"STORY OF GLORY-Tales From the Den"

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If you have never been to a cross country meet, you are missing something. So many people have said to me: What happens at ac ross country meet? How boring could it be to watch people run? First of all, words can't do it justice, you just have to come and see for yourself. Secondly, you don't just watch, you run to from spot to spot to cheer your school on. Even more amazing, you cheer others on as well. You cheer on the lead runner because they are the lead and you honor that even if it isn't your runner. You cheer on the boy or the girl who is grimacing with each step just because you know they might need it, and you cheer on the back of the pack as they make their way through the course. It is just what you do.


Last night, I saw the most amazing moment of sportsmanship I have ever witnessed at a sporting even. Sportsmanship?” you ask. “Well, isn't cross country just a bunch of people running, trying to win, improve their own times?” Actually, It is a sport where you can run varsity one meet and then run JV the next. It is a sport where you have to dig down deeper than you ever knew you could and push yourself to the finish line even though your legs feel like lead and your breathing sounds like a train chugging up a hill. It is a sport where it doesn't count unless you cross the finish line. A superb first mile doesn't mean anything unless it is followed by two more just like it.


Liberty's Shannon Henretty ran varsity last year. She is having a tough time this year fighting injuries and a breathing problem that makes it so tough to even complete one mile. She has been to many doctors who are trying to diagnose her problems. Yet, she decided she wanted to run the Westminster Invite. It isn't the easiest course the team runs, it has
some nasty hills and the second mile is very tough. Shannon had decided that she would run despite the difficulties she was having. Here's what happened: The JV girls take off as planned while the rest of the team and assorted parents cheer them on. The JV boys had left five minutes before making the total runners on the course about 250. Many of teams waited at the finish line to cheer the boys and girls as they finished. It appeared that the race was over and all runners were all in but one.
“Where's Shannon?” We heard teammates yell to one another. Suddenly, the team spread out to different parts of the course to look for her. She was spotted coming around the bend with still a mile to go. She was taking short strides and her breathing came in small, shallow gasps. Girls ran to the fence to encourage her, yelling her name. Her coach gripped the steel fence and spoke softly, words of support for only her ears to hear. She looked ahead not acknowledging the comments, never
wavering in her steps. She glanced up, took in the huge hill ahead of her, squared her shoulders, and kept going. She still had a mile to go. The rest of the teams were assembling for awards, chatting and eating pizza, but Shannon did not stop. One of her teammates ran to her, joined her on the hill and began the incline with her. “You can do this Shannon!” she said, her voice catching. “Let's take this hill, Shannon.” Meanwhile, the news of Shannon's perseverance rippled through the
Liberty team like a wave. Another group ran to the other side of the hill to greet her as she came down to make the last descent. Then miraculously, spontaneously, the whole team lined up, spread apart and reached as far as they could starting from the finish line stretching far into the course. “Let's get about three feet apart,” someone yelled. People began walking across the course not knowing there was another runner still out there. “Off the course!” yelled a Liberty teammate. “We still have one out there!” Parents and Liberty runners strained their necks to see her come around the corner. Then we spotted her. Tenacious
in her job, determination in her face, finishing this race no matter how unbearable, Shannon kept on going; each step bringing
her closer to the finish line. A crowd of girls ran behind her and beside her, giving her space, respecting her will, her drive, her
amazing determination. Then she reached her first teammate who stood in the blue and gold line and the swell of screams and cheers erupted. As she passed by her teammates, they joined her on the sidelines running and screaming and supporting her. By the time she crossed the finished line, the mob of Liberty teammates swelled to 80 strong. Other teams who
had assembled for awards, looked up confused, but then recognition crossed their faces. They too, clapped bringing her in. She never gave up. She never stopped. She never quit. She finished the race and her Liberty teammates didn't rest until the last one of their own was in.

There are really two lessons here. Shannon's run was inspirational. Who among you have it in you to keep going when everyone else is done? Who among you could keep going despite the pain and shallow breathing? I don't know how many steps Shannon took during the 3.1 mile course. I just know she fought for every step and won.


The second lesson is of course the Liberty Cross country team. Not resting, not stopping until every last runner was home and accounted for. The points had long ago been counted, the winners determined, the medals waited in the fall sun to be claimed. They would honor their teammates courage first and show her the respect she deserved. In a few years we won't remember who won the Westminster Invitational, but many of us will never forget the guts one slight, beautifully determined girl
showed us that day.


Thank you Shannon for showing us your courage and never giving up.

written by Beth Kobett