Maria Kiminski All-Missota Conference honorable mention; Most Dedicated
The 2011 season was one of notable improvement in individual performance and modest gains in team accomplishments.
The Tigers ranked sixth in the eight-team Missota Conference meet and placed 14th among 16 teams at the Section 1AA Championships.
"I was very happy how dedicated the girls were and so glad they got to see the results of all of their hard work," coach Heidi Revels said. "Proof of that came in small amounts, like passing runners on a hill or gaining confidence in passing runners who may seem intimidating.
"Overall, it was a great season full of significant improvements and connections. I see it as a stepping stone to next season and all that we can do together between now and next August."
Eleven Farmington runners received varsity letters at last night's award banquet: seniors Bailey Opsal, Natalia Sitzman and Marissa Stewart; juniors Maria Kiminski and Ashley Durbin; sophomore Maricia Pacheco; freshmen Sofia Chadwick, Sarah Cummings, Victoria Jacoby and Alexis Johnson and eighth-grader Maricella Pacheco.
"The seniors have all been great role models for the younger girls," Revels said. "They have always included them not only in practice and at meets but in activities outside cross country.
"I have had these three runners for all three years I have coached and it been fun to watch them improve and become more confident in their skills. I will miss them next year."
Chadwick, the team MVP, won a spot on the all-Missota Conference team while Kiminski and Maricia Pacheco earned all-league honorable mention.
Kiminksi was selected as the team's Most Dedicated Runner; Cummings the Most Improved Runner and Johnson Rookie of the Year.
Revels said the biggest accomplishment of the 2011 season came in the form of individual improvement.
"Every runner on the varsity team set a new personal record," she said. "Sofia (Chadwick), Maria (Kiminski) and Maricia (Pacheco) all went under the 16:00 minute mark and Sarah (Cummings) beat last year's times by two to three minutes every race."
On the flip side of the coin was the total team score, an area that Revels hopes to see improve as her young squad matures.
"The team scores were probably the most disappointing thing for everyone," she said. "It's frustrating to see such improvement by individuals not make a big difference in the team score.
"What we continue to work at is bridging the gap between the first three runners and the last four. Once we can finish closer together in the race, our scores will improve."
With all of the primary varsity runners slated to return next season, Revels said the future looks promising.
"The girls are figuring out how to work together as a team," she said, "so it will be a positive to already have the dynamics established for next season.
"As we continue to build up year-round training opportunities, I believe that not only will individual time to continue to drop, but our success as a team will also improve."
