Milford High School Cross Country

A super seven bunch of MHSCC athletes wrapped up a solid week of workouts at the Strider Camp. In Friday's race finale, Jacob Barr and Chad Carpenter led all participants with a 19:42 and 19:45, respectively. Good to see the fellas battling for the top spot! Plus, newcomers Jon Wyman (21:56) and Storm Kemp (23:54) finished their first official 5Ks at Killens in great preseason times. For the ladies, newcomer Amy Mallamo got a great time in her first official race with a 32:03, and another newcomer Crystal Katz (33:46) worked together with veteran Megan Pastor (33:47). Nice work ladies!!!! B&T UPDATE: 8th-grade sib Stuart Barr set a new course record (first time the course has been run) with a 13:43 on the new 2.1-mile KPSP course. Cousin Kate finished tough with a 16:51 and sister Emma earned a 20:26. Another Milfordite, Elizabeth Butterly, finished her first cross country race with an impressive 18:54. Round of applause please!!!!!!

Milford alumnus Chris Kenton recently accepted a social studies teaching position at MHS. Kenton, a 1987 MHS graduate and former team captain of MHSCC, most recently taught at Lake Forest High School and coached the Wesley College cross country program. Kenton will definitely join the cross country team this fall and the track team in the spring to assist Coach Bloom.

Summer camps and open 5K races: Numerous summer camps and local 5K runs are available throughout the remainder of the summer to any interested runner. Contact Coach Bloom to get more information on these camps and open 5K races or visit websites listed in the "links" section. Stretching: At least 15 minutes of stretching should be done before and after a run, so if you run on your own this summer, make sure you stretch on your own, too. VERY IMPORTANT. Don’t be injured. Be racing. All muscles, especially in the legs, should be stretched for about 30 seconds each. Necessary gear: The sport of cross country lacks much required gear. A cool, comfortable, light-weight pair of running shoes is the biggest need. Running shoes range in a variety of colors and prices, but need not be expensive. All-leather shoes are usually hot and uncomfortable. Light weight and cushioned soles are a must. Besides shoes, a cool, light-weight shirt and shorts round out any running outfit. During cool weather, sweats should be brought to practice. Diet: Diet is very important to runners, and plenty of water is most important. Keep the fluids in your body. Drink a lot. Potassium and a little extra salt help keep muscles from cramping, and carbohydrates provide energy. Eating just prior to running will make most runners feel ill. Also, try to drink fluids throughout the day (not a lot immediately before a run). Coach Bloom will provide ice during practice and meets, but runners may always bring their own refreshments. Varsity letters: To earn a varsity letter for the cross country team this season, athletes must (1) complete the cross country season, AND (2) be one of Milford’s top seven finishers in at least two races during the season, OR (3) be named MHS Trailblazer of the Week at least once. Trailblazer of the week: Starting during the first week of school and lasting through the state meet, Coach Bloom will name a male and female Trailblazer of the Week. This honor is given to the athletes who best display improvement, hard work and dedication, and team leadership throughout a given week. Coach Bloom makes the decision on each honor. Award-winners will be announced at practice each Monday and posted in the high school. Attendance awards: Starting during the first week of school and lasting through the state meet, athletes with less than three unexcused absences will receive cool MHSCC T-shirts at the end of the season. Most absences discussed with Coach Bloom prior to the absence will likely be excused. Absences that are not pre-approved must be excused with a note or pass. Three unexcused lates will count as one unexcused absence. After-school detention or other disciplinary action does not excuse an athlete from practice. Bring a friend: Although more than 70 prospective athletes have expressed interest in cross country this fall, we, the MHSCC teams, need all the help we can muster. So, if you have friends or know others who may like to join in the fun, please talk to them and bring them along to a practice. I will also contact anyone you think may be interested. Parents: Coach Bloom will gladly discuss some of the team objectives for the season, review team policies and practices, and answer any other questions from parents after the first Saturday morning practice on Aug. 19 about 10:15 a.m. Thank you. Just contact Coach Bloom: Feel free to call me at home between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. weekdays with any questions or concerns you may have. My number is 335-1030. Please leave a message on the machine. By the way, e-mail me at BLOOMIES@BELLATLANTIC.NET. I try to check my e-mail at least three times a week and usually get to it daily.

According to athletic director Ken Brown, the cross country and track and field teams will receive new uniforms this season. We’ll be dressed for success, so a state championship photo sure would be nice!

With new enrollment figures released, MHSCC will swap divisions with Seaford High. We’ll now move to the North and fight for a trophy against Caesar Rodney, Cape Henlopen, Dover, Polytech, Sussex Tech and Sussex Central. We will continue to compete in the Division II state meet.