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Just like I did six months earlier, I picked up the paper, this
time to see that Joe Sain had set his school record for the half
mile run. This wasn't cross country any more, and just like the
mile was my specialty, the 800 was his specialty. Usually he
rounded out the balance of his points in the jumping events.
They had a pretty decent miler whom had clocked 4:49. I think
they were hoping he would give me enough competition to take
some of the edge off of me for Joe, but as I came out of that
last bend I had such a large lead that I jogged the rest of the
way and still finished with 4:49.
Our school didn't even have its own track, so the meet was
officiated at their school. As I lined up for the 800 the gun went off, and then the
whistle, calling us all back. Someone had jumped the gun creating a false start.
I really think the whole thing was by design, hoping to slow me down off the
line, or perhaps to deceive the crowd into believing the officials were watching
for "false starts". I am usually pretty quick off the line, but the second time
the gun went off, all of a sudden there were three guys out in front of me. My
brother says they did the exact same thing to him six years earlier when he ran
against Joe's older brother, Jerry. Their plan was for the two extra guys to run
shoulder to shoulder on Joe's outside to make it difficult for me to pass him, a
strategy called "boxing out." If they could keep me back until the final kick,
they felt that Joe's strong finishing kick would beat me. Their plan failed
miserably. For the 800 I always started my kick with a full lap to go, and their
execution of the "box out" was ineffective. As we were coming out of the final
curve of the first lap I saw enough space between Joe and his teamate that I
rotated my shoulders a little and squeezed between them. I lightly brushed
shoulders with Joe's teamate, but since I hadn't broken anyone's stride it was
completely legal. Judging from the response of the crowd, we
must have had a lot of people from our school there, for as I
broke through the box and took the lead the crowd erupted, the
only time in my entire career I had even noticed the crowd. By
the end of that first lap I was already out in front and pulling
away. My brother told me that by the time I hit the back stretch
I had built up a 30 yard lead. When Joe started his final kick
he began to gain on me, but it was much too little, much too
late. I crossed the finsih line with a comfortable lead.
(Photo Previous Page: One of Joe Sain's teamates has a look of
concern as I easily jog the final straight stretch of the mile
run.)
(Photo Above: That's me in front with the yellow uniform, while
Joe Sain, who was the starting center on their basketball team,
stands at my side. I believe Joe appears nervous, while I
display determination.) |
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