“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
2 Timothy 4:6-7
Head Commissioner: Mark Jones – run4eternity@yahoo.com
KayCee Keller signed her National Letter of Intent to continue her academic and athletic endeavors at Dallas Baptist University in the Fall of 2021. KayCee has been a FEAST Cross Country and Track athlete for the past six years. FEAST administration has organized a structure that allows homeschool athletes to compete in meets and competitions that otherwise would not be possible. The outstanding coaches trained her to compete at a high level while guiding her spiritually, always pointing her to Christ.
KayCee Keller and her family would like to thank FEAST administration, coaches, teammates, and team parents for all their hard work, dedication, and support! It has been an honor and privilege to sweat beside you all these years!
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CROSS COUNTRY: Contact: Coach Mark Jones, FEAST CC Commissioner Email: run4eternity@yahoo.com
ARCHIVED ARTICLES
December 2020
UNCERTAINTY, OPPORTUNITY, AND PRAISE
By: KayCee Keller
Are we even going to have a season? When the 2020 FEAST Cross Country practices started, this was the million-dollar question! God was so faithful, but not without the hard work of Coach Jones and the parent volunteers! Coach Jones worked his tail off, hosting three meets this year!! (FEAST usually only hosts one!) These three meets made up half the FEAST Cross Country season! These meets led to lots of PRs, medals, and team trophies, not only for the Patriots but for many runners in our community, state, and even nation! Thank you, Coach Jones, for your hard work, dedication, and sacrifice! Thank you to all the parent volunteers; none of this would have been possible without all of you!
The FEAST Patriots ended their season at the Texas State Homeschool Cross Country Championships! The Patriots walked away with some well-deserved bling! With top Performances by Farrin Magelson (3rd; Varsity Boys), Joshua Powers (9th; Varsity Boys), KayCee Keller (2nd; Varsity Girls), Lauren Bettencourt (8th; Varsity Girls), Gabbi Smith (10th; Varsity Girls), Joe Smith (5th; JV Boys), and the youngster Kathryn Oaks (10th, MS
Girls Division 2)!
The varsity boys had a battle for first and came out on top! Congratulations to Farrin Mangelson, Joshua Powers, Woody Bratcher, Elias Flores, Wyatt Richardson, Kiran Anderson, and Peter Kumaus! These boys put in the work this year and were constantly pushing each other to be better! Well deserved! The varsity girls consisting of KayCee Keller, Lauren Bettencourt, Gabbi Smith, Enola Mangelson, Claire Bettencourt, Avery Richardson, and Averie Solis, walked away with a second-place finish. Congratulations girls! Overall, everyone pushed themselves, and a few even brought in PRs on a super tough course! Way to go Patriots!
Finally, a shout out to our seniors leaving us this year, Woody Bratcher, Lauren Bettencourt, Wyatt Richardson, KayCee Keller, and Ray Hickey. May the Lord direct your path as you move onto the next stage in your life. The Patriots will miss you! This season started out with lots of uncertainty, but God showed up and worked out all the details leading to so many opportunities for the Patriot runners! Praise be to God for all of His provision!
November 2020
THE FINAL STRETCH
Crowds screaming through their masks and runners striding down the finish, this is what you will see at not one, not two, but all three of the FEAST Patriot Cross-Country Invitationals! FEAST has powered through these three meets with God’s providence being quite evident.
The two races FEAST has hosted so far have been AMAZING! Fast times, social distanced fans, and happy coaches! With over 1000 runners at each race, including some of the best in the state, these meets have been nothing short of a miracle.
Thanks to the hard work of Coach Jones, parent volunteers, and God, great reports are pouring in from other schools, parents, and runners! Coaches and athletes are beyond thankful for these meets because, without them, they would have no season! FEAST is serving the community by being Jesus with skin on, working hard to provide safe races! Keep the team in your prayers as they work through this last home meet!
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CROSS COUNTRY – Contact: Coach Mark Jones, FEAST CC Commissioner – Email: run4eternity@yahoo.com
October 2020
A NEW KIND OF SEASON
By: KayCee Keller
Unexpected! I think that this has been the mantra for 2020. This year took lots of turns and was definitely not what anyone had envisioned back in January. Just like everything else this year, cross-country was affected, and the 2020 season was looking grim!
The cross-country season was delayed a month, and meets were canceled, it was not looking good. The FEAST cross-country team did not let it get them down! They took sour lemons and made sweet lemonade! Everyone worked hard this summer and killed it at the annual Red, White and Blue Chocolate Milk Fun Run (a.k.a. the one and two- mile time trial). God has shown Himself good yet again this season!
The Patriots were able to open their season with the FEAST Patriot Invitational! Coach Jones poured everything he had to make sure the team followed all the new COVID-19 guidelines, while still keeping the meet running smoothly. He proved yet again that hard work pays off!
The meet had an outstanding turnout, with top finishes by Farrin Mangelson, Lauren Bettencourt, KayCee Keller, Sara Bettencourt, and Spencer Cox! The boys’ Varsity, consisting of Farrin Mangelson, Joshua Powers, Woody Bratcher, Wyatt Richardson, Peter Kumaus, Kiran Anderson, and Joe Smith, whipped out a fourth-place finish! It’s safe to say the Patriot Invitational was a success! The team is looking forward to the rest of this season!
The Texas Home School State Cross Country meet is on October 31st, and FEAST Patriots are working hard to hold on to all those state titles! Although this season is not the normal season everyone is used to, the Patriots are overcoming adversity and pushing through all the unexpected turns! Please pray for the athletes and coaches as this year holds more stressors than usual! Praise be to God for the season!
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CROSS COUNTRY – Contact: Coach Mark Jones, FEAST CC Commissioner – Email: run4eternity@yahoo.com
September 2020
ENDURANCE TILL THE END
By: KayCee Keller
“Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us.” (Hebrews 12:1)
It’s that time again! All summer, the FEAST cross-country athletes have laid aside the weight of laziness and pushed through some scorching Texas miles, all in a hope to have endurance through the season that lies before them! The season officially kicked off on July 28th at Live Oak Park, with one of Coach Jones’ devotions and workout.
The next milestone for the athletes took place at River City Community Church on August 18th, it was the annual Red, White, and Blue Chocolate Milk Fun Run! This event, although fun is no easy feat, the Patriots run their heart out trying to get a quality two-mile or one-mile time to start off their season, and if they endure to the finish, snacks and a runner’s staple (a.k.a. chocolate milk) are waiting for them! The team also enjoys a costume contest to see who are the most festive Patriots!
On September 5th the team will be Hosting our 18th Annual FEAST Patriot Cross Country Invitational, and it would be much appreciated if you keep us in your prayers, as over 40 teams attend this Patriot CC Team tradition. We also pray that we will mentally and physically prepare to tear up the course and glorify God as we run! This year we Praise the Lord; we are able to have a Cross Country Season! RUN PATRIOTS RUN!!!!
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CROSS COUNTRY: Contact: Coach Mark Jones, FEAST CC Commissioner Email: run4eternity@yahoo.com
August 2020
2020 PATRIOTS CC SEASON
It’s is not too late to be a part of the FEAST Patriots Cross Country Team. Contact Coach Mark Jones to learn more about our Cross Country/Running programs and this year’s activities. Practices are being held at Live Oak Park or River City Community Church Tuesday and Wednesday evenings 4:45-7pm.
As our FEAST Patriot tradition we will pursue excellence to have Competitive Runners and represent FEAST Patriots in the most competitive meets. But most importantly we will learn to be encouraged by God’s Word and enjoy the opportunity to fellowship with other Homeschool families and be a witness of Jesus Christ to our community!!
CROSS COUNTRY SEASON INFORMATION
• Four running Programs: Competitive CC Team; Track Offseason Group; Fitness Group; and “Optional Home Eligibility Running Program”.
• NO disqualifying time trial; the programs are open to anyone who has the desire to train, run, and have FUN!! Several ability groups available; beginners welcome.
• Home School Students: 5th-12th grade. MS and HS Teams
• Practices on Tuesday & Thursday, NE San Antonio Locations (4:45-7pm) Live Oak Park or River City Community Church.
IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS
July 28th 4:45-7pm 1st Official CC Season Practice, Live Oak Park
August 13th 4:45-7pm RED, WHITE, and BLUE, “Chocolate Milk Fun Run” Location: River City Community Church
August 22nd First XC Meet of the Season. SCUC CC Invitational, Steele HS
August 29th New Braunfels Unicorn Invitational, Comal County Fairgrounds
September 5th San Antonio – 18th Annual FEAST Patriot Cross Country Invitational
More Cross Country meets throughout September and October.
Contact: Coach Mark Jones, FEAST CC Commissioner for more information. Email: run4eternity@yahoo.com
July 2020
2020 PATRIOTS CC SEASON
It is not too late to be a part of the 2020 FEAST Patriots Cross Country Team.
Contact Coach Mark Jones to learn more about our Cross Country/Running programs and this year’s activities. Also, come join us throughout the month of July for the FREE SUMMER RUNNING CAMPS at River City Community Church or Live Oak Park on Wednesday morning at 7:45-9:45am. Saturday camps will include several Long Runs at different locations to include the San Marcos River.
As our FEAST Patriot tradition, we will pursue excellence to have Competitive Runners and represent FEAST Patriots in the most competitive meets. But most importantly we will learn to be encouraged by God’s Word and enjoy the opportunity to fellowship with other Homeschool families and be a witness of Jesus Christ to our community!!
“Great cross country teams and runners are built in the summer months of June and July, not in October.”
CROSS COUNTRY SEASON INFORMATION
- Four running Programs: Competitive CC Team; Track Off-season Group; Fitness Group; and “Optional Home Eligibility Running Program.”
- NO disqualifying time trial; the programs are open to anyone who has the desire to train, run, and have FUN!! Several ability groups available; beginners welcome.
- Home School Students: 5th-12th grade. MS and HS Teams
- Practices on Tuesday & Thursday, NE San Antonio Locations (4:45-7pm) Live Oak Park or River City Community Church.
IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS
- June 3rd-July 22nd 7:45am FREE Summer Running Camps
- June-July TBD 7:45am FREE Saturday Long Runs
- July 13th-Aug 3rd 8:00am Registration on FEAST website begins
- July 28th 4:45-7pm 1st Official CC Season Practice, Live Oak Park
- August 6th 4:45-7pm RED, WHITE, and BLUE, “Chocolate Milk Fun Run”
Location: River City Community Church
Contact: Coach Mark Jones, FEAST CC Commissioner for more information.
Email: run4eternity@yahoo.com