Musing of a High School Father: Risky Business

On Thursday before leaving for Charleston I put a few thoughts on paper with the title, The Final Musing, as I decided this would be my farewell blog. But, a brief encounter after the 3,200 with talented Glenbard East freshman, Lindsay Graham, has giving me the motivation to extend this blubbering one more week. Lindsay, thank you for your kind comments. The Ackerman family will be following your bright future for the next 3 years. So, I’ll be wrapping it all up next week after the boy’s state meet. Who knows, maybe I’ll be back for a cameo in the fall once cross country fires back up.
 
It was a rather interesting week for us leading up to our final girl’s state track meet. Friday had yours truly (aka Running Addicted Stalker Dad) hanging out at the York Sectional to see what the competition was up to. I ended up standing next to Brooke Wolfe’s mom as her daughter was running the 1,600. Nice woman; gets a bit nervous (like this author and many parents) when her daughter runs.
 
Sunday (Mother’s Day) was a great day for Debbie to make a special trip to…the emergency room; with a ruptured Plantaris tendon in her calf due to a soccer injury. I’m finally faster than her. The healing process is coming along well.
 
Monday had a surprise visit for dinner from past Lockport All-Stater and current Northwestern runner, Megan O’Brien. She offered suggestions on hair styles for Court and Jess to consider for the weekend. 


 
On Wednesday my dad called.
 
Me: Hi Dad.

Dad: Did I wake you?

Me: No, I’m just finishing lunch. I thought you were getting your hip replaced today.

Dad: No, that’s next week. How are the girls feeling?

Me: Not sure; they spent the night at their boyfriends’ house last night.

Dad: Got it. Is this a serious relationship?

Me: Not sure; they just met these guys at a tattoo convention.

Dad: Oh, cool. So what are you up to this afternoon?

Me: Well, spring finally arrived so I’m trying to tan New Trier Girls Track 2013 into my stomach to get ready for state.

Dad: Proud of you, son. Just think, your mom and I thought you would never amount to anything. Hey, heard from Jess that she’s going to skip the 3,200 to help the team with the 4 x 800
on Friday.

Me:…crickets chirping…

Dad: Oops, did you not know that? Sorry; guess I scooped you.

Me: Yeah, guess you did. Nice to know my girls are so tight with their grandpa. Hey, dad, have I told you lately that I love you?

Dad: I don’t think you ever have, son.

Me: Well dad, I do. And by the way, do you think you could give me $225,000 to pay for Princeton? I’m sure Jess would appreciate it more if it came from you.
 
Ok, that is not quite how the conversation went down. Yes, my father is getting a new hip (May 21st) and yes, I learned about the 4 x 8oo news from him; go figure. 
 
So, let’s get back to the title of Risky Business. Have you seen the 1983 Tom Cruise movie? Remember the 2 schools he was down to? Princeton and University of Illinois. Remember the advice Joel’s friend, Miles, gave him? Sometimes you have to say, “What the heck.” (I’ll keep this PG-13)
 
Jess started toying with the idea of joining the 4 x 8 early in the week. A sore hip by Sheila “A Coaches Dream” McCain gave her an opening. The Friday qualifying time of 9:21 with Jessica in the line-up gave New Trier the 4th fastest time that afternoon. Later that afternoon, Jess came back in the open 800 to post a time of 2:18 to qualify for Saturdays final. Then Mimi Smith and Courtney qualified for the 1,600 by running 4:59 (Mimi’s 1st sub 5) and 4:55.94. Saturday was shaping up to be a good day for New Trier and Courtney was in position to go all-out for her season long goal of winning the 1,600.
 
As afternoon turned to evening, the scenario began to change. Kelli Schmidt, the very talented freshman and ¼ of our 4 x 800 team started feeling ill. By the end of dinner it was determined by Coach Burnside that she would not likely be running due to how she felt. The alternate? Courtney Ackerman. As the dad, I know how their legs feel after each race. Not great. The recovery time has been slowed by nagging injuries. The dilemma; does Courtney run the last leg of the 4 x 800 to give New Trier a chance for #1, leaving her with less than a full-tank for the 1,600? It is Risky Business; but, sometimes you have to say, “What the heck”. Let’s do this!
 
Mimi Smith led off the relay with a very solid 800. Jess took the baton from Kathleen Keene as the 3rd leg about 5 seconds back and in 4th place as a team. She was able to end her leg with a 2:13 and a nice lead as she handed the baton to her sister who, like Jess, knows only one way to run; full throttle. 2:11 later, Courtney crossed the finish line to give the team their 1st ever #1 in a running event at State.  A very talented Palatine team was 2nd in 9:12. It was a quick celebration because there was more running to do.


 
Jessica came back with a super 800 meter run to finish 5th. Superstar, Courtney Clayton of Rockton Hononegah, won with a time of 2:07 breaking a 29 year old record in the process.
 
Courtney and Mimi came back out for the final of the 1,600 meter run around 3:45 PM. Both girls looked confident in a loaded field. A couple minutes into this race it was looking as many would have speculated. Courtney and Glenbard West junior, Madeline Perez, were setting the pace with York senior, Emma Fisher close behind.

 
Mimi was running great in the 2nd pack a few seconds back.  As Courtney and Madeline approached the final turn stride for stride, I was feeling good she would be walking off the track with her 1st individual championship. 15 seconds later, Courtney would finish 2nd, 1 second behind the strong kick of Madeline Perez. Courtney has a crazy strong finishing kick but Madeline Perez proved she belongs in the conversation as one of the best runners ever in Illinois after the trifecta of cross county, 3,200 and 1,600 individual state championships. Mimi finished strong as well. 
 
Being on the field (thank you MileSplit) gave me the chance to be in the center of all the action all day long. Mimi came up to me right after the 1,600 and in a very emotional tone asked if I knew what place she finished. As I stated to tear up for the 4th time of the day, I said, “Yes, you were 9th! You are on the podium!” You would think I was watching Field of Dreams with all the tears I was trying to hold in. (dad’s, you can understand this. My girls still think it is a dumb movie.)

 
In the end of Risky Business, Tom Cruise gets accepted to Princeton after taking a risk. In our version, Courtney takes a risk and ends up helping New Trier win the relay and take 2nd in the 1,600. I find it very fitting that the only 1st place comes as a team event for Courtney and Jessica; they are team-first selfless runners.  Courtney chose U of I (over Princeton, Harvard, Yale and Duke) and Jessica takes her running talents to Princeton. You are right ladies; sometimes you do need to say, “What the heck.”

More Coverage