From Running Shoes To Dancing Shoes

Bob Firman Invite and Homecoming make for a busy day for Lone Peak girls

By Marlowe Hereford for DyeStat

A win in its first appearance at the annual Bob Firman Invitational in Idaho was just the beginning of a whirlwind day for the Lone Peak UT girls team.

Lone Peak, No. 3 in DyeStat's Sept. 19 Southwest regional girls rankings, claimed Saturday's elite girls title with 77 points behind top-20 finishes from junior Eliza Arrington (fourth in 17:59.5), junior Reagan Gardner (eighth in 18:12.6) and sophomore Eliza Mason (16th in 18:31.7). 

Prior to touring Eagle Island State Park the day before the elite race, the team's knowledge of the course and the meet was minimal. While Arrington and Gardner said the sand was a first for them, they were prepared for the hills due to the the terrain at home (Highland, Utah is 5,000 feet above sea level while Eagle, Idaho is at 2,566 feet).

"I had no idea what to expect," Arrington said. "I didn't know who else would be there. I wish we had done this course before. I thought it was beautiful. I absolutely loved it. "

Lone Peak's strategy was to start strong and stay close together. It worked. All five scorers finished in the top 41. 

'We just told them they had to get out in that first mile, be smart and really go to work those last two miles," Lone Peak coach Courtney Meldrum said. "They did awesome and I'm proud of them."  

The team didn't stick around long to celebrate. With the school's Homecoming dance later that evening, the team was eager to get going. It's five and half hours back to Highland by freeway. 

"I don't know how early my other teammates knew (Homecoming and Bob Firman were the same day), but I didn't really know until that week and I was like, 'Shoot!,'" Arrington said. "We won, but then we're like, 'Oh, we need to stay for the awards ceremony.' We got a little bit of a cool down in. We were just trying to go as fast as we could. It was pretty intense."

After quick showers at the team hotel, Lone Peak's teams began the long drive back to Utah -- boys in one vehicle, girls in another. It was already past 1 p.m. While Meldrum drove, the girls took turns doing each other's make up and utilizing the van's outlet to plug in hair curlers. 

"My coach was hauling," Gardner said. "We took turns switching seats. We just blasted music and were just laughing and talking. It was hilarious. Apparently the guys were just chilling. We had to stop at a gas station at one point and we were all glammed up and the guys were like, 'Whoa!' I was like, 'Yeah, I got ready in the car.'"

The teams arrived in Highland between 6:30 and 7 p.m., giving the girls less than an hour to change into their dresses, complete getting ready and meet their dates. While not all of them returned in time for pictures, they made it to the dance to conclude a whirlwind day.

"My daughter (MacKenzie Meldrum) happened to be one of them," Courtney Meldrum said. "She got home at 6:40 and her date picked her up at 6:50. But it was worth it. They're a great group of girls." 

"I have to admit it was a party," Arrington added. "We had six hours, which is more time than I usually have to get ready for a dance. Our group was like a cross country group. Everybody was getting back from the race."

Bob Firman is Lone Peak's only out-of-state meet this season until NXR Southwest in November in Casa Grande, Ariz. The victory came a week after Lone Peak won the varsity girls title at the BYU Autumn Classic, and it provided a confidence boost.

"We were really close (to making NXN) last year but we didn't have any out-of-state wins," Gardner said. "I think that's a big reason why we did this race. I think it was for that, and to have a taste of what is like to race out of state. We run with the same people a lot of the time. It's interesting to go against very competitive (new) teams."    

And they have a Nike shoe-shaped trophy and plenty of memories to preserve the day for years to come.

"That trophy, I literally was like 'Wow,'" Gardner said. "It was just a good adventure. It will definitely be something for the books for Lone Peak girls cross country."