Forget about the years of training, the season full of workouts and meets. Forget the three days of competition that have gone on before your race. Forget that the girls' team has already won the CHL championship.
Your boys' team leads Mariemont by one point.
A little over three minutes ago, Clifford Ngong came out of the starting blocks carrying a blue baton. After circling the track, he handed it to Nate Johnson, who circled the track and handed it to Chase Guggenheim, who circled the track and handed it to you, Terrell Dailey. You start off a few meters behind.
You've drawn even with the Mariemont anchor as you come down the final 50 meters. If you beat him to the finish line, your relay wins. Your team wins. If he beats you to the finish line, his relay wins. His team wins.
You win. Your relay wins. Your team wins.
Yeah - that's what sport is.
And it's this: You're Emily Stites running the 3200 meters. You're ten meters from the finish line. Your closest competitor, the girl from Indian Hill who you've battled with on the track and cross country trails for four years, is at least 20 meters behind you. Even if she put on a miracle kick and passes you, it wouldn't matter - you've lapped the field. But you don't coast - you push through the pain and run a 10:37.79. Knowledgeable folks at the track say that no Ohio high school girl, in any Division, has run better than a 10:41 this season.
Full meet post later this weekend.
CHL Champions - Wyoming boys, Wyoming girls
Track seniors:
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