As the only Falcon to qualify for the OSAA state cross-country meet, Elmira High School junior Jude Carman ran in the 5,000-meter race at Lane Community College on Nov. 4.
“My training before state was pretty easygoing compared to the whole rest of the season,” he said. “I did a track workout but mostly only 45-ish-minute runs.”
Carman said previewing the course helped him prepare for the race.
“I mentally prepared for the race by visualizing where and how I would run in the race,” he said.
Carman ran 17.58.2 in the state meet, placing 33 among 87 other competitors.
“I was able to still be under 18 minutes and ran my third-best time,” he said. “It was heavily raining for about half of my race, and there was mud and there were hills, so getting 33rd and running my third-best time is pretty good.”
Senior Jude Spencer, who competed for Elmira for the past two years, finished his final season as a Falcon.
“I was very happy with my performance this year,” Spencer said. “The season was a lot of fun and I did really well.”
In the 5,000-meter this season, he set his all-time PR of 20.41 after beating last year’s PR by more than a minute.
He said he plans to continue running during the track season, competing in the 1,500- and 800-meter races.
In reflecting on his last cross-country season, Spencer said the team dinners were among his favorite memories.
“Just getting to hang out with the team and eat good food was always fun,” he said.
He also recalled pre-race rituals with his teammates.
“The team would always play ‘Among Us’ on the bus rides to the meets, which was always a good time,” Spencer said.
