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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