PJXC 2018
At the conclusion of each season, I find myself reflecting back on all that our PJXC Dragons accomplished over the course of the past four months.
We kicked off the 2018 season in June at cross country camp with our friends and former teammates from PCHS. Nearly 80 kids from all across the city of Pekin in grades 6-12 joined us as we began to learn what it means to “run for fun.” This has become a personal favorite of ours as we get to see so many of our former and new runners have a blast together and truly celebrate cross country as both teams look forward to another exciting season ahead!
As the calendar turned from June to July, well over 50 kids from all across the city once again joined us for our fifth year of summer run club. Throughout our run club we continued placing an emphasis on run for fun as we also began to get in shape for the season that lie ahead. Most importantly, however, run club helped lay the foundation and began to shape the bonds for a team that was destined to accomplish great things in the months ahead!
“We run better, when we work together.” Those seven words would help guide us from the beginning of August through the middle part of October. The season began under unseasonably warm temperatures that seemed to stick with us throughout a good majority of the season. Yet, working together, our Dragons continued to get better and better from meet to meet. Personal best followed by personal best continued to get set each and every meet regardless of the conditions.
This season saw a lot of team success. Our Dragons finished in second place at the Mini Illini Invitational, Germantown Hills Invitational, Bartonville Invitational and Delavan Dare Classic. This year’s team captured team championships at the Washington Central Invitational, Metamora Invitational and St. Jude Invitational. For the second consecutive season, our Dragons took one of the three team spots at the IESA Sectional meet, finishing in second place and advanced to the IESA State Championships. We also saw our 2nd boy qualify for the State Meet this year!
Yet, as is always the case in this amazing world we call cross country, what matters most are the memories that are made and the bonds that are formed! From incredible hill workouts in Coal Miners Park, to tossing candy all throughout the homecoming parade, watching our younger siblings race at Germantown Hills and Bartonville, our Pre-State dinner at Olive Garden and countless games of capture the flag at the end of practice, so much fun was had along the way! I know personally, I will never forget the most incredible State Sendoff and Fire Truck escort as we made our way towards Bloomington!
As we say goodbye to PJXC 2018, we must also say goodbye to such a special group of 8th graders who have meant so much to our program! Your leadership, dedication, commitment and pure passion for cross country has been remarkable! This group truly defines EVERYTHING we want for those who participate in our program. They care for each other and have found a lifelong appreciation for running. We are so excited to watch each and every one of you as you transition on to PCHS in cross country and beyond!
Before we know it, this year’s 7th graders will be returning as our 8th grade leaders for PJXC 2019! We are so excited for this next chapter of our program. We have seen our seventh grade group’s growth all throughout their first year of PJXC and can’t wait to see what they have in store for our program next season! We want to encourage all of you to find your friends and bring them with to cross country camp and run club in the summer of 2019!
At the conclusion of each season, I find myself reflecting back on all that our PJXC Dragons accomplished over the course of the past four months.
We kicked off the 2018 season in June at cross country camp with our friends and former teammates from PCHS. Nearly 80 kids from all across the city of Pekin in grades 6-12 joined us as we began to learn what it means to “run for fun.” This has become a personal favorite of ours as we get to see so many of our former and new runners have a blast together and truly celebrate cross country as both teams look forward to another exciting season ahead!
As the calendar turned from June to July, well over 50 kids from all across the city once again joined us for our fifth year of summer run club. Throughout our run club we continued placing an emphasis on run for fun as we also began to get in shape for the season that lie ahead. Most importantly, however, run club helped lay the foundation and began to shape the bonds for a team that was destined to accomplish great things in the months ahead!
“We run better, when we work together.” Those seven words would help guide us from the beginning of August through the middle part of October. The season began under unseasonably warm temperatures that seemed to stick with us throughout a good majority of the season. Yet, working together, our Dragons continued to get better and better from meet to meet. Personal best followed by personal best continued to get set each and every meet regardless of the conditions.
This season saw a lot of team success. Our Dragons finished in second place at the Mini Illini Invitational, Germantown Hills Invitational, Bartonville Invitational and Delavan Dare Classic. This year’s team captured team championships at the Washington Central Invitational, Metamora Invitational and St. Jude Invitational. For the second consecutive season, our Dragons took one of the three team spots at the IESA Sectional meet, finishing in second place and advanced to the IESA State Championships. We also saw our 2nd boy qualify for the State Meet this year!
Yet, as is always the case in this amazing world we call cross country, what matters most are the memories that are made and the bonds that are formed! From incredible hill workouts in Coal Miners Park, to tossing candy all throughout the homecoming parade, watching our younger siblings race at Germantown Hills and Bartonville, our Pre-State dinner at Olive Garden and countless games of capture the flag at the end of practice, so much fun was had along the way! I know personally, I will never forget the most incredible State Sendoff and Fire Truck escort as we made our way towards Bloomington!
As we say goodbye to PJXC 2018, we must also say goodbye to such a special group of 8th graders who have meant so much to our program! Your leadership, dedication, commitment and pure passion for cross country has been remarkable! This group truly defines EVERYTHING we want for those who participate in our program. They care for each other and have found a lifelong appreciation for running. We are so excited to watch each and every one of you as you transition on to PCHS in cross country and beyond!
Before we know it, this year’s 7th graders will be returning as our 8th grade leaders for PJXC 2019! We are so excited for this next chapter of our program. We have seen our seventh grade group’s growth all throughout their first year of PJXC and can’t wait to see what they have in store for our program next season! We want to encourage all of you to find your friends and bring them with to cross country camp and run club in the summer of 2019!