Two separate events recently demonstrated yet again how incredibly impressive our young women in America can be – one an example of pure sportsmanship at its finest, the other an example of pure desire, determination and substance.
The first event occurred at the Washington Class 4A State Girls’ Track and Field Championships in Pasco, running the 3,200-meter race with Nicole Cochran, Bellarmine Prep’s outstanding middle-distance runner.
Cochran won the event in 10:36, beating Andrea Nelson of Shadle Park by 3 seconds. Thirty minutes later, race officials disqualified Cochran, ruling that the Harvard-bound runner had run 3 straight steps inside the lane next to her. Bellarmine Prep coach Matt Ellis appealed the infraction, but his appeal was denied.
The offense occurred on the first day of the encounter, and Cochran was visibly upset because she knew she had not committed the offense. In addition, Cochran was the defending state champion, having won both the 1600 and 3200 titles as a junior.
She never quite showed herself after the crushing news, and the sheer unfairness of it all. On the second day of competition, Cochran led the 1600 and was shot dead on the final lap when Oak Harbor’s Mitra Smolak edged her into the final turn to win in 4:56.44. Cochran finished 4th.
Later in the afternoon, Cochran ran the 800m and finished dead in 2:24.40. “I just didn’t hang out with them, and I kind of gave up after 450 metres,” said a dejected Cochran.
Despite Cochran’s loss of points, her teammates were right to be angry and rose to the occasion by winning the team title with 76.5 points to second-place Gig Harbor’s 65.
“I put a lot of effort into the 3200 and then there was the emotional toll afterwards, sitting here for an entire hour while they got the 3200 popped, which is unfortunate because I know I wasn’t wrong and I was punished for it,” Cochran said.
In a show of pure sportsmanship, when the official 3,200th race winner, Andrea Nelson, was awarded her first metal on the podium, moments later she gave the first place medal to Cochran. Sarah Lord followed in Redmond by giving Nelson a second place medal, and the other medalists followed suit.
“I got goosebumps,” Cochran said. “It shows how much distance runners respect each other.”
And now story after story: After ten days of eventful afternoons, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association brought Cochran back for the rightful win, clearing a rule-breaking charge imposed by race officials.
WIAA Executive Director Mike Colbris reviewed video of the race that showed it was Cochran’s teammate who ran off the track, and that the officials report also incorrectly identified the lap in question as Lap 7 when the infraction actually occurred on Lap 6. That’s a lot for this failed departmental effort.
Those in charge were wrong on race day, but they were pretty sure they were right and also responsible on race day. The cat will die and the dog will have his day (from Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet”, Act 5, Scene 1, which means “any man’s moment of glory is inevitable), or as I like to say: “Right out.”
The second event took place at the Texas 1A Girls Track & Field Championship Meet in Austin, where Rochelle High School won the team title. So what’s so unusual, you ask? Just this: Rochelle has qualified exactly one athlete for the state meet, and won her team’s state title herself.
Meet Bonnie Richardson, a study in desire, determination, and substance unparalleled in Texas high school history.
Richardson, whose middle name might be talent, spent Friday winning the high jump at 5 feet 5 inches, placing second in the long jump at 18-7, and third in the discus at 121-0.
On Saturday, Richardson took to the track in the sweltering 90-degree Texas heat and outright won the 200m in 25.03 and followed up the effort by pulling off a huge upset in the 100 before finishing runner-up in 12.19 to defending champion Kendra Coleman of Santa Ana.
“Kendra and I have been struggling all year,” said Richardson. “I was amazed that I stayed with her. I didn’t think I was that fast.” Yes, Bonnie Richardson, you seem fast.
So did Richardson steal the show in Texas? Nah, she just got her team a state title herself. Collegiate Interscholastic Association officials could not recall a girl ever winning a state team title on her own.
It’s happened before at the boys’ state championships when Baylor Bear and Pittsburgh Steeler Frank Pollard of Meridian Highs met in the 1970s, said Charles Breithaupt, UIL director of athletics.
Many outstanding girls athletes have dominated state meetings, said Beethaupt, but few make the transition from sprints to field events with Richardson’s success. “The way you did it is really cool.” That, of course, is what everyone who was there to see it happen thought.
And what about the kicker? It turns out that Rochelle High School doesn’t even have a track to practice on. When asked how she trains, Richardson jokingly replies, “Watch out for the potholes,” adding, “We have a track about 10 miles down the road and usually train there.”
Richardson’s coach, Jim Dennis, doubted she could do something special at the state meeting, but she wisely remained silent, not wanting to put any pressure on the award winner.
Last year, Richardson won the state long jump title, but did not medal in the high jump and discus throw.
And the extra big fortune of Rochelle High School? Bonnie Richardson Jr.
Richardson also competes on the Rochelle tennis team, and led the Rochelle basketball team to the state semifinals last season.
“I would play football if my parents would let me,” said Richarson, adding, “Not a quarterback. Defence.” My type of girl seems to be brave, competitive and ready to settle all issues on the battle field.
Lou Holtz, one of the legendary coaches in college football, is known for many quotes, including this phrase: “When all is said and done, more is said than done.” In a way, I think Lou Holtz could have been a huge fan of Bonnie Richardson, and her extraordinary efforts on that hot Texas afternoon when she single-handedly handed a state title to Rochelle High School.
And there you have it: Nicole Cochran, every medal girl standing in the 3,200-meter ceremony, Cochran’s teammates, Bonnie Richardson, and all the ordinary young women who did extraordinary things because they could and did.
Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley. All rights reserved