The Stork Stops Here

JP finished third in the state (TSSAA DII) yesterday at Shelby Farms Park in Memphis, behind Drew Beroset (15:03) and Marshall McConville (15:25). Overall, JP's time (15:32) was the sixth fastest. Beroset's time was the fastest overall, as he edged out Clevleland HS's Owen Clemons (15:06), who won the AAA race in a deal with Asher Oates (15:14) from Independence HS.

It its return to Memphis for the first time since 1969, the state cross country meet was run on a course that was deceptively difficult, I thought. As I walked the course before the race, I was surprised to discover so many rolling hills and switchbacks. Two laps over relatively hilly terrain prevented any runner from breaking 15:00.

As it turns out, I think JP was at a bit of a disadvantage against Beroset and McConville, because they had run the course a couple of weeks ago at the Frank Horton "Night" Classic. That's not an excuse, as no one in the state was going to beat Drew Beroset yesterday - he was that strong. Still, it would have been nice for JP to have raced the course in the past so he could have had a better idea of how to approach it yesterday.

Incidentally, I met Drew Beroset's parents and Marshall McConville's parents during and after the race. Very, very nice people. I was able to convince JP to let me snap a picture of him with Marshall before the awards ceremony. He seems like a fine young man. His times have improved tremendously from last year, when he placed 16th in the state. As I told his father, Marshall's improvement is a testament to how hard he worked in the offseason. Hard work and dedication pay off in cross country. Always.

I didn't fully realize it until I talked with Austin Weaver last night but Beroset set a blistering pace from the beginning of the race. In fact, Beroset, McConville, and JP quickly broke away from the rest of the runners and it was clear that the winner would come from their group of three. Austin pointed out that the three of them ran the first mile at a 4:30 pace. Beroset completed the first half of the race in 7:32, which is absolutely smoking. McConville and JP were right behind him at the halfway point.

It was clear to me that unless something strange happened, Beroset was going to win the race. While JP was five to 10 yards behind McConville at the 2.0 mile mark, he looked to be measuring him up. I thought he might be waiting to make a move. However, at 2.5 miles, I could see that JP wasn't going to be able to catch him. I was concerned that with that realization, JP might take his foot off the gas mentally and allow the fourth and fifth place runners to challenge him. That didn't happen, however, as JP finished as strongly as he has in a race I've watched this season to capture third place.

I jogged over to the finish line to find JP immediately after the race. He was staggering a bit, trying to stay on his feet. When he saw me, he motioned me over. He threw his arm around my shoulder and we walked away from the finish line as he mumbled incoherently. After a few minutes of walking, he came back to himself. We walked back to the MBA tent, as we discussed the race.

What I was the most proud of, I think, is that without question, JP finished on empty yesterday. He had nothing left at the end of the race, which has to be a satisfying feeling for him. As I told him after the race, it would have taken his best race to win yesterday. He ran a good race but not his best race. That's the way it is in cross country.

I'm not ready to write about the cross country season yet. I'll do that later. Also, JP is running at NXR in Cary, NC, in two weeks. To end the season, he'll run at Running Lane in Huntsville, AL. So, while the school season is over, his season is not.

I was proud of JP as I watched him recognized at the awards ceremony for finishing third in the state. Seeing him on the podium with Drew Beroset and Marshall McConville was cool. He's accomplished a lot running cross country at MBA for three years. A 3-time All State runner. Co-Captain, with Jack McDaniel as a junior. Still, I think there's more to come. A lot more.