Cover Photo by Don Rich. Photo below by Charles Stone
By CORY MULL
It would be easy for Penn Wood senior Eric Futch to rest on his laurels.
After all, the standout hurdler and University of Houston commit has racked up a litany of awards over his four-year career, including a state gold -- and record -- in the 300-meter outdoor hurdles in 2011, and a runner-up finish in the 60-meter hurdles at the 2011 indoor state championships.
But that just wouldn’t be Futch. Winning is more than the medals. It’s the art of finding consistent success.
“I think the key for him is the hard work he‘s put in,” Penn Wood head coach Lenny Jordan said recently. “He’s very dedicated and disciplined.”
That mentality and art for precision could serve him well this weekend, when he lines up at The Penn Relays in the 400-meter hurdles. Futch, PA#1 in the 300-meter hurdles and PA#3 in the 110s, has yet to win an individual race at The Track & Field Carnival.
“Last year I was supposed to get accepted, but they took a guy from Phoenixville,“ Futch said. “I wasn’t worried about him, because it came out in the end. I’m glad I’m in it this year, because it gives me a chance to prove whoever didn’t put me in, wrong.”
It’s not that he wasn’t good enough. He was qualified to race as a freshman for Penn Wood. But over the last three seasons, it’s been more of a team effort. As a result, Penn Wood has grabbed two consecutive 1600-meter relay Suburban A championships.
“This is the first time that he’s running the hurdles,” Jordan said, “but he’s trying to win. He’s going to do his best, whatever it takes to win.”
The 400 hurdles isn’t a sanctioned PIAA event, yet Futch has enough experience to know what to expect once he enters the University of Pennsylvania track. He logged a 51.67 PR at the AAU Junior Olympic Games in July, and has more than five races to his credit, the last two of which are under 53 seconds.
“I think it did help me,” Futch says of his prior experience in the 400s. “I ran it over the summer in AAU and it got me ready. I know how to run them, so I’ll just have to go.”
“The Penn Relays will be big for him,” said Jordan, who‘s led Penn Wood for the past five years as head coach. “As anybody who participates in that event, that’s a special day. And I think that’s a big meet for him.”
The race could offer a bit of post-interscholastic foreshadowing, too. He plans to give up the 110s after high school and take up the 400s in college.
Futch, to his credit, doesn’t allow for complacency.
MIND GAMES
Satisfaction has never really been in Futch’s vocabulary.
It would be unwise, considering what he has to face on a seasonal basis. Two of the best hurdlers in the state are located right in his backyard: Strath Haven’s Chris Williams (PA#2, 110H) and Wellington Zaza (PA#3, 110H and 300H). There’s also Coatesville’s Aaron Willet (PA#1, 110H and PA#2, 300H) and Council Rock North’s Paul Wahlman (PA#5, 300H).
For the last three years, District 1 has been one of the premier conferences for hurdlers.
“You can’t take a day off,“ Jordan said. “And that’s been able to keep him sharp as far as hurdles are concerned.”
Mentally, however, Futch separates himself from the competition. Rather than use it for fuel, he instead focuses on his own internal mechanisms.
“I just worry about getting over the hurdles and finishing the race,” Futch said. “You don’t want to follow what everyone else is doing. And you don‘t want to fall. Sure, I get nervous. Everybody gets nerves. But I don’t worry about who’s around me.”
It is that mentality which perhaps has given Futch the most peace of mind. Only he determines his race‘s final outcome.
“It’s working hard every day,“ Futch said. “You work hard and you get better. I don’t worry about the guys from my district because in my mind I know I can beat them. If I work hard, I know it’ll pay off in the end.”
It’s paid off thus far, at least. Futch logged his second best time ever at the Abington Jack Armstrong Invitational this weekend, logging a 37.15 in the 300 hurdles. Futch says he’s on the right path toward reclaiming a second straight gold at states.
MOVING FORWARD
Looking into the crystal ball is difficult. You never want to look too far ahead. In 2011, Futch was only able to compete in the 300-hurdles at the state meet because of injury.
This season, Jordan wants Futch’s versatility to extend beyond his premier event. The 5-foot-11, 160-pound athlete also is superb in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter runs. His 48.92 in the 400 stands as PA#2.
“He’s been able to do a lot for us,” Jordan said.
Futch understands what Jordan asks of him, so he has taken a measured approach thus far.
“I’m trying to stay healthy and stay versatile with my events,” he said. “I don’t know if I‘ll run the 100 or 200, and I’m not trying to break the national record in the 300s.
“I’m just going into it to win, because I know I’ll have other events.”
And fortunately for Futch, that’s the only thing he’s going to be worry about.
