As long as I\'ve been coaching, the Berry meet...uh...Clara Bowl Invitational, has held a special place in the hearts of many running fans in the state. For some, this will be their first experience with a big meet atmosphere. As a coach, the anticipation of seeing how the puppies handle the pressure always causes moments of anxiety but one thing is certain, the spectacle of the meet at Berry College is an experience that most will not soon forget.
Last year, Berry proved a coming out party for young Emily Reese and Ben Hubers. Emily finished 2nd to Laruel Prtichard out of Alabama in an eye opening 18:28. Through the first mile in 5:45, Ms. Reese created quite a stir as did Emily Borsare, just a sophomore then and 3rd in 18:41. It was a harbinger of things to come as these two young ladies would dominate headlines through both the cross country and track seasons.
In the boys race, young Ben Hubers proved that he would be a force to be reckoned with and lived up to that billing all season long. WIth his 2 second win over Nick Stephens, young Mr. Hubers (just a sophomore at the time) solidified himself as a favorite for the state title.
That\'s the beauty of Berry. While it occurs very early in the schedule, Berry provides an early glimpse of what we can expect at the state meet. Some outstanding teams have chosen not to attend this year and while the field will be missing some quality teams, the atmosphere, revelry, music, crowds and wide eyed expression of those that are new to the sport will more than make up for it. There are few meets that rival the atmosphere that one experiences at Berry. Frisbee on the green, team tents wherever you look, a dj cranking out some killer tunes, and people everywhere...absolutely everywhere. Running down the hill and into the finish chute with fans lined up all the way along that last 200m into the line...there\'s nothing like it. Seeing the explosion of hundreds of runners as they try to get position going into the bottleneck still sends chills down my spine.
So for you parents and runners that are new to the sport, get ready for an amazing spectacle. Berry is where the hook is set. If you weren\'t quite sure about this sport before you go to Berry, get ready for the ride of your life. Seeing young athletes pushing to the limit, cheering each other on no matter what team they\'re from, congratulating each other after an outstanding performance, playing a little frisbee on the field, cutting loose to the music in a celebration of this great sport we\'re all a part of. I hope you enjoy yourself on Saturday and take a moment just to soak it all in and put the pressures of the day aside. Just bask in the glow of an event that really exemplifies all of the best aspects of this great sport called cross country.