LARGO

Largo



My first race as an Astronaut War Eagle was the 1978 Astronaut invitational at the Old Horse Arena in a hot, humid Thursday afternoon in late August. We had endured two weeks of two-a-days and two team time trials. A freshman, I was one of the top JV runners on the team. Not "the" top, but one of several. I had prepared as well as I could. I had even gotten a hair cut the week before the race to help with the heat.

Most coaches and teams barely consider JV races. Nick Gailey, our head coach was not like like most coaches. Indeed he was unlike any coach I had ever had or would have in my high school or college running career. He was **intense**. He cared about the JV race. He even noticed that I had gotten a hair cut and said something about it to my dad. He made mention of how our JV team had fared in recent years in this meet in general and against one team in particular.

Nick also had the highest respect for one of our opponents that day. Largo. I do not remember Coach Gailey dissing any team. But Coach talked about Largo with a degree of respect and admiration that dwarfed every other program in the state. And I should add that we did not have a cross country team, it was a program. Twenty five to thirty plus male runners, summer track meets, pre-season letters, a pre season team booklet, a post season results booklet, Gailey girls, Space Coast track club officials, strict in season dietary requirements, strict in season rules (no lateral movement sports, etc), team parties, etc. This was a program with a strong tradition. And Largo matched that and more. Indeed Largo had one thing more than Astronaut. State XC championships. Fortunately Largo was in a different sized school classification, they were largest division 4A while Astronaut was 3A. Maybe that allowed them to be a rival, but not a bitter rival.

If you have read this far, you are probably thinking about now here is the part about some crappy JV race that did not matter. You are right. Nothing but an opening meet JV race on the Florida east coast. A big opening meet with many of the best teams and individuals in the state. Nothing on the line but personal and team pride-and a long summer of training. If you know these schools however you may recognize a name or two on each side. Also by the end of the season Astronaut would have 3 or more JV runners run under 16:00 for 3 miles on legitimate courses. The JV team could realistically have been a top 10 team at the state meet in November.

Both teams were known for a style of running known as "pack running" and for closing fast. Old Horse Arena was a 1.5 mile course so we did 2 laps. After a long opening straightaway of 220 yards or so the first mile was a series of 3 switch backs that worked us back towards the large grass area that has the starting and finish lines and the mile and a half marker. This area also was where the crowds were. Remember, Astronaut has an XC program, not a team. At this meet there were probably over 1000 spectators, not counting XC teams, the Pep band and officials. This was no ordinary high school XC meet. By the half mile mark three Largo runners had established themselves at the front with one War Eagle (Chuck Byrd, rip). I was running with several other teammates a little further back. Phil Stephens, Guy George, ....all runners that would go on to individual and or team state medalists in the years to come.
The three runners from Largo were Kevin Crawley, Brian Benedict and a kid named Basil Magee. As we came up to the mile mark we could hear no split times. They were being called, but the roar of the crowd (a JV race mind you!) was too loud. I remember the hair standing up on the back of my neck. The course turned into the back portion of the course, clear of the crowd. The roar replaced by the rasp of heavy breathing. Over the next half mile we ran thru trails to the edge of Sherwood golf course and then turned right down an old dirt road like trail before turning right to the large grass area of the 1.5 mile mark. By this time my teammates and I had closed the gap. Astronaut and Largo packs were firmly entrenched at the front. It was on. Contact had been obtained.

I do not remember the crowd as we went down that long straight past the 1.5 mile mark. The 2 mile mark was around in the grass switch backs at the half mile mark. After 2 miles we switched from pack running to "go for it" stage. We knew those switch backs from many mile repeats run and still to be run (Old Horse Arena had this course for many years; it has a relatively mild change in 1979 she to construction. Further development meant 1979 was the last year of this course). After 2 miles we switched from pack running to "go for it" stage. As we worked out way to the crowds at about a half mile to go, Brian Benedict and I seemed to pull away. I do not remember the crowd at that point as distinctly as in the first lap, but two runners from two programs, a freshman and a sophomore were making this a two man race.

As we ran in the trails and along the golf course The pace began to build. We ran side by side as the course followed a broadly curved "S" configuration with either line trees or palmetto bushes forming outer boundaries. We ran the tangents, side by side, neither wanting to back down. As we approached one pine tree, Brian on my right and the tree in my left i suddenly realized that I had to back off or surge or I was going to hit that tree. I wondered at the time if he was trying to run me into the tree-not maliciously and there was no contact, but there was no giving ground either. I thought that we were two racers fighting for every inch. I also realized that this was going to be decided on the last straightaway and not until then. We turned right to the short, tree covered road which was out of sight of spectators and serene and isolated our struggle. Then appeared from the cave of trees and immediately slowed down to make a sharp, 135(ish) degree turn around one last pine tree and headed to the finish line about 150-180 yards away. At this point I put my head down and kicked for home. I began to slowly pull away. I could feel the slow separation. I thought this race was mine. Within 75 yards to go I began to tighten up. Brian came by me strongly and pulled away for a decisive victory. This was also the first, last and only time I beat Basil Magee who was a fabulously talented runner who was way out of my league and went on to a fantastic high school career. From communication with Coach Haley, Basil is the current (almost 40 years later) school record holder for 880, mile and 2 mile (1:51.8, 4:08.8 and 9:02). I think he ran at U Tennessee in college. Brian Benedict went on to be a sub 4:20 mile in high school and ran at least in junior college at Santa Fe CC in Florida. Third place Kevin Crawely also went on to run sub 4:20 in the mile. Guy George would be 4th overall in cross country at 3A state in 1980 and Phil Stephens was a sub 4:20 miler and state runner up in the mile in 1981 in 3A.

Team results. Astronaut beat Largo 28-31. Per my scrapbook this was the first time in 7 years that Largo boys JV had "lost"- although I am not sure if the is overall or in this particular meet.

Results from the Star Advocate of Titusville:
1. Brian Benedict, L 16:20
2. Van Savell, A 16:21
3. Basil Magee, L, 16:27
4. Kevin Crawley, L 16:37
5. Guy George, A 16:51
6. Phil Stephens, A 16:51
7. Danny Treder, A 16:51
8. Danny Jones, A 16:54
9. Chuck Byrd, A 17:08
10. Anton Smallridge, L 17:13
11. Kevin Reiff, A 17:19
12. Danny Rice, A 17:23
13. Steve Lysnia, L 17:31
14. Rick Higel, L 17:34
15. Randy Settle, Titusville High, 17:35

The last finisher for Astronaut was in 95th place, suggesting over 100 runners in the JV race alone. It is amazing to me as I look at the results that the first 14 all were from only 2 schools. There were 19 scoring teams in the varsity race that day (news papers did not have all teams listed in the results section).

I went on to run many races, state championships, conference meets, regional and national championships (division 2 NCAA_ and hundreds of races over the years. But no race has been mentally re-lived or carried me through tough workouts than my first high school XC race as a freshman in JV against Brian Benedict of Largo High School. No race has captured the purity of competition or the desire of victory of that last half mile in the hot and humid Florida late afternoon in August race.