Photo by Kerry Patrick
A pair of Eastern runners join Marietta’s Ezra Minard (109) and Kasy Science (112) as part of the lead pack during the first half of the Jeremy Anderson Invitational boys cross county meet Saturday at Fort Frye High School in Beverly. Minard placed runner-up and Science placed sixth as the Tigers captured the team championship.
BEVERLY — If a medal was awarded for perseverance, Marietta junior Ezra Minard would be a lock. Hands down.
One week after giving the Marietta High School cross country family a major scare, Minard returned to his training this week and placed runner-up while leading the Tigers to the team title during Saturday’s Jeremy Anderson Invitational on the campus of Fort Frye High School.
During last Saturday’s Scenic Hills Invitational at Warren High School, Minard fell several times on the course before crossing the finish line and collapsing due to exhaustion.
“The doctors think I had a dehydration issue, so it’s nothing permanent or long-term,” said Minard, who turned in a time of 15:31 and one second slower than Portsmouth’s Charles Putnam. “I took two days off then two days of easy running. I had one light workout day and I felt good.
“Today, I was nervous. I lost confidence after that last race, but today I built that confidence back up.”
Even though Minard told his doctors and the Marietta coaching staff he was ready to return, Tiger head coach Abby Ketelsen immediately raised the caution flag and made her presence known whenever her No. 1 runner went through his workouts.
“I annoyed Ezra very much by checking in with him multiple times throughout the week,” Ketelsen said. “We did a light workout with him on Thursday to test him. He did fantastic. He said he felt 100 percent and felt better than ever.
“After last week, we opened the doors for more communication. He knew he scared us, so I trusted him. He wanted to go out. I told him I was fine with him getting a feel for it like running for maybe third on our team. But he said nope, that he was ready and I think today he proved he was ready.”
A total of three Marietta runners placed in the top 10, including Kasy Science in sixth place (15:59) and Ben Bauserman in 10th place (17:42). As a team, the Tigers scored 30 points — well ahead of runner-up Warren with 69 points.
Similar to last week, Minard was involved in a two-man chase over the final 300 meters as they made their way into the football stadium. And for the second consecutive week, he placed second. On Saturday, Minard looked much more alert and had pep in his step when he reached the finish line.
“We work on speed work later in the year — my top speed isn’t there yet,” Minard said. “It will get there when it matters when it comes down tot he championship season.”
As is his style from having a sprinter’s background, Science’s burst down the homestretch and turned in a time of 15:59.
“I have coached Kasy in track for four years — he is a brand new distance runner,” Ketelsen said. “I always tell him, ‘Kasy, you are a sprinter turned distance runner, which is one of the best things we can have. Your kick is your greatest quality.’
“And every race I ask him if he can start it a little earlier. I tell him he is not a sprinter anymore, but he still thinks he is Usain Bolt sprinting there at the end. That’s what he does, and it works for him.”
Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com
