Bitburg cross country team attacks European Championships

  • Published
  • By Capt. Lisa Barber
  • 52nd Mission Support Squadron
SCHWETZINGEN, Germany --  It was the perfect ending to a challenging and rewarding season for the Baron's cross country team. In the highly contested, and very unpredictable, European Championship race, the Bitburg Lady Barons proved they had what it took to be champions Oct. 28.

The team of five girls, led by Sophomore Rachel Poock, the second place finisher in the Division I-II race, earned honors as the fastest girls team in Division II.

Rachel edged out Baron's teammate and top competitor, Sandra Davidson, with a time of 20 minutes, 57 seconds along the sandy five-kilometer course. Jade Thrasher placed 10th, while Kayleigh Chase and Loren Jobe rounded out the championship team.

Though Rachel had never beaten her teammate and friend during the regular season, there were no hard feelings between the two, who have been training partners all season.

"I'm super proud of you," Sandra said to her after Sunday's race.

"I was excited and surprised because I didn't think I would do so well," Rachel said. "We talked about the race the whole way home."

The girls were not the only two impressed by her season-ending performance.

Ryan Poock rushed from his own race to sweep his sister off her feet in a congratulatory hug. She clutched her cell phone, spreading news of her performance to her friends back at the Bitburg football game.

Ryan, a senior and team co-captain, capped his final Bitburg cross country season with a fourth place finish in the boys Division I-II race, completing the course in 16 minutes, 57 seconds. This year's finish was especially sweet, as it avenged last year's finish, when the flu kept him from performing at his best.

"Last year's race was disappointing, but I knew there was nothing I could do because of my health," he said. "This year, I took the summer more seriously and started my training earlier so that I'd be ready for the season. Throughout the season, I stayed focused on my goals for Europeans."

The summer workouts, including a week-long training camp to the Virginia mountains, paid off. And the unexpected death of beloved coach David E. Turner Sept. 7 helped further inspire the runners. The team of 13 competed as "Turner's Burners" this year in his honor.
"It was fun to watch how strong the team became and how hard everyone worked," Ryan said. "Everyone became more focused and set their goals higher this year, probably because of Coach Turner."

The girls felt the same way.

When asked what she would tell her coach and math teacher following this season's Division II victory, Rachel said simply "Coach Turner, this was all for you."