When 800-meter runner Carsyn Koch ’18
competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials last year
in Eugene, Oregon, she had a running partner
during the after-race cool down. Was it a
coach? How about a former Yellow Jacket who
traversed the same path.
Jane (Romig) Brooker ’86 was the first
Yellow Jacket to participate in the Olympic
Trials: Indianapolis, 1988 (800- and
1,500-meter); New Orleans, 1992 (800- and
1,500-meter); and Atlanta, 1996 (800-meter).
“With some people, you have an instant
connection,” Brooker recalled. “That’s Carsyn
and me. We just have this kindred spirit
relationship, even though I’m a lot older than
she is.”
Part of that stems from sharing a unique,
high-level race experience, Brooker shared.
But it also had to do with the Yellow Jackets.
“Carsyn is such a genuine person,” said
Brooker. “At the trials,
God used her to serve
ano t h e r a t h l e t e .
She was carrying
the torch of being a
Cedarville athlete.”
B r o o k e r s a w
Koch again last fall at a homecoming dinner
honoring legendary Cedarville cross country
coach Elvin King ’64. “During my speech I
handed a baton to Carsyn. I know that baton
will be well taken care of.”
Passing the
Baton
“Each person brings an attitude of pushing one another,”
Smith said. “You hear us cheering and screaming for each other
till we lose our voices. Twelve of us went to nationals (four each
on men’s and women’s DMR, plus four alternates), but the whole
110-member team helped us get there.”
TEAM VICTORY
Track and field is often referred to as a “team of individuals.”
Not so with Cedarville.
“We encourage each other to work hard, eat well, and sleep
right,” noted Koch. “We can’t run 400s with Lyndsey, but we can
cheer her on.”
“It’s been really cool coming in as a freshman having Carsyn
and Olivia help me,” offered Kundo, who ran the 1,200-meter leg
of the DMR. “They’ve really pushed me. If I didn’t have them, I’m
not sure I would do as well.”
“We’ve met athletes who don’t have supportive teams,” said
Esbenshade. “That makes us really thankful. Our team supports us
no matter what.”
“I’ve roomed with Tim and Ethan, and I live in the same
unit with Ethan and Wyatt,” Michalski added. “It’s hard to get
much closer, unless you run with your brothers. These guys are
my brothers.”
DIFFERENT FINISH LINE
Because of their eternal perspective, Cedarville’s athletes, even
during intense competition, keep their focus on the right kind
of prize.
“We’ve met girls who’ve struggled with injuries and they’re
nervous, and we’ve prayed with them,” Esbenshade said. “We pray
for a good competition for them.”
“I’ve enjoyed a lot of conversations with competitors at meets,
sharing life views,” Michalski said. “I’ve just tried to be one beggar
pointing other beggars toward the Bread.”
“This is our platform,” added Smith. “God’s given us these
talents not just to show people how fast we are. Maybe we were at
nationals so we could talk with another girl and share how much
we’ve appreciated the Christian atmosphere on our team.
“We don’t want to glorify self; we’re glorifying Christ.”
Clem Boyd
is Managing Editor of
Cedarville Magazine
.
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Cedarville Magazine