SHAPE's Edwards, Patch's Carlson are
DODDS-Europe cross country champs
Story by Eric B. Pilgrim,
Stars and Stripes
Photos by Raymond T. Conway, Stars and
Stripes
Jenny Carlson |
Patrick Edwards |
RAMSTEIN, Germany — It was Jenny Carlson’s last championship race and she
wasn’t going to let anyone ruin it — especially a precocious freshman.
The Patch senior shook off a late challenge from 14-year-old Jamie Lindsey of Ramstein,
rallying on the 500-meter climb to the finish to win the DODDS European Cross Country
Championships.
At that, Carlson needed a course-record time of 18 minutes, 37 seconds to prevail over
Lindsey by 11 seconds at the end of 5 kilometers.
"I never really had anybody push me this year but she did today," Carlson
said. "I was really worried. I didn’t know what to expect from her, but I just
told myself, ‘OK, let’s go.’"
Patrick Edwards, a junior from SHAPE, made a similar move in the boys’ race,
accelerating past leader Robert Birkett of Patch on the finishing grade and hitting the
wire exhausted in a course-record 16 minutes, 28 seconds.
An exhausted Patrick
Edwards is helped off the track after winning his race in a course-record time of 16:28. |
"I really wanted it and I knew that I didn’t have great speed," Edwards
said. "So I had to tough it out and take his (Birkett’s) legs out from under
him."
Birkett finished seven seconds back and nine ahead of Ramstein’s Parker Cowles.
Carlson had never faced Lindsey although she was aware of her reputation. Sure enough,
after the starting pistol was fired by Department of Defense Education Activity director
Dr. Joseph Tafoya, Carlson had Lindsey on her heels.
Lindsey kept pace, biding her time until she moved past Carlson into the lead as the
field emerged from the woods and headed uphill.
"I thought I had it coming up the hill," Lindsey said, "but all of a
sudden everybody was yelling that she was right behind me.
"I heard she had a really fast sprint and obviously she does."
For Carlson, the race came down to determination.
Patch's Jenny Carlson is
congratulated by her father, Steve Peterson, left, and coach Larry Bahn after winning in a
time of 18:37, a course record. |
"I was thinking, ‘It’s my last year and I just have to give it
everything I’ve got,’" she said.
Carlson consoled Lindsey after the race.
"You are really good," she said. "You just keep running."
That’s all Edwards could do after his strategic move pulled him clear of the
packed boys’ field.
After the pack rounded the outer perimeter of the track and disappeared into the woods,
race favorite Thomas Hanson of Kaiserslautern took a seemingly commanding lead.
Coming out of the woods, however, Birkett overtook Hanson. Edwards, moving at the same
time, then cruised past Birkett.
The race over, Edwards had to be held up by supporters for some 10 minutes while
gasping for breath. A fan marveled at his determination, saying he gives 110 percent in
every race.
"Today was a guts race," Edwards said. "Everybody here is a really good
racer. Without sounding too cocky, I had the guts to go all out."
DODDS-Europe cross-country championships
Individual leaders; 5,000-meter course at Ramstein
Boys
1. Patrick Edwards, SHAPE, 16:28 (course record); 2. Robert Birkett, Patch, 16:35; 3.
Parker Cowles, Ramstein, 16:44; 4. Thomas Hanson, Kaiserslautern, 16:51; 5. James
Dickinson, Naples, 16:52; 6. Pierre Dehaene, Black Forest Academy, 16:55; 7. Matt Hicks,
Patch, 16:55; 8. John Fox, Black Forest Academy, 16:59; 9. Jake Birkett, Patch, 16:59; 10.
Sean Woodward, Black Forest Academy, 17:02.
11. Robert Isaac, Patch, 17:04; 12. Tony Castelli, American Overseas School of Rome,
17:05; 13. David Forte, SHAPE, 17:06; 14. Dustin Whitlow, Menwith Hill, 17:13; 15. John
Slappy, Wiesbaden, 17:23; 16. Brian Webb, American Overseas School of Rome, 17:23; 17.
Alex Martinez, SHAPE, 17:27; 18. Byran Silkett-Irvine, International School of Brussels,
17:27.
Girls
1. Jenny Carlson, Patch, 18:37 (course record); 2. Jamie Lindsey, Ramstein, 18:48; 3.
Morgan Murray, Munich International School, 19:55; 4. Michelle Thorne, Heidelberg, 20:22;
5. Karis Brauer, Black Forest Academy, 20:24; 6. Tabitha Grubb, Black Forest Academy,
20:25; 7. Nickie Billa, Marymount, 20:26; 8. Stella Von Burgsdorff, St. John’s,
20:33; 9. Susanne Waddell, Aviano, 20:39; 10. Frederique Rousseau, SHAPE, 20:40.
11. Stephanie Kluka, SHAPE, 20:40; 12. Carolyn House, Lakenheath, 20:49; 13. Sarah
Buckley, International School of Brussels, 20:53; 14. Nadia Artalejo, Wiesbaden, 20:56;
15. Hannah Brown, Black Forest Academy, 20:57; 16. Anna Wheat, International School of
Brussels, 21:03; 17. Rebeccah Drennon, Heidelberg, 21:18; 18. Monique Richardson,
Würzburg, 21:21.
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