"My sport is everyone else's punishment" is a common phrase in most running sports, including track.
This most holds true for the longer running events, because they are the most grueling. It was these grueling runs that took me to state. I went as a member of 4x800 meter relay team. For those who do not know, the 800 is two laps around the track and is considered "mid-distance" since it is an awkward combination of a sprint and long distance. The relay itself consists of four runners running 800s back to back. My team had humble beginnings (we were slow), but we ran faster at every meet and by the end of the season the good ol' four by eight was on its way to state.
Our team consisted of Brandon Stuever, Cody Speece, Alex Knight, me, and an alternate (a replacement in case of injury or sickness) Jackson Sibley. It was our first time attending state. Anticipation was in the air the morning we left, and while the bus ride was long, it still seemed to linger there. The team spent the night at a hotel that in a beautiful coincidence was directly across the street from a gentlemen's club. Much to the disappointment of many boys, the coaches did not allow us to go.
I went to bed at a reasonable time that night to fully be ready for the next day. Little did I know that these efforts would be proven pointless later on. At 1:30 in the morning, terror struck in the form of vomit, then it struck again, and again. Much to the the horror of myself and the team, I was sick. It was a somber morning in room 217 as my coach, Joshua Walton, equipped me with 7 Up. I'd rest for the day, show up at the meet that afternoon, and run my sick little heart out. When I did arrive at the meet, I was oblivious to the sheer size of it for my senses were preoccupied with sickness and nerves. I could see the doubt in people's faces, and in my teammates' faces. But I had come to run, and that's what I planned on doing, healthy or not. The nervousness before that race was unlike any other I had ever felt.
The air was hot and noisy. Every runner was jacked up on his own adrenaline. I was originally meant to run last for the team because at the time I was the fastest, but I was moved to second runner after the puking episodes of the night before. Brandon went first and gave me the baton in the middle of a violent pack of runners. I started fast, which had worked well for me previously, and fortunately didn't fail me then. I passed two runners on the first lap and during the second I continued to gain on the runners ahead of me before handing the baton off to Alex amidst chaos of other runners doing the same. That ending was undoubtedly my most painful. My energy was depleted. I proceeded to stumble into the grass of the infield and practically pass out. The team ended up placing 11th, which was good because we were ranked in 14th pre-race, and we set a new personal record.
I later was told that in my sickness, I still matched my personal record of 2:05. After the initial pain depleted, a sense of relief washed over me. The season was over. It was good a season. I'm really proud of it and I'm proud of my team. For the remaining two days of the meet we relaxed, talked and just enjoyed the experience. The weather was nice, the girls were pretty, the season had ended, and it was summer. My fellow Bayfield track athletes were terrific.
Carl Heide and Ryan Phelps placed in their events as sophomores - fantastic! - so we are expecting amazing things from them later on. Tymbree Florian, a freshman and total beast, placed in long jump as well as took part in the girls 4x100 that also placed along with Shaylea Freier, Amber Johnson, and Maddi Foutz. Sam Westbrook, who can easily be described as a giant, placed in shotput and discus, and the pole vaulters Maddie Foutz and Katie Hawkins placed as well.
All in all, the experience was unforgettable, and I look forward to going back next year and slaying it.
Sloan Mazur will be a junior at BHS this fall and runs on the cross-country and track teams.
