Every year the Lutheran West Men’s team sets a goal to win the Avenue of Champions Invitational in the second week of the season. Every year, they come up short. What is so bizarre about it is that they never seem to run poorly. It just seems that no matter how good their team is, there is always one team that is quite a bit better.
This year it was Newbury.
When Coach Mark Fenske looked down his roster the weekend before the race he saw three men who he expected to running below 19. He saw seven others who had a realistic shot at running in the 19’s and 20’s. Many years, that would be enough for a realistic shot at taking home the first place trophy. It is also the best team that Fenske has ever had.
Then the day of the race arrived with mid-90 degree temperatures and bright sun. So, Fenske realized that his original times were not realistic, but he still felt he had a chance – problem was, he didn’t know how strong Newbury was.
At the mile mark it looked like it was going to be ugly. The first seven runners through were all from Newbury. LW’s top runners, though, were not going to be shut out and picked off the Black and Orange slowly throughout the race. Senior Mat Duran cut into the top finishing just after Newbury’s second runner by the finish. Sophomore Brian Giguere finished after the fourth. Freshman Drew Fuchs crossed the finish line after Newbury’s fifth. Sophomore Andrew Liese passed about 12 other runners in the second and third mile, but couldn’t break Newbury’s top seven. Newbury was just too good.
“We just ran out of time,” said Coach Fenske about the 5k race. “If we were running a 10k, I have no doubt it would have been a different story. But we’re not. They beat us. We aren’t in the same class with them – yet.”
Fenske’s synopsis is brutally accurate. Despite the viscous temperatures, Newbury put 8 runners across the line in between the 19 and 20 minute mark. LW managed only three.
“Everyone has to get faster,” continued Fenske. “We aren’t quite there.”
