Taking opportunities

“Teaching and coaching go hand-in-hand. It was 2006. Throughout that year, we had a number of track athletes who did a really good job as far as training, setting goals and just doing everything that a coach would want them to do. We had a goal to try to qualify for state track in the 400-meter-relay. We worked extra hard after practice, even on the weekends. We did everything that you would ask for a group to do in order to reach that goal. When we got to the state sectional track meet, which was the final qualifier to get to state, our best runner got injured while running the 100-yard-dash. His injury was so severe it finished him for the season. He tore his hamstring and he couldn’t run. And that happened right at the beginning of the track meet. So, we had to prepare our fifth runner, which in track is called your alternate. At that point, our alternate was a big drop off. He was the kind of runner who put in tons and tons of work, but wasn’t a star. He was smart and very dependable. I think he realized this was kind of his chance. So, not to disrupt the other runners and positions, we put in our alternate runner as our anchor. He did his job and just held our spot. We got second and qualified for state. We were one of eight teams to make it to state. At the state meet, we were in first place by about five yards. In the relay, when the alternate was handed the baton, his eyes got giant, his face lit up and he started sprinting. We won state and set a new school record. It was just an incredible lesson to the rest of us because it showed with hard work, comes great reward. I tell this story every year to the track team.” (Mr. Dan Benson, gym teacher and track coach)