Northwest Cross Country Showdown at Riverfront Park

September 3, 2014 by Andy Morales, AZPreps365


CDO's Bridgette Doucet led from start to finish with Vista Grande's Carissa Diaz (817) taking second & Kristin Powell of Ironwood Ridge (far right) taking third. (Andy Morales/AIA365.com)

Wednesday, September 3

"By the grace of God." 

Canyon del Oro senior standout Bridgette Doucet summed up her return to distance running in those five very personal words. After sitting out last fall due to her battle with anorexia, Doucet stormed out to a first place finish in the Northwest Showdown held at Riverfront Park in Oro Valley on Wednesday.

Doucet ran a 17:42, easily outdistancing her friends Carissa Diaz of Vista Grande (19:10) and Kristin Powell of Ironwood Ridge (19:32).  Friends? All distance runners are her friends whether they know it or not. But I'm guessing they do.

"The runners are amazing," she explained, "They are all the best people. I feel like this is all what it's about. I'm enjoying my team and the grateful to be out here running again. My teammates, my coaches and family have all been supportive. And I am also doing this for God because he is the reason I am able to be out here."

Getting a post-race interview from Doucet proved to very difficult - for a good reason. True to her word and personality, Doucet did not hang around the finish line and take in her own victory. Far from it.

Doucet sprinted back to the race to cheer on Diaz and Powell and every other girl who ran by.  Only when she was certain all of her teammates and most of the runners had finished did she offer a few words on her own race.

Victories come in many ways.

Powell had a great summer by finishing in the top 10 at Junior Nationals in the Steeplechase. Training with Tucson Elite and University of Arizona track coach Fred Harvey, Powell has qualified for nationals three years in a row.

As a team, Vista Grande (44) took first, Catalina Foothills (48) took second and Ironwood Ridge (53) third.

On the boy's side, Salpointe's Nathan Thomas (15:39) won a close race against CDO senior Timothy Ronan (15:45) and Ironwood Ridge standout David Fernandez (15:46).

"This was a good test to see how my training went over the summer," said Thomas. "It's also a good test to see where everyone else is. I'm happy with my time but there is always room for improvement."

Ronan edged out Fernandez at the finish line.  "I'm really happy with my race," said Ronan. "There are spots where I can improve but I can't really complain."

Ironwood Ridge (51) took first, Salpointe (72) second and Canyon del Oro (79) third.

NOTES: Former Amphitheater cross country coach Sandra Duplain is now coaching with legendary Rick Glider at CDO.

The next major race for Southern Arizona will be the Sierra Vista Buena Sue Fletcher Invitational scheduled for Saturday, September 6.

 

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