Water Jumps, Hay Bales And Some Of The Worst Running Weather Ever

The St. Peter Rocket Cross Country team were in action twice last week. Beginning on Tuesday, the team competed in the Rosary High School Taste Of Cross meet, a fun one mile run complete with jumps over hay bales, a water jump and a finish on the Rosary High School track. Not surprisingly many ribbons and trophies were won by the highly seasoned Rocket runners.

On Thursday the team headed up to Pingree Grove for the 12 team Coyote Invitational. There they were greeted by 20-30 mph winds, rain showers and temperatures falling into the lower 40's as they tried to defend their 2011 title.

The 5/6th grade team faced a tough challenge from conference rival St. Mary of Sycamore and meet host Cambridge Lakes Charter School, made more difficult by the absence of IESA All State runner Caroline Zimmer. Led by 6th grader David Peterson in 5th place, the Rockets placed 3rd in the 1.5 mile race with 65 points behind winner St. Mary with 53 points and runner up Cambridge Lakes with 54 points. Anne Tavierne was the second girl across the finish line and St. Peter's 5th runner.

St. Peter's 7/8th grade team were dominant in their victory beating runner up Zion Lutheran by a score of 29-67. 8th grader and IESA All State runner Charlie Zimmer won the 1.5 mile race in a time of 8:55, 29 seconds ahead of 2nd place. 8th grader Henry Feldhaus had a good race finishing 4th in a time of 9:58. St. Peter's 5th runner placed 9th, with the team once again running in a close pack and keeping their winning score low.

St. Peter Cross Country wraps up their season next Thursday at the Tri-County Conference Championship meet in Sycamore. There the 5/6th grade team will have their final challenge of the season against the dominant St. Mary team with hopes for a conference championship. The 7/8th grade team is expected to win their race with a goal of a perfect score of 15 and the top 5 places in the race.