Springs Valley Community High School

The entire Springs Valley boys' cross country team and 2 of the girl runners journeyed to the IHSAA State Finals Cross Country Championships last weekend in Terre Haute. Their primary goal was to witness the pinnacle of high school cross country in Indiana and to show their support for senior Alan Marshall, Springs Valley’s first-ever participant in this prestigious race. Coach Derek Freeman said, “What an amazing way to wrap up our 2023 season than at the state finals. This has been a season that I couldn't have ever imagined in my wildest dreams. To see it all come to an end with Alan running an almost perfect race at the State Finals was a memory we won't soon forget”. Coach Freeman said that more than just the race, ‘The entire weekend at the State was so perfect. We got to spend quality time with the team, watch them bond, and grow even closer." The Laverne Gibson Championship Cross Country Course posed a unique challenge for Alan. Its undulating terrain and numerous turns made it particularly difficult. Cross country runners typically aim to "run the tangents," taking the straightest path to save steps over the course of a race. However, at this course, the ever-changing direction made it challenging to determine the optimal route. Familiarity with the course offered a slight advantage, and Alan's practice the day before was beneficial, though still challenging to decipher. In large races like this, following the lead of the runners ahead often becomes a practical strategy. Before the race, Coach Derek Freeman offered Alan some reassuring simple advice: "Just go out and run your race." Alan had worked hard and knew what to do. His race plan was clear: "get out strong, hang tough in the middle, and charge hard at the end." In the race, Alan started remarkably fast, completing his first 1K in just 2:49, which was 10 seconds faster than the previous week at the regional race. This strong start placed him in 43rd position at the 1K mark, raising concerns about whether he had expended too much energy too soon. Indeed, in the second kilometer, he fell back to 92nd place. However, he held his ground and began a steady ascent, passing 44 runners from the 2K mark onward. Impressively, he overtook 29 of them in the last 1K and ultimately finished in 48th place, achieving a personal record with a time of 15:55. His place was 2nd among all class 1A runners behind only Christian Academy’s Alex Pinckney. Alan also finished as the 24th fastest senior. Alan's performance at the race marked the fastest 5K of his career. It also stood as the third fastest in the school's history, coming just 5 seconds shy of the school record. The current school record of 15:50 was set by Grant Brown earlier this year at the Heritage Hills Invitational. Additionally, Grant's brother, Carson Brown, ran the second fastest time ever, clocking in at 15:51 during the same event. Alan who is co-captain along with senior Grant Brown both had expressed their hope they inspire others and the program to greater heights. Alan commented, “I hope that me making it to the State Finals opens the door to future runners who now know that it's possible to do”. Grant Brown has said previously, “This season, and today, is truly a big step in the right direction.” Coach Freeman said, "To me, the entire weekend experience was so enjoyable and memorable. Adding in Alan's race was the best way to end it. For me, it was a weekend of laughter, tears, and joy. Knowing how proud I am of these kids and Alan to get to showcase what this program is made of! Goodness, and of course, the weekend was complete until the trip home, and the kids were already talking about track goals. I just love how driven this group is!” The team wasted no time and was back to practice on Monday, engaging in what they refer to now as "winter workouts" in preparation for the upcoming track season. In the realm of distance running, the commitment to training is continuous. In fact, some runners already have their sights set on a 2-mile race scheduled for November 11th at the annual Lloyd White Memorial Distance Festival, hosted at Bellarmine University in Louisville.