Archive for Cross Country

Junior Puts Perfect Ending on Fantastic Season While Leading Team to Top 10 Finish

And ......... They're Off

Hello Ursuline! We have just received word that junior Caroline Knecht ‘12 finished in 5th place at the LHSAA Class 4A State Meet in Natchitoches, La. What a season for the junior which included an overall first place finish at the District Meet. We heard that the runners competed in tough weather conditions having to battle temperatures varying in the low 50s and wind gusts at times up to 15-20mph.

When we receive more information from Coach Davis we will post it, however, here is what we know so far:

Individual Finishes:

We would like to thank Mr. Robert Baudouin for his assistance in making the pictures in this article available to all of our viewers. Much appreciated!

Ursu-online staff

Hello Ursuline!

This is a quick reminder that our Cross Country team will soon depart campus for the long ride to the LHSAA State Meet. The teamwill compete early tomorrow morning for the opportunity to be named the State Champions. We wish each member of theteam good luck and we ask for your thoughtsand prayersas they travel through the state of Louisiana on their way to their destination.

Team Attempts to Bring Home District Title

Baudouin's Last District Meet

Good Luck to Ursuline Academy’s Varsity Cross Country program as it enters its District Meet later today. The team has done a great job so far this season and we are sure the effort will prove to be very beneficial to the team in today’s meet. Coach Davis’ team members will compete against other schools in our district. Typically, and we believe this is the case again this year, the runners who finish in the Top Ten (ten fastest times) will be named to the All- District Team. Upon the completion of this race, attention will switch to the LHSAA State Meet where UA has had success in the past few seasons.

Also, we would like to honor senior JeanneMarie Baudouin ‘11 for her commitment to the Cross Country program over the past two seasons. Recently, during a school pep rally, the sole senior on this year’s team was honored by the Athletic Department and presented flowers by her Head Coach.

To get you ready for today’s meet, we thought you might enjoy looking at some pictures from the team’s most recent meet at Audubon Park.

Junior Hopes to Lead Ursuline Academy to the District Title

Knecht '12 finished 6th overall and 1st on Team UA

On Thursday afternoon, the Ursuline Academy Varsity Cross Country program participated in a late season meet at Audubon Park. Standing along side of Magazine St. and the new and improved golf course, our Lions hoped this meet would deliver success. A team victory would nice, however, that was not the goal of today’s meet. Instead, the sole purpose was to allow our runners one last chance to get in a practice run prior to the District Meet. Similar to swim meets, the meets during the course of the season are not of great importance. True, a runner would love to finish first in the early Saturday morning meet, however, the team’s success at these meets do not give the team an added benefit come playoff time. True, Cross Country does not have a playoff seeding system, but instead, the “champions” are decided during one performance (district meet or state meet). The runners use the earlier meets to convince their coach that they are deserving of a spot on the seven person state team. When we hear from Coach Davis, regarding the state team, we will let you know. However, after numerous successful performances during the season, there is no doubt the junior Caroline Knecht ‘12 will be penciled in at the top of the UA State Team in late November.

On Thursday afternoon, Knecht ‘12 finished 6th at the Audubon Park race. Though this meet does not get much publicity, it is a tough meet to compete in. Te course is known for its beautiful oak trees. Those oak trees also ensure that numerous branches extended into the path of the runners and force the runners to race on a path that has many tree roots that stick out of the ground. Definitely, not an easy course to participate.

We will add more pictures tomorrow. You will be able to see each runner on the course.  

Maher '13 Finished as the 2nd Fastest UA Runner

Hello Ursuline

We had the opportunity to attend the recent Cross Country meet at City Park that was held on Friday afternoon. Yes, this was one of those rare afternoon races given that the typical cross country meet is held bright and early on a Saturday morning. However, with the District Meet right around the corner, which will also take place in the afternoon, Friday’s meet would be a good test for our runners to help aclimate them to the running conditions. Once we receive the final results from the meet, we will post those results to this web site article. When we left the meet, it appeared that junior Caroline Knecht ‘12, coming off of her first place finish in last week’s race, had secured a Top Ten finish.  

Here are a few pictures from the meet.

Knecht ‘12 Wins the Jack Schommer Invitational

Knecht '12 is preparing to lead UA Cross Country at the LHSAA State Meet

Congratulations to the Cross Country team and to Coach Davis for their recent success. On Saturday morning, the team participated in the Jack Schommer Invitational at City Park. With only a few meets remaining prior to the State Meet, the team is looking to ensure that all runners are ready so that the upcoming State Meet will be one of Ursuline Academy’s most successful performances to date.

During Saturday’s meet, junior Caroline Knecht ‘12 finished first at the meet for her first meet victory of the year. Numerous times in the past, Knecht ‘12 has been the first UA runner to complete the three-mile course. However, on this day, Knecht ‘12 was not only the first UA runner to complete the course, but also the first runner, regardless of school affiliation, to finish the course. Yes, Caroline Knecht ‘12 placed first at the Jack Schommer Invitational. Knecht’s strong performance helped lead the UA Cross Country team to a second place team finish. Great Job, Ursuline.

Junior Staking Her Claim As Leader of the Program; Leads By Example

After Three Seasons, Knecht '12 Assumes Leadership of Cross Country

In 2007, the word around campus was that the Cross Country team had picked up an “impact player”. In the athletic world, an “impact player” is an anthlete who has, along with a sincere desire to win, the talent to make an immediate positive impact on her team’s success.  As an eighth grader, Caroline Knecht ‘12 began her long journey to the top of the Cross Country program. After three seasons, the junior now stands at the top of the mountain and is required to help her fellow teammates reach their potential.

Over the past three seasons, Knecht ‘12 has routinely pushed herself to the “breaking point”. Never willing to call off a race or to give a half-hearted effort, Knecht ‘12 always comes to the meet ready to compete against any runner and any school no matter who the runner is or how good the opposing school is known to be. Her determination to lead Ursuline to its first state championship in Cross Country serves as motivation to her fellow teammates. Her past success serves as evidence that the elusive championship could be within reach.

While in the shadows of past athletic cross country stars such as Rebecca Leonard ‘09, Erin Romaine ‘10, and Lindsey Tassin ‘10, Knecht ‘12 quietly put together an impressive resume. Her on the course accomplishments has made her a perennial member of Ursuline Academy’s State Team and has resulted in her nomination as the team’s Most Valuable Player each of the last two seasons. When Romaine ‘10 ascended to the top of the team, everyone on State St. referred to it is “Erin’s team” and the thought was the team would go as far as (Erin) Romaine ‘10 would take them. When Lindsey Tassin ‘10 had her breakout season during her senior year, it became “The Dynamic Duo” of Romaine ‘10 and Tassin 10. During this time, Knecht ‘12 never said, “What about me?” Instead, she simply did what she does best… she ran like the wind. After the second race of the 2010 season, it is clear that Knecht ‘12 is no longer in anyone’ s shadow. After three seasons, we can honestly say, “It is Caroline’s team”. If the junior can motivate her teammates, such as Mary Maher ‘13 and Elissa Parker ’12 and the 2009 Most Improved Runner Caitlin Minshew ‘12, the team can and will have a very successful season.   

MCA Invitational:

• Caroline Knecht ‘12 finished in fourth place and first on the Ursuline team.
• Mary Maher ‘13 and Elissa Parker ‘12 rounded out the Top 3 for team UA
• Knecht ‘12, JeanneMarie Baudouin ‘11. Rachelle Drygalla ‘13, Elissa Parker ‘12, Caitlin Minshew ‘12, Victoria Ragusa ‘13, and Maher ’13 were selected by Coach Davis to participate in the Varsity Run. Hannah Michael ‘12 was unavailable today due to an injury.  

Good Luck, Cross Country.

Ursu-online staff

Hello to all of our athletes!

This is a quick reminder that before you can become a member of one of our many excellent teams, you must submit all of the necessary paperwork. You can find the needed forms on the STUDENT LIFE section of our web site (click the High School tab on the main page and you will see the student life link).

Remember, you can not participate in ANY aspect of the team (practices, meetings, etc) without first submitting your forms to either your Head Coach or to Athletic Director Coach Bonnaffee.

Ursu-online staff

Coach Davis and CC Ready to Run in 2010

Coach Davis and members of CC cheer on their team during a race at City Park

Coach Davis and the returning members of the UA Cross Country team invite all atudents to participate in the upcoming 2010 Cross Country season. Any interested student should attend the informational meeting to learn about the requirements for the 2010 team. Cross Country is a great way to make friends, stay in shape, and help represent Ursuline Academy throughout the state of Louisiana.

Details:

Date: Wednesday, August 11th

Time: 3:00pm in the MBO Athletic Center

Requirements : All paperwork (required by the LHSAA) must be submitted to Coach Davis either at the meeting or prior to August 13th. An athlete CAN NOT participate with the team in ANY practies without the proper completed paperwork. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule.

Athletes should come to the meeting PREPARED TO PRACTICE becaue the first run of the season will occur at the conlusion of the meeting.

All questions about the meeting should be forwarded to Coach Karen Davis at kdavis@ursulineneworleans.org

Hope to see you at the meeting!

Ursu-online staff

Knecht ‘12 and Romaine ‘10, 1-2 Punch Leads Lions to Another Strong Showing

Knecht '12 Will Return for Two More Years of Running

On Monday, November16th, the High School Division of Ursuline Academy was eagerly awaiting news from Natchitoches, La. Hundreds of miles away, Coach Karen Davis and her Cross Country team were competing in the LHSAA State Meet. 17 teams were sending their best runners to compete in this winner-takes-all race. In previous years, Coach Davis’ team has gone to the meet and surpassed the coach’s expectations. The Ursuline Academy Cross Country team has a tendency to perform very well during the big race. Once again, the team delivered at the State Meet.

With 121 runners competing, Ursuline Academy countered the competition with six of its top runners. Coach Davis sent her senior Triple Threat (Erin Romaine ‘10, Lindsey Tassin ‘10, and Annie Krasnow ‘10), along with Caroline Knecht ‘12, Dani Edwards ’13, Mary Maher ‘13, and Ilissa Silva ‘14. It was impossible to determine which of the six would lead Ursuline to the finish line because so many of them had excellent finishes to the regular season. Erin Romaine ‘10, as she has done for over a year, was dominate in each race she participated in during 2009. Lindsey Tassin ‘10 was coming off of her 2nd place finish at the District Meet and 1st place finish at the City Invite on November 11th. Caroline Knecht ‘12 finished third overall at the Junior Varsity Championship Meet on November 7th.  

At the state meet on a tough, wet course, Knecht ‘12 would cross the finish line first for Ursuline Academy. Knecht ‘12 finished 25th out of 121 runners….slightly ahead of Erin Romaine ‘10 who finished in 26th place. Lindsey Tassin ‘10 rounded out the Top Three when she crossed the finish line in 34th place.

Also competing for Ursuline were:

• Dani Edwards     45
• Mary Maher        64
• Annie Krasnow   96

• Ilissa Silva          97

Ursu-online staff