Publisher's Note: Sarah Roberts and her parents, Dave and Janice, accompanied me to our first adidas Outdoor Championships this past weekend (June 18-19) in Raleigh, North Carolina. They answered a posting on my site for track fans looking for a ride (I wanted company on the seven hour drives). It was wall-to-wall track talk, to, from, and during the meet. Sarah finished 3rd in this year's PIAA 1600 in 5:00.04, a PR, in her final race as a high school senior at Perkiomen Valley. She'll attend and run for Liberty University in the fall. A track fanatic and athlete who ran many times at the Penn Relays, her dad took her to the annual track carnival when she was 13. She soon adopted his love of the sport, and went out for the track team as a sprinter. But she realized her calling was the longer distances, and after posting a sub 5:01 as a junior, knew she had found her place in the sport. Here are her reflections on finally being able to enjoy a spectacular meet as a fan.
"I was so proud to be from Pennsylvania this weekend."
by Sarah Roberts, Perkiomen Valley, 2004
I cannot say enough about this past weekend. Finally my Dad and I found someone else who could talk about track as much as we can. My dad is the one responsible for my condition and I could never thank him enough for that.
Sarah at the 2003 PIAA XC Championships
with her brother Dave, and mother and father,
Janice and Dave. She was 30th in 19:58.
It all started at Penn Relays when I was just 13 years old (I had no idea that I would ever take running or watching track this far!) This weekend was mind-blowing and so much fun. Even though the blistering heat was terrible, it just added to the excitement to see who was tough enough to handle it.
I was so glad to see that the majority of the "PA Crew" held up and performed at the level that they knew they could. I was so proud to be from Pennsylvania this weekend. I am going to miss running in District One and all that comes with that in my next four years at Liberty.
One of the coolest things was watching that amazing SMR by West Catholic. I was standing with the Simon Gratz relay girls and the SMR had just started. Despite the fact that we hardly know each other and they sprint and I run distance, we saw familiar faces and decided to cheer for the Pennsylvania team like it was our job. Going to a meet of that caliber and setting records is something that people take for granted. For all four girls to come together and each run to their capability is something that only runners can truly appreciate. All it takes is for one girl to have a really bad hand off or run 3 seconds off of what she can do. I was in awe of the fight Latavia - such a young runner - put up for her team. I was so proud to be cheering for their team.
The pride would have been there even if they had come in 10th place. At AOC's, you certainly do not have to win to be considered a champion. Frances, Craig, Chris, Melissa, Jess, Lindsey and all those athletes who did not bring home the national championship - just seeing them progress all year and work so hard and give their all at such a high level this weekend was a pleasure to watch. Like we were saying in the car, the fact that I have never seen Frances down and out, have an off day...is an accomplishment in itself. I also hope that Craig will go for that truly groundbreaking goal of the 4 minute barrier, I know he is capable of it if he wants it badly enough. For the first time, over these past two years I have been interested in the Pole Vault to see what Lindsey Regan will do next. Chris Spooner had a great state meet, when people are giving up on placing their bets on the underdog because they know who the winner of the race will be, really says something. I am so proud of Melissa Ferry for having that fire towards the end of her senior season. She has come so far in just this year alone, improving on her already very impressive high school career. Jess Cickay also getting in that last high school race, people as determined as she is are bound to succeed in everything.
The Adidas Outdoor Championships were something I am so glad that I didn't miss. I almost wish that I would have signed up to run, but for the first time in a long time I could sit back and really get into watching all of the races. There was a reason that I got to experience this event and meet someone as fanatical about track and field as we are. Thank you so much for taking us with you and letting us see a part of your life that you obviously care so much about. I also was glad to meet your family. It was so much fun to hear that your daughter Sarah was able to do those once in a lifetime things like dance with a rock stars son and meet Neil Young. I wish you well with PennTrackXC and I hope that the next generation of trackstars get to have the same wonderful experience with it the way that I have.
Godbless-
Sarah