When it comes to track, it’s always about who ran the fastest, jumped the highest or threw the shot or the discus the farthest. But sometimes there are stories, GREAT, INSPRATIONAL STORIES, that don’t have to do with who won.

For instance, I remember watching the local news in the fall, I think it was, and there was an amazing story about a young lady (she may have been from the Youngstown area), who was competing in the state high school cross country meet and was almost near the finish line. Then came a gruesome sight. She broke her leg on the course and fell to the ground.

But this young lady had the courage and fortitude to crawl and limp her way to the finish line, despite being in obvious pain.

It was a story of incredible self-will. This young lady needed medical help, but she didn’t want it. She was withering with pain but she wanted to finish that race, and if you watched the video, you couldn’t help but get a little emotional, knowing she was in a world of pain. But watching her will her way to that finish line, regardless of the pain she was experiencing, was breathtaking and moving.

The yound lady gave a great television interview a few days later and it was great to see she was doing well and was in good spirts. I think she even joked that all she was thinking about, when she went down, was that she wasn’t going to be able to dance at her sister’s wedding later that night.

I witnessed another incredible story, but it didn’t involve injury. A few years ago I was covering a regional track meet at Ravenna and the Copley girls were favored in this particular relay event. As the race began, Copley was right there, as expected. But during one of the exchanges, the baton was dropped and the team was out of the race.

The young lady who dropped the baton was devasted. I mean, I had never seen an athlete more distraught. What I found out later was that the young lady was only a sophomore and there were two seniors on that relay team. The sophomore felt she had blown it for the seniors because it was their last chance to make it to state.

She was on the infield of the track, as the race was still going, slumped over an emotional ball.

She just shuddered and shook as she cried.

Then, former Copley standout Carrie Dyer, who was a senior and on that relay team, ran to the young runner to comfort her.

Then the rest of the realy team followed.

To me, that was one of the most inspirational stories I had ever witnessed.

The sophomore was heartbroken. But she was heartbroken because she cared about her teammates and wanted to perform at her best so that it would help the seniors.

It didn’t happen. But when it didn’t happen, the seniors weren’t mad, bitter or upset. They showed support for their younger teammate because they loved her. And in the end, winning didn’t matter.

So, with that, I’m asking readers to post any inspirational stories you witnessed, in track or any other sport, that didn’t involve someone winning.

A story where someone overcame odds to get where they are. Or a story about teammates helping one another.

Those are the most compelling stories.

There are a few scores that stood out in week 2 of high school football. Here is what I noticed:

North beat Coventry 32-22. That means North is 2-0. North is undefeated after the first two weeks for the first time since 1976. The Vikings are off to this rare start with first-year head coach Ken Johnson leading the way.

Johnson is a 1990 graduate of North who dreamed of becoming head coach at his alma mater one day. After 15 years as an assistant, he got his chance and he’s taking advantage of his opportunity. Congratulations to coach Johnson and the Vikings for their good start.

Click here for some North-Coventry game notes and quotes from Johnson.

Tallmadge defeated Ellet 17-7. The Blue Devils keep winning but it’s not by the margin of victory expected for the Beacon Journal’s preseason No. 1 team.

Last week, Tallmadge defeated Cuyahoga Falls 17-14, which raised the question: Is Tallmadge overrated of is Cuyahoga Falls underrated?

Cuyahoga Falls went on to lose to Wadsworth 38-14 in week 2. Click here to watch a really cool behind-the-scenes video of the Cuyahoga Falls-Wadsworth game.

Stow defeated Kent Roosevelt 45-20. The Bulldogs have already matched their 2006 season total for wins by earning a 2-0 start.

Stow beat Kenmore in a rout in week 1. But the Bulldogs did the same thing last year, then went on to finished with a record of 2-8. However, Stow appears to be a much improved team this year. The Bulldogs aren’t just winning games, they are thrashing their opponents.

Are there any teams surprising you? Let me know.

Here is a preseason look at Portage Trail Conference Metro Division football for the 2007 season. In this post, you will find players (and any all-star recognition they received in the league last season) to watch from each team and my predictions for the upcoming season.

KENT ROOSEVELT (10-1 overall, 7-0 in the PTC Metro last year; PTC Metro champs)

Top players: Senior kicker Emily Moran (first-team PTC Metro Division special teams, special-mention All-Ohio and first-team all-district in Division II), junior DB-RB Tyler Lohr (second-team defense).

CRESTWOOD (6-2, 5-2)

Top players: Senior OL-DL Jake Roman (first-team offense), senior Jimmy Porter (second-team defense), senior Mark Mikula (second-team defense).

COVENTRY (8-3, 5-2)

Top players: Junior WR Jeff Walker (first-team offense and second-team all-district in Division III), senior Matt Myers (first-team defense), senior OL-DL Vince Magestro (second-team defense).

RAVENNA (6-4, 5-2)

Top players: Senior LB-FB Roy Davis (first-team defense), senior WR-DB Jonathan Davis (second-team offense), Drew Trammel (second-team offense), Stephen Fejedelem (second-team offense), Brad Hager (second-team defense), Mike Petrone (second-team defense), junior RB-DB Blayre Davis.

SOUTHEAST (5-5, 3-4)

Top players: Senior OL-DL Greg Lemley (first-team offense), senior TE-LB Kyle Johnston (first-team offense), Ed Burke (first-team special teams), senior FB-LB Chad Eatinger (second-team offense), junior OL-DL Christian Kainrad (second-team defense).

FIELD (5-5, 2-5)

Top players: Senior OL-DL Kris Adams (first-team offense), senior RB Seth Koosed (first-team offense), senior DB Ronnie Adkins (first-team defense), senior DL-OL Brent Ulreich (second-team defense), senior Zach Miller (second-team defense).

NORTON (2-8, 1-6)

Top player: Senior QB Jeremy Perry (honorable mention PTC Metro Division).

SPRINGFIELD (0-10, 0-7)

Here are my predictions for the order in which the teams will finish in the PTC Metro Division this season:

1. Ravenna

2. Crestwood

3. Coventry

4. Southeast

5. Kent Roosevelt

6. Field

7. Norton

8. Springfield

Here is my explanation: Of the three teams that finished in a tie for second place in the league standings last year, Ravenna has the most upside. The Ravens have 17 returning starters and 19 seniors. Defending PTC Metro Division champion Kent Roosevelt lost several key players, including Youngstown State Univeristy quarterback recruit David Rogers, to graduation, so winning another league title seems to be unlikely. Crestwood lost its main offensive threat: Kent State Univeristy RB recruit Alan Vanderink. Coventry also lost its star player: QB Chase Carris. However, Ravenna has its star players back. The Ravens will be led on both sides of the ball by Roy Davis, Jonathan Davis and Blayre Davis. And yes, they are all cousins. I wrote a story about them that will appear in the Beacon Journal’s football preview, which will be released Wednesday. On another note, if there is one player that you should try to see this season, it’s Coventry junior wide receiver Jeff Walker. I saw Walker, 6-foot-4, 195-pound, play last year, and he was amazing. He finished the season with 54 catches for 874 yards and eight touchdowns and was a second-team all-district selection in Division III as a sophomore. Carris was a very good high school quarterback and some might say his departure could affect Walker. But I think Walker will have another great season no matter who the quarterback is because he can get open, and he has the athletic ability to gain yards after the catch.

Tell me what you think of these predictions. How do you think the league will turn out?