AN UNEXPECTED AWARD

There are many examples of older citizens who achieve noteworthy accomplishments over age 70. The public seems fascinated by actors, novelists, and artists who continue to produce masterpieces in their later years. Award shows often honor individuals in the creative arts and other fields for their ongoing productivity in later life.

The artist Matisse created powerful art late in his life. Grandma Moses did not begin painting until she was in her 70s.  A recent issue of the New Yorker profiles the 85-year-old movie director, Ridley Scott. His new film Napoleon opened in theaters on November 22.  He is hard at work on the follow up to his blockbuster movie, Gladiator. Frank Lloyd Wright completed some of his most famous projects after age 60 and continued working until his death at age 91.

It is a very different kind of recognition to be honored after age 70 for an achievement that occurred over 50 years earlier. This was a time, long ago, when I was a member of an undefeated New Jersey high school cross-country team. In July 2023, all varsity team members received a letter that began, “Congratulations! The North Hunterdon High School Lions Athletic Hall of Fame has selected the 1968 Boys Cross Country Team to be inducted into the Hall of Fame Class of 2023 as a team.”

The letter went on to request information, photos, and stories about our championship team on which I had received a varsity letter for three seasons. As it turns out, our senior effort in 1968 marked the first undefeated varsity team in the history of the high school.

Unlike my spouse and other members of my family, recalling events from over 50 years ago is not my strong suit. Luckily, one of my running mates kept all of the newspaper clippings and other mementos from our championship season and sent me a copy. This collection, along with my dusty senior high school yearbook, helped to unlock some recollections. The Hall of Fame event was held in early November at a local N.J. country club. It was a pleasant afternoon breaking bread with my teammates after 50 years and given the opportunity to trade war stories.

We decided that four factors were instrumental in leading to an undefeated season. First, the team was led by a coach who knew how to train and motivate young men to run. Second, one of our teammates kept improving as the championship season wore on and developed into an elite runner who often finished first. Third, the rest of the team had a core of senior and junior runners who pushed each other and finished each race near the front of the pack. Fourth, home meets were usually automatic victories. Other N.J. schools trained on and laid out their courses in flat, local parks. Our training area and official course was full of hills that quickly deflated visiting teams.

Our winning team made a commitment to train hard over the summer preceding the new school year in September. We started the fall season with an additional early morning practice to pack on extra miles. The seniors gave up the traditional overnight class trip to Washington D.C. to train for the year-end state championship competitions.

As members of our undefeated team finally got the opportunity to trade thoughts, the inevitable subject was why we were being honored over 50 years after our memorable season. While we all appreciated the recognition, receiving it closer to our achievement may have had a greater impact on our lives.   

I could not help thinking about the celebratory atmosphere that is created when professional and college athletes, still in their prime, are inducted into their respective Halls of Fame. His or her career are still fresh in everyone’s mind. Conversely, when an elderly military veteran of a decades-old foreign conflict or an early civil rights leader is presented with a well-deserved medal, while sitting in a wheelchair, the effect is one of solemn sadness. The military heroics or civil rights accomplishments are long forgotten.

A mitigating factor in our case was that the first school induction ceremony did not take place until 2002. We realized that cross-country has long been considered a second-tier varsity sport, overshadowed by football, basketball, baseball and wrestling. I am sure there was a demand to honor participants in those sports that garnered widespread public adulation. Those students whose forte was running could be considered later.

We were pleased to see several young women honored at our induction ceremony. In 1968 the Federal anti-discrimination statute, Title IX had not yet become law. The statute required that women’s sports comparable to men’s offerings be included in athletic programs. At our high school, an expanded field of sports are now considered for awards that includes both genders.

At the induction ceremony, awards were granted to recently graduated participants in golf, track & field, soccer, and cheerleading. There is strong evidence that another worthy individual or championship team will not wait for 50 years to receive a place in the Athletic Hall of Fame.

To make my point that a future oversight should be avoided, I began my brief remarks from the awards podium with an opening comment to wake up those dozing in the back of the room. “What the heck took you so long?”