Notes
Pretty solid race again today. Really felt the effects of the 8k alot more on this course. Probably went out a little too fast again and paid the price. Lablah really got me all jacked up when he told me that we had a shot at going 1 2 3 in the results today. Didn't know that EIU would have about 5 ringers coming up after about 3k in and surge on me like no other!
Still tried to remain as competitive as possible though. Cracked the top 20 again, thats nice. I did surge alot more in this race than I did in normal races, seems that might of been what got me to the time I hit.Fan support was nuts too, seems like I had at least one person always screaming at somebody behind me to pass me, really pushed me onward. I passed up quite a few people on the back stretch of the hill on the lonely end of the course, but it seemed as if they would always pass me on the flat part!! AHH!!
Ohwell, kicked it in by the pond for the last time and got back 2 or 3. One guy got me at the end though! >:(
Big shout out to chris, had to DNF the race...
Race Grade: B+
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Senior Josh LaBlanc finished in second place, one second off the lead, to lead the Fighting Sioux today at the Eastern Illinois Panther Open.
LaBlanc, a native of International Falls, Minn., clocked in at 25:40.67 on the 8K course, a time topped only by medalist Matthew Feldhake of host EIU (25:39.69).
The meet that was scored as a pair of double duals against EIU and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. The Sioux defeated SIUE but fell to the host Panthers.
LaBlanc was joined among the top 10 individually by teammate Tyler Rose (Jr., Brainerd, Minn.), who finished seventh with a time of 25:59.00.
Freshman Kyle Economy (Victoria, Minn.) landed in the top 20 with a time of 26:23.05. He finished in 18th place.
The Sioux return to action on Saturday, Sept. 18 at the Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational in Lincoln, Neb.