Alec brought home an engraved bowling pin from his last bowling session (his class went every Thursday). It has his name and high score 138. I can't tell if he got the high score award or if every bowler got one with his/her high score on it. Alec can't tell me - all he knows is he won!

McKayla ran in the Utah State Track and Field Championships last weekend. They were pretty successful for her. She took 6th in the 1600 with a time of 5:03. That was a PR for her by 6 seconds. Then she took 5th in the 3200m with a time of 11:01. That was also a 6-second PR. The only thing she wasn't pleased about was that she was 4th in the 3200m until the other runner did a quick burst at the end and just out-leaned her at the finish line. Otherwise, she was quite happy! Also on the running front, she was invited to represent Utah at the Great Southwest meet in Albuquerque on June 7th and 8th. She was invited for the 1600m, 3200m and the 800m. What she decided to run is the 3200m and a 4x800 relay. She is the only female from Riverton High to be invited so she will be sharing a hotel room with unknowns (a chance to make new friends). A couple guys from Riverton were invited so the bus ride there should be fine (she is already good friends with them - even dated a couple of them). It's an honor for her to have been invited. Athletes don't usually PR at this meet but I think the trip will be fun for her!

another school record

It was the Regional Championship track meet this week. Our coach wasn't as concerned with winning the regional championship as he was with qualifying runners for the State Championships. So, since McKayla had already qualified (by time) for the 3200m and 1600m her coach didn't have her run those events hoping to qualfiy another runner by having them finish in the top 4 at Region. It worked. Erin took 4th in the 3200m so gets to go to State now.

The coach had McKayla run the 800m instead. She has only run it once before (at 2:27) so imagine our shock when she ran it in 2:20 which not only qualified her for State by time, but also placed her 3rd and set a new school record.

This means McKayla is the school record holder in the 800m, 1600m and 3200m! Our family was laughing about it because McKayla set the school record in the 3200m her freshman year (she's bettered it many times since). Then she took over the school record in the 1600m her sophomore year. We started joking she was setting a record a year. However, in cross-country this year she failed to set the record by 2 seconds. We jokingly told McKayla that meant she had to set the record in the 800m this year and then could do the cross-country one her senior year thus giving her a new school record every year. We joked but didn't really think it possible since she doesn't normally run the 800m and isn't known for speed.

I guess she showed us! Her time was only .42 seconds off being qualified as a U.S. Second Team Elite in that event.

everything's coming up roses

No, not in my garden - I have a certified black thumb.  I have the power to kill anything green.  I think it is my "superpower".

However, good things keep coming for McKayla.  She ran in the BYU Invitational last weekend and took 9th overall  in the 3200 with a time of 11:07 (which almost equals her best time at sea level so I'm sure her low altitude time would be below 11 minutes).  She took 11th overall in the 1600 with a personal best time of 5:09.  Impressive!

Even better news for her - she was called to serve on the seminary council for the 2013-2014 school year.  This is quite an honor!  Approximately one student per stake is selected.  They are chosen by the seminary teachers and then approved by the stake president.  The call is issued by the stake presidency.  Pres. Lloyd called her on Sunday and she was set apart shortly after by him.  We all got to attend.  It was a long setting apart with lots of amazing blessings and promises.  I am very excited for her to have this experience!