Are You Worthy?
Written for Runonsense by Coach Chris Bennett
I’m a sucker for cheesy moments. I love the John Tesh voiceovers and the slow motion recaps at the end of the Olympics or an Ironman. I even love the ridiculously melodramatic high definition Michael Bay/Jerry Bruckheimer moments when the hero is hurt and seemingly defeated yet drags his/her sweat drenched and perfectly tanned and sculpted body off the asteroid or Transformer carcas to fight one last good fight (in slow motion) as a fabulously mediocre Aerosmith song fills the silence. I do. I get weepy. I apologize for nothing.
One of my jobs, that I am sure I do as well as Aerosmith does soundtracks, is to coach. This week is the final Championship meet. There is of course the Outdoor National Championship 10 days later but that is merely icing on the cake. The State Championship is the real deal. Depending on the high school runner qualifying for States can be the apex or it can be the great test. Either way, it is special and it is singular. Counties and Conference do not hold a candle to the tension and excitement around a HS state meet. As a coach, it is also a special meet. One track, one day (at least in NJ) everyone gets to line up and answer the questions being asked in hushed tones; who will break, who will fall, who will rise, who will risk it all and yes, who will win? Those are all very different questions.
<p style="text-align: center;"> Clippings from around the internet involving New Jersey athletes and or track, field, and cross country. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://nj.milesplit.com/articles/series/851-nj-clippings"><img alt="" src="http://cache.milesplit.com/user_files/369316/68152/new_jersey_clippings.png" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; width: 500px; height: 180px;" /></a></p>