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.

Working conditions are important to you on your job. So why shouldn’t they
be important to sports writers and radio and television comentators who cover
high school football?
There is no cry-baby in me here. Just a plea to have a place to work
that has nothing to do with creature comforts, but with having a proper place
to provide what in many ways is a service to local schools and fans.
To wit, Summit County has some of the worst press boxes I have ever seen.
Schools in Stark and Medina counties are far superior, top to bottom.
Rick Noland, a fine reporter for the Medina Gazette, mentioned the
deplorable press box at Hudson in one of his recent columns.
Media everywhere has learned the hard way that some Summit County press
boxes don’t even have THE bare minimum to work, ie., a phone line.
I have seen radio commentators have to string phone lines from the
concession stands in order to call the game.
Many schools understand the value of media coverage and have taken steps
to upgrade their facilities.
Believe it when I say that radio, television and newspaper people ignore
certain stadiums and schools
because it is easier to go elsewhere. Remember, every night there are many
games to cover.
It is also distressing because many of these substandard facilities are
among the best programs in the area.
I am not afraid to risk consternation by giving you my least favorite
places to cover games in Summit County. Alphabetically,
Archbishop Hoban
Copley
Cuyahoga Falls
Hudson
Nordonia
Tallmadge

The Wadsworth football team defeated Medina 30-24 in overtime Thursday night to improve its record to 3-0 this season.

Wadsworth senior running back Dru Jones scored the game-winning touchdown with a 20-yard run in overtime. Click here to read the Wadsworth-Medina game story by Tom Gaffney.

It was the second time this season Wadsworth won in overtime. The Grizzlies defeated Wooster 40-37 in four overtimes during Week 1. Wadsworth then beat Cuyahoga Falls 38-14 in Week 2.

Wadsworth will play in its Suburban League opener next week against Highland.

KEN LOVE/Akron Beacon Journal

Wadsworth running back Dru Jones carried the ball 19 times for 102 yards and a touchdown to help the Grizzlies defeat host Medina 30-24 in overtime.

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.

Posted by Michael Beaven for the Beacon Journal

The Firestone boys track and field team experienced excitement and disappointment Friday night at the Division I district meet at Ravenna.

Falcons senior Collister Fahie advanced to the Austintown Fitch regional in three individual events and junior Dominic Moore advanced in one event.

Moore was injured and his status for next week is uncertain. Prior to the injury, he placed second in the 110 hurdles on Friday. But after the injury he could not compete in his best event, the 300 hurdles.

Moore emerged as a top-flight hurdler last season at the state meet in Columbus, placing fourth in the 300 hurdles and seventh in the in the 110 hurdles. Friday night he strained a hamstring running the anchor leg of the 400 relay. The unit was in second, until Moore couldn’t finish the race, and thus the relay team didn’t advance.

Fahie placed second in the 100 and 200 meters, and was fourth in the long jump. Firestone junior William Carter placed fourth in the high jump.

Cuyahoga Falls junior Robert Jones won the 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles and was on the 400 relay that advanced.

Archbishop Hoban junior Ellis Thompson won the long jump and Ravenna senior Emmanual Jones won the 100.

Kent Roosevelt junior Braheem Wahid won the high jump and Copley senior Andrew Moss placed second.

Posted by Michael Beaven for the Beacon Journal

The Western Reserve Conference held their track and field championship meet at Stow Thursday night and Solon won both the boys and girls team title.

Twinsburg and Hudson were second and third respectively on the boys and girls side.

Cuyahoga Falls junior Robert Jones had the best performance of area athletes in the meet. Jones won both hurdle events; the 110 in a time of 14.5 seconds and the 300 in a time of 38.4 seconds. Jones was also a member of the 400 relay which placed first in a time of 42.7. Juniors Mike Dugger and Jacob Hall and senior Christian Fossett were also on that relay.

The Black Tigers boys were sixth in the team standings.

The Twinsburg boys won the 1,600 relay and the 3,200 relay; and the Tigers girls won the 400 relay and 3,200 relay.