For my son, Riley, and for other seniors, today is the last day of class at Edwardsville High School. For all of us—parents and students—it is an end and a beginning. I’m just not sure how it got here so quickly.
The track season is also coming to an end. Today the EHS boys 3200-meter relay team and Josh Lawson (pole vault) compete at the state meet in Charleston. Tomorrow, the season is over.
The track season is also coming to an end. Today the EHS boys 3200-meter relay team and Josh Lawson (pole vault) compete at the state meet in Charleston. Tomorrow, the season is over.
Riley didn’t qualify for state. In fact, he has never been to state in the seven years he has been running track and cross country. I have been thinking about that as his season, and his high school “career,” come to a close. Riley won’t ever go to state, won’t ever stand on the podium, won’t ever receive those medals.
And yet, Riley has been one of the most successful runners I have ever watched. Like many of those who participate in cross country and track, his seasons have been built on setting and reaching goals, on being part of a team, and most important, being a good teammate, a good athlete, and a good friend.
This season has been his very finest. Not just because he reached his longtime goal of running the mile in less than five minutes (4:54); not just because he reached his goal of running two miles in less than 11 minutes (10:53). No season, or runner, can be measured by the numbers on a stopwatch at the finish line. This has been Riley's finest season because of another goal he set—and that was to make sure that this year the younger members, the underclassmen, felt like part of the team, no matter how fast they ran, how far they threw, how high they jumped or vaulted. One team. Maybe Riley wanted them to feel included because of the many seasons he spent on the fringes himself, close to varsity, but not quite; close to going to state, but not quite.
Riley isn’t going to state. He never will. But my son is a great runner, and this has been another great season. I just wish it wasn’t over.
And yet, Riley has been one of the most successful runners I have ever watched. Like many of those who participate in cross country and track, his seasons have been built on setting and reaching goals, on being part of a team, and most important, being a good teammate, a good athlete, and a good friend.
This season has been his very finest. Not just because he reached his longtime goal of running the mile in less than five minutes (4:54); not just because he reached his goal of running two miles in less than 11 minutes (10:53). No season, or runner, can be measured by the numbers on a stopwatch at the finish line. This has been Riley's finest season because of another goal he set—and that was to make sure that this year the younger members, the underclassmen, felt like part of the team, no matter how fast they ran, how far they threw, how high they jumped or vaulted. One team. Maybe Riley wanted them to feel included because of the many seasons he spent on the fringes himself, close to varsity, but not quite; close to going to state, but not quite.
Riley isn’t going to state. He never will. But my son is a great runner, and this has been another great season. I just wish it wasn’t over.
--Tom Atwood
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