T-falls host uncoventional olympics

Last Thursday the first Thompson Falls Cross Country Un-Olympics was held at Thompson Falls High School track and hosted a collection of unconventional cross country events to raise money for the Thompson Falls high school cross country running program.

The events included a hammer throwing contest, a 100-meter barefoot race, a 250-meter backwards run, a 75-meter high hurdles race where runners went under the hurdles, a team relay and finally, one three or four lap obstacle course called the Steeple Chase where contestants tumbled over foam mats and had to jump a hurdle in the middle of a swampy mud pit at the end of the field..

Sarah Naegeli, the Thompson Falls cross country coach was more than happy with the event that had an attendance of about 50 people. “When you watch the kids run around and around it’s amazing,” Naegeli said and added that she also liked the diversity in the age groups that participated. “We had kids from 2 to 18 to even the parents competing in the events,” Naegeli said.

Andrew Gideon, the Assistant Thompson Falls High School cross country coach said that the only difficulty of hosting event was trying to predict who would show up to the event. “I didn’t know whether we’d have more high school kids, junior high kids, younger kids or the total number of people we’d have here,” Gideon said.

Yet, Gideon said it was all worth the effort after seeing the reactions of the participants and listening to their enthusiastic comments. “The funnest part was after the 100-meter dash and hearing kids come up to me and ask me can I run again, can I run again over and over,” Gideon said.

Jason Raimer, the Athletics Director for Thompson Falls High School participated in the 250-meter backwards run taking a third place finish. “I had those cross country guys following me until the last 15 feet and then my calves gave out on me and it was no good,” Raimer said.

Raimer also liked watching his three daughters Brayli, Ali and Lexa participate at the event. “It’s really good for them because it’s really laid back and they can hang out and play with other kids, it’s just a great atmosphere,” Raimer said.

While the event was a competition, Gideon said that the results weren’t recorded because the events focus was just a to have a good time. “Everyone who showed up and ran was a winner,” Gideon said.

Thompson Falls cross country team member Jeffreyanne Parker, 16, said that her favorite part of the whole event was steeple chase because of the mud and then at the end of event, sliding into the mud pit belly first with her teammates and Raimer for one last pass through the pit.

Parker said that she could see the event growing larger with more kids from her high school. “I think this turned out real good and hopefully the next time we could get more kids by advertising more,” Parker said.

The events demographics leaned heavily into the younger age groups with elementary kids making up the vast majority of the participants. The event even had a few preschool aged children making an appearance. Billy Jack Largent, 3, participated in almost every event and some twice as he wore his father Robyn’s yellow safety glasses. Gideon said that Largent would be his MVP for the event.

Rachel, Largent’s mom, said that the event was a good way for him to get out and interact with other Kids. “I love the big smile on his face, he just goes and goes and goes,” Rachel said.

Naegeli was happy but surprised with how many younger age groups showed up to participate. “We had thought more high school kids would show up but it turned out that there were more little kids so we had to shorten some distances,” Naegeli said. By the end of the event Thompson Falls Crosscountry team has raised $100 and both Naegeli and Gideon are hoping to have one more near the end of July.