Video Recap: The LBA 2-Mile Cross Country Meet at LBA Park

There's a unique energy to a mid-week cross country race. With an early school release, the LBA 2-Mile, hosted by Olympia High School, offered a perfect opportunity for local teams to test their legs without the usual pressure of a Saturday invitational. On October 8, athletes from visiting Curtis and South Kitsap high schools joined the Bears at LBA Park for a no-frills, all-business race.

Owen Mangrum takes a commanding lead as he tops the first hill of the LBA 2-mile course

While there was definitely some strong competition, the overall vibe was pretty laid-back. For many, it was a chance to put in a hard effort on the iconic LBA Park course—the same one used for the Olympia XC Classic—and see where their fitness stands mid-season.  

From my perspective, this race was also a bit of a stepping stone. While shooting video isn’t new to me, capturing the action in a cross-country environment is. I used this meet as a chance to experiment with creating video content, learning a lot from the footage I was able to get.

A South Kitsap High School runner crosses the finish line

Full disclosure: I only stuck around for the boys' race before heading out to a family dinner. But in that short time, I was reminded of the grit and focus it takes to tackle this course. I'm excited about what I learned and can't wait to do it again.

Check out the video highlights above and let me know what you think in the comments!