Speaking of stars, how many of you have seen Planes, Trains and Automobiles, starring Steve Martin and John Candy? Of course, you may not have heard about its sequel, Planes, Trains and Cross Country—it premiered this weekend--starring various members of the Flagler-Palm Coast Cross Country team. After hearing its story line, I’m sure you’ll agree that it is equally entertaining.
The plot—as explained by Coach Halliday—centers around a high school running team’s “Road Trip” (cue the opening theme, with its ominous foreshadowing) to the 2010 Manhattan Invitational (which is in New York). In the opening scene, they arrive at Newark Airport (which is in New Jersey). Next, they take a three hour bus ride that crosses two rivers, using the seriously-congested-and-always-in-need-of-repair (made worse by the holiday weekend traffic) New York City roadways to Queens (which has its own airport). There they spend the night, thanks to the gracious hospitality of the Acevedos. The next morning, they take a well-tagged (another name for graffiti) New York Subway train to the Bronx, crossing yet another river, and arriving too late for their race. Not to worry, this event has so many races that they are listed by letter: Varsity A, Varsity B, etc.; 41 races in all. They sprint to their “box” (there are 27 in all) in another race and “Bang!”
Here, two members of our supporting cast—Kevin Duffy (34th in 14:20.29) and Ali Sayed (48th in 14:34.18)—lead the team to a tenth place finish (34-48-59-62-63; 266 points). The race, incidentally, is won by Phil Duncan of Boone (13:04.99). Finishing third for Flagler is sophomore Brad Walbert (59th place, in 14:50.38). This is the first, but not the last, time that we will hear of Brad’s running. After another recovery night in Queens (which still has its own airport), we follow yet another bus—and another long run—which finally pulls in, late of course, to the Departures curb at Newark. (Unlike our aforementioned team, the audience sees their flight taking off from the runway on the other side of the terminal.)
After a lot of wrangling, pleading, and a few alligator tears (hey, they’re from Florida), they get seats on another flight…but only eight…and there are ten Bulldogs…so Walbert and at least one other sad Floridian—whose character is played by Joe Alter--spend the night at Hotel Newark (in an economy class chair). It is, after all, Columbus Day weekend, which is celebrated up North by virtually everyone going somewhere further North to watch the fall foliage. (Is that a spectator sport, or what?)
The next morning at 7:00 AM, our two weary runners sigh in relief as they settle back in their seats for the 2 ½ hour flight home. They’ll need the rest. Once back on the ground, it’s more wheels and heels (but probably no time for meals), as they hurry toward FPC High School, just in time for sixth period class…and cross country practice, as if they needed to run some more. (I can’t remember; was Coach Halliday on the second plane, or the third plane?)
But our story doesn’t end here, not by a long (camera) shot.
The Boys Race
This course has everything that runners love to hate: sand, hills, tight turns, and marching bands. Really. (If we weren’t off the field by 6:30 PM sharp…well, you don’t want to get the SC tuba section brassed off.)
One runner who didn’t seem intimidated--probably because he lives for sand, eats hills, and wears ear plugs—is sophomore Brandon Marris.
“We run repeat miles here in practice. We (the JV) run about five minute miles. The varsity runners get about 4:55s.”
So when the race went off, so did Marris.
“We were in a big pack, and I got in front of them. My friend Tyler (Kameh; third in 18:42) was behind me for awhile. My lead got bigger and bigger, but then in the second mile, I saw someone (probably Walbert). He passed Tyler. I think he was wearing pink socks (definitely Walbert).”
“They (his teammates, who were out on the course) said he (Marris, the leader) was thirty seconds ahead of me at two miles,” added Walbert. “When we went into the sand (about 600 meters left) they shouted that I was 15 seconds behind. At first, I thought he was a Pine Ridge runner, because they have uniforms similar to Spruce Creek’s.”
“I crossed in 17:59, which is a PR for me,” finished Marris.
“I thought he beat me by about ten seconds,” contributed Walbert,“ but I wasn’t looking at the clock, only at the kid in front of me.”
If Flagler’s Brad Walbert (second in 18:21) came up a tad short in the end, it’s small wonder.
“We ran at Van Cortlandt this past weekend. It was on Saturday. We were late for our flight. On the second plane, there was only room for eight, and there were ten of us. Joe and I were stuck in the airport overnight. We left at 7:00 Monday morning, and flew to Orlando; we got in about 9:30. So we only made sixth and seventh period…and cross country practice. We were mentally exhausted today.”
And you probably thought I was making all that stuff up.
BOYS TEAM RACE – Spruce Creek, who wisely stayed home this weekend, collected only thirty points (1-3-5-8-13-15-18) to win their third straight 5 Star Frosh/Soph Championship. Flagler was second with 73 (2-9-14-23-25-26-27), and a new and improved Deland—in spiffy new uniforms—finished ten points behind, in third (4-7-20-22-30-31-41; 83). Seven teams and 84 runners were scored.
The Girls Race
Like Marris, Lindsey Sullivan felt that running on a course that she sees every day was a big advantage.
“It definitely was, because we are so much used to the sand and the hills,” she said. “We saw people dying on the course (meant, of course, in the figurative sense), but we knew where the hills were and surged on them.”
Contrary to its name, at Spruce Creek, hills are a way of life.
“On Thursdays, we do up to 70 hills and sometimes really hate it, but now I see how it helps us. Most of the other teams’ runners are probably more used to running on flat (courses).”
Although she usually runs with the varsity, or perhaps because of that, this is her first win.
“Today, I think I went out a little too fast, because I slowed down in the last mile. I probably took the lead too early.”
Her only real competition came from an almost teammate, eighth grader Sidney Volenec. (Sidney is Zoe’s younger, but definitely not slower, sister.)
“She caught up to me in the trails, in the last part. I stuck with her in the final few hundred yards.”
Sullivan’s time was 21:58, but because Sidney ran unattached, her time and place was not recorded. They were, however, duly noted by two Hawk-eyed coaches.
GIRLS TEAM RACE – Mainland’s Marisa Scrofano, fifth in 24:43, was the only thing that prevented Spruce Creek from winning with a perfect score. (It was their eleventh straight Frosh/Soph team championship.) The host school placed first, second, third, fourth and sixth (plus ninth and tenth) for 16 points. Mainland was second (5-8-20-22-30-42-46; 85), and New Smyrna Beach third (12-14-17-18-33-34-36; 94). Seven teams and 72 runners scored.
Photo Album by Ralph Epifanio (About 300 Photos)