Thursday afternoon, Erin Boland was hit by a car during her daily afternoon run.
Actually, the car ran over her foot, which flipped her over the hood and left her on the pavement.
What did she do?
”I ran three miles after that and felt fine,” said Boland, sporting one lone scab on a knee. ”Everyone got mad at me for laughing about it.”
Saturday afternoon at the McHenry Boys and Girls County Meet, it was hard not to laugh along with Boland. She set county records in both the 1,600 meters (5:16.3) and 3,200 meters (11:13.2), leading the McHenry girls to the championship of the 10-team meet with 97 points. Johnsburg finished second with 82 points.
On the boys side, the scene was a little more familiar. Crystal Lake Central won its ninth county title in the last 10 years, despite being disqualified in both the 400- and 800-meter relays-once for dropping the baton and the other time for an exhange outside the zone.
Yet, the Tigers still distanced themselves from the 11-team field by a 148-88 margin over second-place Crystal Lake South.
Mike Ryon doubled up for CLC, winning both hurdles events-the 100 in
:15.8 and the 300 in :41.4.
Injuries have been Ryon`s biggest foe. Last year, he sat out with a badly sprained ankle and this season he has been troubled by shin splints. For the last two weeks he hasn`t run in practice, just races.
On the girls side, the matter of who would take home the first-place trophy was not settled until late in the day.
McHenry nursed a 71-60 lead after 13 events and coach Dan Boland prayed for his team to hold the lead through the 300 hurdles. Johnsburg`s Beth Struck won the race and another Johnsburg runner was on a pace to place when she tripped over a hurdle and fell. McHenry`s Faith Ann Smith swept into sixth place for one point and the Warriors stayed ahead, 72-70. Boland`s dazzling 1,600 came next and McHenry pulled away.
Boland`s 3,200 time is just three seconds off her 11:10 that was good for third in state last year.
”We always had the distance people,” said coach Boland. ”Now, we have some young sprinters coming along and we`re strong in the field events. We scored 28 points out there.”
Speaking of out there, after running 3 1/4 miles on the day, how did his daughter, Erin, finish her day?
Running yet more laps on an empty track, away from the street and cars.
