I watched both Saturday and Sunday and enjoyed the free food and amenities that came with my pass. I chatted with the students I work with during the week that weren't competing and got some time to speak with coaches when their kids were not competing.
Cross Country and Track athletes are not the most extroverted athletes you meet. They are the most like normal college students among college athletes. They generally lay low and stay out of the limelight.
I love track and cross country because it's so simple. You run as hard as you can until the race is over. The fastest time wins. You can tell how much effort went into preparation easily.
I don't think track and cross country get enough respect for all that they do. They can't ever get satisfied or complacent. They always need a new P.R.
The best part of Saturday was the 3,000 meter race and it featured one woman who I was rooting for named Ally.
Ally is a senior and is the fastest girl on the team. She's also a New Englander, which I love. She was wicked fast. She ran a 9:34:97 to complete 3,000 meters that day. Her quickest time ever by about six or seven seconds. She had finished in the top two or three many times in various events before, but had yet to win a championship.
As the race unfolded I knew Ally would do well. I knew she should finish in the top three runners. I hoped for better. I started watching from one of the turns. As the laps were winding down and Ally was in the lead pack I decided to move myself, and my camera, towards the finish line.
I just had an inkling that moving towards the finish line would be a good idea.
I was proved correct.
With a few laps left Ally was solidly in second. She maintained a consistent gap between herself and the leader. You got this feeling that Ally would pull it off and win. Then she lost some ground. All of a sudden some doubt entered into my mind. Could she pull it off?
She answered any doubt quickly. She charged back and then on the back stretch made a convincing move towards the lead with a lap or two to go that she would not relinquish.
The best part of everything was that she was smiling as she was finishing her race. I saw this all through out my camera lens. It was awesome to see and great to capture. There was a happiness and joy on her face as she finished that reminded me of why I do work in college sports. It was a form of pay.
It's hard not to get excited by a performance like Ally's. One in which she wins her first individual championship. One in which she flashed a huge confident smile. It was an expression that seemed to show that she had given it her all and won.
I may have read her expression wrong. She of course was happy, but I won't ever know what exactly made her so happy.
I do know that her winning gave me energy and enthusiasm. It was a shot of adrenaline and a great reminder of why I do the job I do. I'm so glad I was able to support her and watch and capture such a great moment.
