Eagles put in miles for title – Wise County Messenger

VIEW FROM THE TOP – The Decatur Eagles captured their second straight state title Saturday at the UIL championships in Round Rock. Messenger photo by Mack Thweatt

One Thursday morning this fall, I showed up at the Decatur High School track for an interview just as the Eagles were finishing the morning’s tortuous workout.

They had just completed the workout all distance runners dread – 16, 300 repeats. Basically, it’s 16 all-out 300 sprints within a time goal.

Somehow still standing on wobbly legs as the sun made its appearance on the eastern horizon, the Decatur Eagles and Lady Eagles performed a very off-key version of “Here Comes the Sun.” But I doubt after that morning’s workout that even George Harrison could have found the proper key.

Fast forward to Saturday: thanks in large part to the fastest performance by a 4A runner from Melissa’s Judson Greer, the 5K at Old Settlers Park became a near all-out sprint from the opening gun.

ADDING ANOTHER – Decatur coach David Park watched his Eagles garnered another state championship for the trophy case. Messenger photo by Richard Greene

The Eagles had their game plan and followed it, but as veteran runner Matthew Ashmore put it, “plans sometimes change.” With their getting somewhat mixed up, Decatur’s top five – four seniors and a sophomore – pulled from the sweat equity built through excruciating workouts to power through that third mile, knowing the state title was on the line.

FINAL RUN – Decatur senior Gabe Embree nears the finish of his final high school cross country race. He finished 27th. Messenger photo by Mack Thweatt

Without a runner in the top 10, it would be easy to say teamwork was the power source pulling the Eagles through the final mile. But that would be too simple.

It was also the strength of individuals pushing each other through tough workouts on hot, humid days to build that equity, then remaining patient and sticking to the strategy

That strategy and the ultimate result boiled down to one thing: “Who wanted to run that third mile today?,” a rhetorical question asked by Decatur coach and cross country guru David Park.

The answer was evident as Ashmore moved up four spots, Triston Read seven, Gabe Embree three and Lenin Blanco a whopping 24 in the final mile.

“We just know we’ve got to have it that last mile,” said Blanco after dousing the team with water in celebration.

In his post race speech, Park challenged the group to not let this be their defining moment or their finish line so to speak, pointing to future relationships and responsibilities.

And he’s right, miles and heart-pounding runs with cheers from fans will be replaced down the road by deadlines, work and family obligations. But this team has already proved an important lesson: rewards of today and tomorrow are a product of hard work yesterday or weeks ago on a track in this case. And even if it’s off key, you can still sing.

Richard Greene is the Messenger’s editor and an avid runner.

TAKING THE LEAD – Decatur’s Matthew Ashmore passes his teammate Derrick Bible near the finish of Saturday’s race. Ashmore finished 13th and Bible 14th. Messenger photo by Richard Greene