Turning It On When It Matters Most, Thurneysen Wins States

Sometimes you train hard, control everything you can, and the chips just don't fall in your favor. That was the case for Tristan's season until Saturday. 

Class 6 Results 

Entering the year, Tristan Thurneysen (Chantilly) was the #2 runner in our VA power rankings and the top returner both from states and on time. He had high hopes for the season and big goals to chase. The season though had other plans. 

Whether it be injury, illness, or college visits, things did not line up for Tristan all year. He ran in two invitationals all season finishing 60th and 26th and ran nearly a minute slower than he did a year ago. Tristan didn't give up though and followed the course. 

"Just trust your training and fitness" is what Tristan said his coach kept preaching. That is exactly what Tristan did late in the race Saturday. 

Around the 2.25 mile mark in a series of downhills, Tristan made his move and never looked back. He continued to push the pace and from our vantage point on the lead cart we would agree that his coach was right, his fitness was there when it mattered most going up and down the hills the final 1K. 

Ultimately Tristan was able to pull away by seven seconds over Gainesville's Trent Daniels to win in 15:51, the fastest time of the day at Oatlands across all three classifications. 

His team would ultimately finish in a tie for fourth with South Lakes, South Lakes took the tie-breaker though based on their sixth runner (44-64). His teammate Jack Morgan also ran a great race finishing 5th overall. 

Our biggest takeaway from this race was that it reminded us that Championship season is not about times or PR's, it is about racing and performing when it matters most and Tristan did just that. 

Class 6 All-State Finishers: