KYtrackXC.com Presents: State Meet Memories Part III

KYtrackXC.com in preparation for the 2008 Kentucky State Cross Country Meet has caught with several former Kentucky State Cross Country Champions asking them to describe their memories of winning a state championship.  This is the third of five installments in the “State Meet Memories” series.

 

Michael Eaton, Greenwood High School

Year of State Title: 2005
Course Location: The Horse Park
Distance: 5000 Meter Run

"Cross Country State was one of the best experiences of my high school career.  Though my first state title came in track my sophomore year, I always considered myself more of a cross country runner than a track guy.  So winning the state meet in cross my junior year was very fulfilling to me.  I believe it was that year that my dad climbed a tree about a quarter mile after the mile mark and was yelling like a crazy man, but I couldn't see him anywhere so I had no idea where the yelling was coming from.  Later on my teammates told me he had climbed the tree, my dad always has been a little fanatic when it comes to my running, as anyone who has ever seen or more likely heard him would agree.  Another one of my favorites state meet memories is breaking the State Meet record by one second my senior year.  My former track coach, Chuck Wolfram, took a picture of me as I cross the line, and later gave it to me framed.  I still have it up in my room at home, the whole picture he made black and white expect for me and the clock, which reads my winning time of 15:05."

 

Jackie Wagner, St. Mary High School

Year of State Title: 1997, 1998, 2000

Course Location: Kentucky Horse Park

Course Distance: 4000 Meter Run and 5000 Meter Run

 

I started running for the St. Mary Girls Cross Country Team as a 6th grader in 1995. By then St. Mary had 1 state team championship under their belt. That year at the Kentucky Horse Park I placed 2nd overall and my team placed 1st. I continued my running career all the way up to my senior year where I won state titles in 1997 (4k), 1998 (4k), and 2000 (5k) and placed runner-up in 1995(4k), 1996 (4k) and 1999 (5k). My team placed first again in 1996 and runner-up in 1997 and 1998.

With all of that said I do not think that you could cover those memories in just a few sentences. So I am going to send you this and let you interpret it into something that you find fitting for the article. Girls cross country and track were life changing for me. Not only did I learn life lessons about camaraderie, sportsmanship, and teamwork I also was able to build a family with running. Through my coaches and other running peers and teammates I would not be the person I am today without all of that. I have tons of people to thank and not enough room. Winning state several times was a dream come true, but it is not until you are older that you truly understand its long term effect. The experiences and memories are something that I will hold dear to me forever.

Houston Barber, Frankfort High School
Year of State Title: 1993
Course Location: Kentucky Horse Park
Distance: 5000 Meters

It was the most challenging day of my running career...making dreams become a reality.  I remember dominating the entire season and approaching state meet like another meet and yet that was not the case.  As we entered the final turn heading down the last hill to the finish, there was another runner from Fort Knox who would not let me out of his sight.  The time was not great but the victory was sweet.  It allowed me to become a competitor for running and in life. 

 

Cara Nichols, Bowling Green High School
Cross Country Titles: 1997, 1998
Course Location: Lexington Horse Park
Distance: 4000 Meter Run

My first state title was the most memorable because it was such a surprise. I was not the favorite, but I remember I was excited and ready to race that day. It was a great reward for all the hard work I did leading up to the race. Everything just came together, and it

provided motivation for me to look beyond the state of KY and consider national races.

 

Daniel Murner, South Oldham High School

Year of State Title: 2005

Course Location: Kentucky State Horse Park

Distance: 5000 Meters

 

The one thing I will always remember about that race at State is falling within 800 meters of the finish line, and running like crazy to hold onto the lead down the last big hill. I didn't want to look back because I was sure the fall had cost me precious seconds, and because at any moment I expected the pack to swoop down the hill and challenge my lead. As usual at state, the last 200 was lined with spectators. Going around the last curve I was just waiting to see the finish line banner materialize from out of the crowd. When I crossed the line I could only think, "Wow! I actually made it!"

 

Carmen Mims, Mercy Academy

Year of State Titles: 2001, 2002, 2004

Course Location: Kentucky State Horse Park

Distance: 5000 Meters

Winning in 2001 as a freshman is still one of the best moments of my life.  I felt really proud to be representing Mercy Academy and all the amazing teammates from that year.