SEP 15-21
- Coach Coy
- Sep 14, 2025
- 3 min read
Nike Heartland Preview
This was the first “big meet” of the season- as there were over 70 teams (including MS), making it one of the biggest meets in the midwest. Our varsity teams both placed 4th and were the #2 AA school in both races. This year’s meet was stacked and included several high-powered Iowa and Minnesota teams and individuals that we usually don’t see at this meet. We beat some really good regional teams today.
We’re going to work pretty hard in the coming weeks to close the gap on SF Washington on the boys side and Harrisburg for the girls. Lincoln (boys) looks poised to make NXN again and will be racing at Griak next week. Brandon Valley is another girl’s team that’s similar to Harrisburg. We’re in the mix, which is exciting, but we have a lot of work to do. That being said, I'm excited to see who steps into the scoring and supporting roles.
Schedule
Our next meet- the RC Invite- will be on Friday, September 26th. We added (tentatively) the Sturgis Meet for JV the following week (Thursday, October 2nd) This meet will be for everyone not going to the varsity meet in Cheyenne.
After that, it’s the Best of the West Meet (JV) and then the State Meet (Varsity). The season goes SUPER FAST from here on out, so be ready to get better every day.
Lastly, The Nike Heartland Regional meet will be held on November 9th in Sioux Falls on the same course we just ran at. This meet is the largest Cross Country meet in the nation and includes hundreds of teams from the seven state “heartland” region. This isn’t an official team meet, but I would really encourage everyone to attend. It’s a super meet to set a PR (a good goal is a minute faster than your performance today) and we may be good enough to get a boys and girls team invited to run in the Championship division.
We’ll cover the uniforms (they are different than our school uniforms) and the entry fee. You just have to get there.
Practice Schedule
we're going to do an AM practice on Tuesday to avoid the potential thunderstorms and a Friday AM workout as I know many will be going to the homecoming game.
Wednesday will be a flexible day, as it's an OYO run.
Monday 9/15
6:00 AM @ SP (10th-12th)
3:45 PM @ SP (everyone)
Tuesday 9/16
5:30 AM @ Stevens
Wednesday 9/17
OYO
Thursday 9/18
3:45 @ Old Storybook Island
Friday 9/19
5:30 AM @ Stevens
Saturday 9/20
* 6:30 AM @ Victoria Lake Road
Sunday 9/21
Off
Pound the Stone & Iceberg Award
Check out our Facebook & Instagram to see this week’s winners
Make Your Team Better
Your #1 job is to make your team better. Our team values/expectations reflect that mission. As we enter these final weeks, I want you to be introspective and evaluate yourself. A good goal in any endeavor is to be the best at everything that takes no talent and our expectations are a great way to start.
We should always be kind and courteous to one another, but being a great teammate is about being accountable to the program, thus “pulling your own weight”. Stevens Cross Country/Distance is much, much bigger than any one of us and we owe it to the past, present and future to be our best.
Show Up
Work Hard
Do the Right Thing
For those that started at the beginning of June, we just finished 2/3 of the season! It’s wild, really. With just 1/3 left (6 weeks to state and 8 weeks through the Nike Heartland Regional on 11/9) the training will subtly narrow towards specificity.
This means workouts will gradually shift to be a little more specific to the 5k. Intensities, volumes and even groups will be adjusted so that we can maximize everyone on the team.
Fundraising
Last call! This ends Sunday @ midnight.
If you haven’t started yet, please take a minute to send out a couple of texts or emails.
Directions are found in the link-
