The Clark Clan

After months and months of waiting to close on our home it of course happened in the middle of the state track meet. I sort of knew it would happen that way. It would have been too easy to move the previous weeks. We qualified a bunch of kids to state. The boys had people in every event except Discus, Long Jump, and Pole Vault. We had finished second to Queen Creek the week before in the regional meet. It is very hard to compete with them when have so much depth. We made camp in the same spot we have been for the last three years.

Wed. we had a good day. Almost everyone qualified for finals. We didn't do quite as well as we would have liked in a few events but what can you do. Thursday after the first day the meet is when we received the keys to our house. So after practice the next two days we were going crazy trying to fix everything up in order to move into the new house. We had some help from Steph and my mom. My dad took the kids to Fathers and sons so they were out of our hair for a while making things easier. They came back with all kinds of crazy stories. Jami was very impressed at my handyman skills as I was able to fix almost everything they thought we would have to pay someone to fix. I don't know how to drywall so we will leave that to someone else. On Saturday morning we had our new fridge and washing machine delivered. As soon as the people from Lowes left I had to hurry home shower and head off to the track meet. Our kids did great. No athlete came in lower then what they were seeded. Most moved up and scored more points. My pole vaulter PR'ed and won state with a jump of 11' 04". She would have cleared 11'08" on her 11'04" attempt. We had two relays 4 x 800 and 4x100 that both came in second by a little. The our 400 runner came in third as two other ran much faster as they had in the prelims. I was a little down as all the kids who had chances to win state kept getting second. Our last chance to will a state championship was the 4x400. Two members of the relay ran the best races of their lives and we won by 30 feet. The goal I had for the boys was to finish in the top 5. As they announced the results they read off Queen Creek as third which means we beat their track team for the first time ever. We finished runners up just a few points behind Notre Dame. This was our best finish in state ever. It was awesome to see how excited kids where down on the track. One kid the week before was so angry to lose to Queen Creek in the very end in everything. He is a senior and was just fed up. He finished his high school career as a state champion in the 4 x 400 and beat Queen Creek in the only meet that really matters. It was a great year and we have great kids on our track team.

Since it is the weekend and I didn't go back to my room I got to take the trophy home. I felt like it was the Stanley cup or something and the kids just wanted to touch it.

It is fun to see them so excited. I remember always looking at the trophy cases at all the schools I went to and thinking how cool it must be to earn awards like this. It was great to see my kids so excited. Now instead of relaxing finals are on Monday/Tues., Graduation is Wednesday and our track banquet is on Thursday. Saturday I leave for Georgia to help Jenn and Ryan move back so I need to find some time to move my family. Fun , Fun, Fun! I wouldn't know what to do if I wasn't busy. Go Knights!