Listen to the interview with Coach Smith here!

The Discoverers are racing through the season. So far this season, the Discoverers have six meets. In these meets, they came out with some outstanding finishes. Some of the boy’s placements were fourth, sixth, seventh, and twelfth. The girls were not far behind with marvelous finishes of twelve, fourteen, sixteen, and seventeen.  

Head Coach Licari shares some of the advice he gives to his runners. For example, he makes sure to tell them to select a runner to keep up with so that they may improve their times. He also encourages them to conserve their energy and not wasting all of it on the first mile and try to to leave some of it for the middle mile.

One key to their success is their vigorous and energetic workouts. They usually start their week with a quality workout, such as hills, 1,000s or four minute drills (four minute hard and a couple of minutes walking or slow jogging).

Coach Licari and Coach Smith have had two-a-day practice in the past, but as the season develops, they adjust their practices to focus harder on their one practice a day. 

Coach Licari says, ¨First week of the season last year, we practiced twice a day and I think that did not go well. This year we only practiced once a day and I think it went well because it kept their legs fresher.¨

The runners began their season with a pre-season meet on Aug. 23 at Schuyler. They competed against Scotus, Boone Central, Wayne, Pierce, O’Neill, Norfolk Catholic, Nebraska Christian, and Fullerton. This meet was a great practice to the start of their season. 

Leading the girls was junior Gracie Luebbe with a place of fifth and a time of 19:10 . Alex Freshour, a freshmen, was next with sixth place. Emily Hall, a junior, was up there with them placing seventh. Leading the guys, Douglas Davidchik, a junior, placed third with a time of 15:11. Sophomore Joe McFarland placed fifth. Right after him was senior Lucas Miller, who took sixth place. 

Their first official meet was on Aug. 31 at Albion where they battled a hilly course to reach some great finishes.The boys did great; Joe McFarland took fourth place with a time of 17:21. Lucas Miller finished with sixth place, and right behind him was Douglas Davidchik with seventh place.

On Thursday, Sept. 6, Discoverer cross country competed at Valley View golf course. This meet involved Fremont, Papillion, South Sioux City, Omaha Northwest, Elkhorn, Elkhorn South, Bennington. Though this meet featured some tough competition, the course was shorter than the usual 5000 meters. In twelfth place for the girls was junior Luebbe with the time of 22:14 seconds. For boys McFarland placed fourth with a time of 17 minutes and 21 seconds.

Since then, the discovers have had three meets and continue their season with the GNAC conference meet on Oct. 5 in North Platte. 

To see their schedule, follow this link: https://www.gnaconference.org/...