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.

Here is some cross country analysis as leagues/conferences hold their championship meets and the state championships approach.

Louisville senior Kyle Kling and Medina junior Donny Roys have each been impressive runners this season, but there are still several teams that have a good collection of talent and other individuals that are having success.

The cross country teams at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy and Woodridge are two examples of squads that have consistently fared well at invitationals this season, in addition to Louisville, Medina, North Canton Hoover Green, Jackson, Louisville, Hudson, Crestwood, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Vincent-St. Mary and Walsh Jesuit.

CVCA and Woodridge have front-end talent and depth that make them a contender at each meet.

CVCA has been led by juniors Katie Gillespie and Kyle Sullinger. The girls and boys teams each placed first recently at the Legends Meet at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds.

Gillespie and junior Carolyn Case have paced the Royals girls squad with freshmen Joy Talbott, Irene Frangos and Hannah Lyons also being key contributors. The girls team placed first in September at the Division II Boardman Spartan Invitational.

Sullinger and sophomores Ross Crocker and Mark Talbott have paced the Royals boys squad.

The Woodridge girls’ squad was second to CVCA at Boardman. The Bulldogs have been led by juniors Emily Sabo, Erin Mercer and sophomore Becca Howdyshell.

The Woodridge boys’ team won the Division II Boardman Spartan Invitational in September behind senior Brian Himelright, who placed first. The Bulldogs have also received significant contributions from juniors Michael Rhodes and Joe White, seniors Tony Marette and Matthew Weiss and freshmen Jimmy Charles and Vibus Sivakumaran.

This Saturday several leagues will be holding their championship. The City Series and Suburban League will be running at Goodyear Metro Park in Akron.

The Firestone boys will look to defend their title after winning the past four titles and five out of the past six. The Ellet girls will look to win the title for a sixth season in a row.

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?

Here is a Q&A with recent Crestwood graduate Matt Nichols, the Beacon Journal Track and Field Male Athlete of the Year:

Age: 18

Height: 5’ 10’’

Weight: 141

Favorite athlete: Dean Karnazes.

Favorite TV show: I don’t really watch TV.

Favorite movie: Man on Fire.

Favorite food: Anything healthy.

Hobbies: Canoeing, Guitar, Art (photography).

Family members: Parents Dave and Patricia and brother Ryan.

Q: Matt, in the fall you finished 11^th at the state cross country meet. In the spring, you became a Division II track and field state champion in the 3,200 meter run. What happened between the two seasons?

A: One of the biggest differences between cross country and track for me, I believe, is confidence. In cross country, I sometimes questioned my abilities but in track I started to realize what I was capable of, which has made a huge difference in my running.

Q: Aaron Melhorn of Fairless was the defending state champion in the 3,200, and Scott Hilditch of Woodridge is another elite area runner. Do you think winning the state title was even more exciting because you knocked those guys off?

A: Beating both Melhorn and Hilditch was definitely an added bonus to winning the state title due to the fact that they are such accomplished runners.

Q: Your classmates, Cassandra Schenck and Alan Vanderink, also made a lot of noise at the state meet. How do you feel about being part of such a successful class?

A: I am very happy to even be mentioned in the company of those such as an Alan Vanderink or a Cassie Schennk. These are athletes that work harder than anyone, and I am honored to be a part of the class of 2007 with them.

Q: How did you celebrate after you won the state title?

A: I came home to the congratulations of friends and family members.

Q: You just barely missed qualifying for the state meet during your junior year. Tell me about the “shoe incident” at the 2006 regional meet.

A: The “shoe incident” happened on the third lap of the 3,200 last year at the Division II Ravenna Regional when the runner behind me accidentally stepped on the back of my spike, collapsing the heel and creating in a sense, a clog with spikes. Since the shoe was flapping under my foot and hindering my stride, I had to kick it off and I ran the last five laps with one shoe. I remained in fourth the entire race but was passed in the last 50 meters and came in fifth, one second off of fourth place and a trip to Columbus.

Q: How did you become involved with running?

A: Now that’s a funny story. My family had just moved to Mantua a couple of months before my freshman year and one of the only people I knew was a girl that ran cross country, whom I had liked at the time. The funny thing is that I joined cross country because she was doing it. She quit when I joined, and I fell in love with the sport.

Q: Describe your training regimen on a typical day.

A: A typical practice begins with the entire team (sprinters, distance runners, and throwers) doing an 800-meter warm-up and 400-meter dynamic warm-up. Then each group splits up and distance will either do a maintenance run, a speed workout, hills, or a long run, depending on the day.

Q: What has motivated you the most?

A: What has motivated me is mainly just the desire to progress and get better every season; to see how much time I can drop and how much better of a runner I can be.

Q: Why did you pick Malone College?

A: I picked Malone College for a number of reasons. Malone has the academic programs I am interested in, the guys on the team are awesome, the coaches are very knowledgeable and there is a distance running tradition at Malone that has had a lot of success.

Q: What do you want to do after college?

A: I would like to attend graduate school and obtain my Ph.D. in physical therapy.