss her flight to New Haven, CT for the US 20km Championships. Rebecca finished 4th in the race which was won by Colleen DeReuck.

Rebecca’s discusses her performance below.

Related News

Flotrack’s Coverage of the USA 20km Championships

Women’s USA 20km Race

Rebecca’s Post-race Interview

Busy Labor Day Weekend for Rebecca

Recently Rebecca was ranked 7th in the Running Times magazine’s weekly rankings. She will put that ranking on the line and more when she travels to New Haven this weekend for the 2009 USA 20km Championships. So much for it being Labor Day Weekend because Rebecca will have a full slate of activities. On Saturday, the girls’ team from State College High School opens up their season at the Big Valley Invitational. With 6 of their top 7 back from last year, the girls from State High will look to improve on last year’s runner-up finish as they continue to build for the PIAA Championships in November where they finished 8th in 2008. After the Big Valley Invite, Rebecca will head east for the New Haven 20k which also serves as the US Championship. The top two female finishers will be offered a position to represent the USA at the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Birmingham, England on October 11. So while we are all enjoying the extra day off, make sure you take time to cheer on Rebecca and wish her safe travels.

World XC in Jordan! part II

The next couple days in Jordan were all about getting adjusted to the new environment and of course the 6 hour time difference. I slept great on the first night but got close to no sleep the second night. Each day, twice a day, we traveled to a stadium with an outdoor track and practice loops for training. I went there once each day and did my 2nd, shorter run, either from the hotel or on a treadmill at the hotel. The practice loops were nice because they were dirt paths with some hills and twists and turns. I ended up doing my workout on it and enjoyed it.

Using the clay from the Dead Sea to rejuvenate our skin

On Wednesday we all took a bus to the Dead Sea. It was about an hour or so to get there and had some amazing views of the mountains along the way. The bus stopped at a great lookout point so we could all take some pictures. We arrived at the Dead Sea and stepped off the bus to what felt like a 20 degree temperature change. The warmth felt so nice because back in Amman we had somewhat chilly temperatures with drizzle. The sun was shining and the Dead Sea beach was just a few steps away. There were Tiki bars and grass umbrellas scattered across the beach. We all pretty much ran down to the beach like a bunch of kids and stripped down to our bathing suits or, for those like myself that didn’t bring one, sports bras and shorts. So, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on the Earth and is so rich with salts and minerals nothing can survive in it. People go there to soak up all the minerals for health benefits. In addition to this, because it’s so rich with minerals, it creates lots of buoyancy. So, when you float on your back you rise above the water more than normal and your feet just pop up out of the water, it’s very weird. Then everyone started taking the mud from along the shore and just plastering it over their bodies. It was actually clay and as a former art teacher I was tempted to somehow bag it up and ship it home to throw a pot.

Riding on a camel

But, instead I decided to slather it all over my body and hope that my skin would be glowing after. We only had about an hour to play before we headed back. We passed some camels on the way back and the bus driver was nice enough to stop so we could hop on one. I think I was the first to jump on. I wasn’t totally prepared for the jolt it gave me as it got off its knees to stand up. I got a couple photos and tipped the camel guy a dinar. We headed back and called it a day.

Thursday hit and it seemed like the vacation was coming to a close. The reason why we were all there crept closer. We had a short outing planned for Thursday and then it was really time to get down to business. Small groups took cabs to some Roman ruins right in the middle of Amman. There was a huge amphitheater there that we opted not to climb in order to save the legs but we took lots of pictures. We then went to a couple shops to look for gifts and make some good or not so good deals on jewelry that may or may not be phony. That night the senior women had our pre-race team meeting with coach Peter Tegen. Peter gave a very inspirational pep talk and I thanked him for it. I certainly know of his incredible coaching history and was honored to get to know him. Thanks Peter!

At the course in our USA warmups

On Friday morning we were able to see the race course for the first time. We were all decked out in our fancy US gear and had some team photos taken at the finish area before we jogged the course. Luckily the predicted rain held off and the course was bone dry. The senior women’s team ran together and assessed the course. We all agreed that the course was challenging, but seemed somewhat similar to the Derwood course where the trials were held. We had lots of positive thoughts about what we could do as a team as well. After seeing the course we headed back to the hotel. All that was left to do was relax and wait.

Race Reflections from 2009 Season

Rebecca provides a race-by-race recap of the early part of her 2009 season.

“It’s going to hurt…”

Last night I was able to spend some time and interview Rebecca. In her first interview since returning home from Amman, we covered a wide array of topics including the World XC Championships, her coaching, the 2009 season so far and what to expect the rest of the year. Today’s installment focuses on the recent World XC Championships where Rebecca was the third American in 36th place. She talks about the experience, things she learned, and of course the race itself.

World XC in Jordan! part I

This year the World Cross Country Championships were held in Amman, Jordan. I had feelings of excitement and nervousness about making the trip. Both feelings were based on the unknown, I had no idea what to expect.

After committing to the team everyone received numerous e-mails as to how we should best prepare for the trip. As we came closer to the departure day it seemed a little overwhelming, and as always I managed to underestimate the energy needed to pack. I did my final workout the day before leaving and felt really good about going into the race. The trip alone was on my mind more than the race itself, possibly a good thing. My first concern was the flight. I’ve never enjoyed flying. A couple things bother me about it, the possibility of motion sickness and crashing, and in that order. I have a phobia with vomiting and it’s a miserable phobia. Surprisingly about 10% of the population has this very phobia. I have a nice record going, I haven’t vomited since I was 4 years old. So, I always come prepared with lots of remedies when I fly, ginger pills, acupressure wrist bands, and emergency Dramamine. So far so good with all of it.  But, a 10+ hour flight increases the chances of having to deal with this phobia. I’ve learned that the best way to deal with it is to not think about it, and also serves as an excellent exercise in focus, perfect for a runner.

After receiving the huge package of beautiful USA gear in the mail and doing a little research on Jordan and of course Petra, the excitement level overrode the nervousness and I knew I’d be fine. My first leg of the trip included an 8 hour layover at the JFK airport, which was where the teams would meet up and catch our direct flight to Amman. I had planned to somehow get a shake out run in there. I thought of some options such as, finding a fitness center at the airport, running up and down the walkways in the airport, taking a cab to Central Park, crashing a nearby hotel fitness center, or running in the airport parking lot. I had to do the latter option. I made it to JFK and met up with some of the other team members. Fortunately I didn’t go for my shake out run alone, one of the junior men joined me.  We got about 4 miles in while exchanging our life stories. It was nice to get the run in and out of the way. Surprisingly the 8 hours flew by and we boarded the Royal Jordanian plane. We were clearly in the minority, not so much in race, but in age, there were many, many Jordanian toddlers and babies on this flight. My iPod and ear buds would prove to be crucial to get through this flight. Again, surprisingly, the 10 hour flight seemed to pass quickly. I had the pleasure of sitting next to one of the junior girls, Alex Dunne. We had lots in common and got along very well, she’s a great gal.

We stepped off the plane, entered the airport, learned of the depressing exchange rate, made it through customs, and were greeted with blinding camera flashes, TV cameras, and people wanting interviews. It was a little weird. We were hustled onto a bus decked out with fringe, faux crystals, and window curtains. I felt like we were on an episode of “Pimp my Jordanian Ride.” So, we then met the guy that would end up being the most helpful person for us on the trip, Adam. He was a Jordanian that worked with the IAAF committee and was assigned as the US team’s personal guide for the trip. I’m not sure how we would have survived without him. We then started the 45 minute bus ride to the hotel, complete with a couple police cars to guide us there, a great way not to draw attention to the bus full of Americans, ha. Our USOC Security Officer, Larry, put an end to this idea once we made it to the hotel, thanks Larry.

We got to the hotel in Amman and got ready for a run. The sun was starting to set and we were told not to wear any US gear outside the hotel, and not to run alone. I ran with my roommate, Delilah, and quickly learned that Jordan was not flat. The hotel was surrounded by steep, winding roads, along with crazy rubbernecked drivers. We cut the run short and headed to the treadmills in the hotel. Unfortunately we were women, and women’s hours were not at that time, we ignored it and got in with the help of the IAAF people. I lasted about 5 minutes because the hotel decided to combine the sauna with the treadmill room, so I broke some more rules and went back outside alone. I just stayed pretty close to the hotel and was fine. Every car that passed took a long hard look at me, a female, uncovered, and running.

We had a team meeting and then had our first meal. We had all of our meals at the hotel and the food wasn’t too bad. I was happy that there was always rice, vegetables, potatoes, and a meat dish. There was always an interesting array of desserts consisting of lots of puddings and gelatinous dishes.  

We all got ready for bed. I was exhausted because I hardly slept on the flight. I slept really well until I was woken at 4am by the sound of whistling winds, driving rains, and the Muslim prayer that gets broadcast throughout the city 5 times a day. It was pretty eerie and at this point it really hit me that I was far from home.

USATF Recap, Quotes, and Photos from World XC

Image Courtesy of Kirby Lee, Image of Sport

Rebecca Donaghue (State College, Penn.): I got a good start, but I had a bit of trouble breathing once the race got underway. My legs felt pretty heavy, especially going up that last hill. I’ve never felt that bad finishing up the hill. I know that the altitude here isn’t that high, but it does make a difference. I’m very happy that we got fifth as a team.

I think competing against international fields helps make you tougher. I am so proud to represent the United States and wear the uniform.

Recap and Quotes

Photos

Universal Sports Video Coverage and LetsRun.com Photos

Watch the Men’s and Women’s races from the World XC Championships on Universal Sports.

Photos by LetsRun.com

World XC Updates

Junior Women
Neely Spence (6:18) is 34th place after the first lap, 4 seconds behind the leader. Emily Pritt (6:21) is the second American running in 47th place.

Spence moves up 10 spots to 24th as they complete the second lap. Her time of 13:20 is 50 seconds behind Genzebe Dibaba who leads the field after two circuits with a time of 12:30. Alexandra Dunne (13:38) and Ashley Brasovan (13:38) make big moves lap two. Dunne moves up 28 spots to 32nd place while Brasovan jumps 22 positions to 34th place.

Spence and Brasovan have Team USA off to a good start on the day. Spence led Team USA by finishing 19th in 21:33, while Brasovan was 26th in 21:55 and Dunne was 34th in 22:15. The winner was Genzebe Dibaba in 20:14. Spence and Brasovan lead Team USA to a fifth place finish as Ethiopia wins the team competition.

Individual Results
Team Results
Race Report

Junior Men
Chris Derrick (16th), German Fernandez (22nd), and Luke Puskedra (35th) are out with the leaders, completing the first lap in 5:15, 5:16, and 5:19 respectively. The leaders went through in 5:14.

Fernandez and Derrick are still in striking distance as they go through two laps in 11:12, 18th and 19th places, while Pukskedra goes through in 11:16 and moves up to 26th-place. The lead pack finished two laps in 11:09.

Fernandez moves up to 13th, finishing 3 laps in 17:14, 19 seconds behind the lead group of six. Derrick is in 19th-place (17:19) while Puskedra is running strong in 27th along with the Austrailian star, Ryan Gregson.

Fernandez finishes 11th in 24:13. Derrick moves up to 15th (24:20) and Puskedra finishes 30th in 24:53. The winner was Ayele Abshero (Ethiopia) in 23:26.

Fernandez and Derrick lead Team USA to a fifth place finish as Kenya wins the team competition.

Individual Results
Team Results
Race Report

Senior Women

Kathy Newberry (5:59), Julie Culley (6:00), and Rebecca Donaghue (6:02) lead the US women in 23rd, 25th, and 32nd places respectively through lap one. The leaders complete the first lap in 5:52.

After two laps, a pack of five, which includes 3 Kenyans, an Ethiopian, and a New Zealander, lead the way in 12:36. Culley (12:56), Newberry (12:59), and Donaghue (12:59) are still together in 28th, 29th, and 32nd respectively.

Two Ethiopians and a Kenyan lead through 3 laps in 18:58. Culley moves in 23rd-place completing three laps in 19:58. As Dongahue (20:08) and Newberry (20:10) are still together in 32nd and 33rd.

Kenyan Florence Jebet Kiplagat wins in 26:13. Culley finishes 21st in 28:08 to lead Team USA. Delilah DiCrescenzo (28:34) finishes in 33rd, Donaghue (28:37) in 36th, and Newberry (28:50) in 40th to complete the scoring for Team USA.

Team USA finishes in fifth place as Kenya wins the team competition.

Individual Results
Team Results
Race Report

Senior Men
Max King, Brett Gotcher, Robert Curtis, and Ed Moran lead the US in 33rd, 38th, 48th, and 64th places respectively in a tight pack where 6 seconds separate the first seventy places.

A pack of seven leads through 2 laps in 11:15 while Curtis (45th), King (46th), Moran (51st), and Gotcher(53rd) lead the American charge as they sit 7- and 9-seconds behind the leaders.

Curtis (17:25) moves up to 37th place after 3 laps while Moran (17:31) and King (17:33) are in 44th and 45th. The top 6, consisting of 3 Kenyans, 2 Eriteans, and an Ethiopian, completed 3 circuits in 16:58.

The lead pack has grown to 10 as they complete 4 laps in 22:43. Curtis (23:32) moves up one spot to 36th. King (23:43), Ryan Vail (23:48), and Moran (23:52) round out the top 4 Americans in 44th, 47th, and 54th respectively.

After 5 laps, the lead pack of 12 goes through in 28:38. Curtis (29:52)leads the American charge in 39th with Vail (29:54) and King (29:54) in 44th and 45th. Moran (30:15) is in 57th.

Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam (Ethiopia) wins in 35:02. Vail (36:54) makes a big charge on the last lap to be the top American in 33rd. Curtis runs 37:00 to finish in 37th, while King (37:05) and Edwardo Torress (37:38) round out the scoring for the US in 40th and 58th respectively.

Kenya wins their third team title of the day as the US finishes in 8th place.

Individual Results
Team Results
Race Report