Chavis challenges runners

By Laura Clark

Published: October 15, 2008

The Lancer boys get one more race to see what they’re capable of before the Seminole District Meet on Oct. 22. Amherst travels to Jefferson Forest’s Wolf Branch Farm, the site of districts, on Oct. 15 for a final regular season meet.

“I started to pick up today,” said senior Jacob Pritchett, who led his team in 400-meter accelerations on Monday. “Wednesday is when I plan to go all out now matter how much it hurts. Might as well see what I can do.”

His sentiment was echoed among the team, as well as coach Bill Chavis, who not only needs to find his sixth and seventh runners, but also wants his solid top five to break out of their comfort zones.

“We need to get better,” Chavis said. “I would at like to at least get second in the district. We need some athletes running 17 minutes. We’ve got three guys who could be all-district. Now’s the time to make a move.”

The top three runners, Pritchett, Jonathan Fitzgerald and Carson Reynolds, ran times in the 18-minute range on Oct. 11 at Wolf Branch Farm in the Runnin’ with the Wolves Invitational.

Pritchett was first for the Lancers, running an 18:23. Fitzgerald was 10 seconds behind him, and Reynolds was four seconds behind Fitzgerald, so Chavis is pleased with this consistently tight pack. Josh Wise, as the fourth runner, ran a 5-kilometer time of 19:14, and fifth runner Steven Cooke ran a 20:35.

Cooke’s goal for districts is a simple phrase: under 20 minutes. He said the team’s pacing drills will help.

“Just kick it up the hills and down the hills, also,” he said. “Don’t try to speed up or slow down, just nice and steady.”

Behind Cooke are several runners vying for the sixth and seventh position. Chavis will take the best times from the Oct. 11 and Oct. 5 meets to determine those runners.

“Everybody is on the bubble,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of kids after our fifth runner who are 21-22 (minutes). It depends on who wants it. I’m trying to find out who can run this course the best.”

Chavis said some of the slower times could be because the runners are fatigued. He’ll continue working them hard this week, including a long run Friday, before beginning to taper for the district meet.

Amherst’s girls team is set for the district meet. Jacqui Wendland, Laura Phelps, Caroline Hall, Amanda Tomlin, Tori Kendrick, Jesse Schnurer and Megan Adams will be the top seven runners for Amherst on Oct. 22.

“I’m looking for us to make regionals,” said coach Teri Grey. “We beat everybody but Brookville and J.F. It’s going to be interesting when we add Brookville to the mix next week. We could be the spoilers.”

Phelps, the top Lancer early in the season, has struggled with a fallen arch that isn’t 100 percent. She was second for Amherst at the Runnin’ with the Wolves Invitational.

“It’s getting better. It was in a little bit of pain,” she said of the race. “My times are slower because I haven’t been able to practice to my potential.”

Phelps ran a 24:18. Hall came on for the Lancers, leading her team with a 23:45. She missed last season with stress fractures.

“She has the desire,” Wendland said of Hall. “Laura and I battle it out. We’re hanging in there.”

The Lancers have a solid pack, whichever order they finish among the team. On Saturday, the top six runners were within two minutes of each other.

“This is fun times now,” Grey said “You’re not really worrying that you may not make it, it’s who can you mess with.”