Regional Runner

GRAND PRAIRIE – The game plan was simple for Cove junior Amber Boyd – pace herself early and explode at the end. That would have worked out fine but for the fact the rest of the pack shot out like a cannon and the rain-adjusted course didn’t give much room for overtaking opponents.

 

Over 11 inches of rain over the past few days forced meet directors to revamp the course at the last minute as half of the original course was underwater.

 

Boyd usually gets out in front of the pack and counts on her kick up the inclines to reel in her opponents. She decided that without many inclines she would need to pace herself to save some gas for the finishing kick. Unfortunately, she got caught up in the pack and couldn’t make her move until late, finishing 45th overall and just missing out on a trip to the UIL State Cross Country Meet.

 

“I was trying to save some of my energy because last time I got out and kind of died off at the end,” said Boyd. “That was a bad idea because I got caught in the pack. I was using all of my energy trying to get out of the pack and trying to move around people.”

 

The top four teams and the top 10 athletes not on a top four team, qualify for the state meet. Her time of 19:10.35 gave her the 23rd individual spot not on a qualifying team and just 13 places out of a state qualifying spot out of 181 runners.

 

Nearing the mid-way point, Boyd was buried deep in the pack, but the junior found her places to push and overtook 30-plus runners to finish in the top 50. Boyd’s goal was a top 30 finish but the slow start and subsequent traffic jam was difficult to navigate past.

 

“The course was really challenging because you had people elbowing you because there were so many curves and everyone trying to get on the inside,” said Boyd. “I noticed how far I was behind so I was really just trying to pick it up. I was trying to at least medal and get in the 30s but it is still better than last year.”

 

Boyd improved 23 spots from last year’s race and the three-time regional qualifier has designs on returning for her fourth time next year, but this time with company.

 

She learned a lot in her first three trips and hopes all that knowledge will help her get over the hump in her final opportunity.

 

“I really think I need to work on the flats because courses that have hills, I do way better on than the flat courses,” she said. “I really need to work on that and the second and third mile – keeping up the pace and getting faster on those.”

 

Boyd’s head coach Eldridge McAdams is proud of Boyd’s efforts.

 

“We came out and competed and moved up 25 or 30 spots than what we were last year,” he said.

 

For the boys’ sole qualifier, Michael Aker, it was just the opposite.

 

The junior burst out to a fast start and mid-way through the race had himself in a medalist position. The fast start, and a recurring knee injury, inevitably slowed him down in the final 2,000 meters.

 

“I was pushing for a 16:50,” said Aker. “I was trying so hard. I tried to kick (on the front side). If I would have kicked (on the back side), I would have had it but my knee was hurting so much, I kind of gave up on it.”

 

The soccer player turned cross country runner got caught up in the crowd last year in his first trip to the Region II-6A meet,so he wanted to keep that from happening this year. He reached the tunnel in the top 20 and maintained that pace through the first 2,500 meters or so but as the pain from the knee continued to increase, his position continued to decrease.

 

“It’s a really flat course and that’s a good thing for me but it rained for nearly a week and it made it slippery and slick and that hurt everybody’s times,” said Aker. “Everybody has the same issues so it didn’t change anything. I just wasn’t prepared for this race.”

 

Aker finished 127th overall out of 181 runners.

 

“I’m proud of Mike,” said head coach Billy White Jr. “That’s a re-injury. He hurt is knee in Waco a few weeks ago. He competed well in district and came out here and competed well. It’s a regional race but it’s some of the top runners in the state, probably some of the top in the nation.”

 

Aker also will take valuable lessons from this year’s race and apply them next year when he returns with his team.

 

“The biggest thing I can take from this is, no matter how bad it’s hurting, you just have to keep pushing,” he said.

 

“Unfortunately, he did reinjure that knee but he still ran a 17:21 and that’s moving,” said White. “He was probably right on track for the 16:50 he wanted but he came up with the injury. I’m very proud of Mike and the effort he puts in.”

 

Despite not qualifying for the state meet, both coaches are happy with their athletes’ efforts and have all the confidence in the world that they will not only return next year, but bring their respective squads along for the ride.

 

“There’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll make it and hopefully he’ll bring some others with him next year,” said White. “Mike is a great leader as well and I’m looking forward to him showing that leadership next year and get the whole team here.”

 

Aker will don the Blue and Gold for the Copperas Cove Bulldawgs’ soccer team when the season gets underway in a couple months and Boyd will strap her running shoes back on for track season in the spring.

 

To view more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition.