Rock Island, IL- The Maroons went into the Western Big 6 Conference Meet with a winning streak of six straight consecutive titles. This year was a little different, because the Maroons were now the underdog. Losing superstar runners Briza Almanza and Djenaba Diop to graduation, nobody in the Western Big 6 gave the Maroons a chance to win this year. It was cold, gloomy and winds gusting up to 30mph. A storm was brewing, and it was hovering over the Saukie Golf Course. Keeley Knobloch had been sick with the flu the entire week with a fever of 103. She enters the race not feeling well and still with a high fever.
The gun goes off and the Maroons are looking good after the first mile. Keeley and Sala Hanne are leading the race and not far behind is a surprise runner, “Freshman Jade Ford.’ Spectators are trying to find out about the Maroons third runner. I hear someone yell, ‘who is that third runner from Moline.’ The Maroons are now going pass the two mile marker. Keeley and Sala are leading the pack and not far behind is Jade Ford. The Maroons next key runners are Michelle DeArmond and not too far back is Alex Branham and Emme Schwabe. The Maroons are looking great at the top three positions with 600 meters left in the race. However the next two positions will determine if the Maroons will win the Conference Championship. Michelle starts kicking with 400 meters left in the race, passing up several runners. Teammates Alex and Emme were fending off several runners from other schools to the finish line; and due to their determination, fight and big hearts the competition failed trying to pass them. The Maroons 7th and 8th runners Emma Vyncke, and Marina Lareau finished the race strong, however Marina was spiked badly during the race. She ran the entire race with blood gushing out of her leg, and refused to stop because she didn’t want to let the team down.
After the race, the storm had passed, and it was the Mighty Maroons storming to their 7th straight Western Big 6 Title.
Great going Mighty Maroons, and congrats to all that achieved personal best today in the cold and 30mph wind conditions.
Moline Finish: 1st Place of 6 Teams (49 Points)
Top Maroon Finishers: Keeley Knobloch 2nd (18:36)
Sala Hanne 3rd Place (18:58)
Jade Ford 8th Place (19:38)
Michelle DeArmond 16th Place(20:12)
Alex Branham 20th Place (20:31)
Emme Schawbe 26th Place (20:49)
Emma Vyncke 34th Place (21:37)
Marina Lareau 35th Place (21:40)
The Maroons return to action next Saturday (Oct. 25) with Regionals in Minooka Illinois
