MitchMash: Holland's crawl to crown

Holland Reynolds could hear every sound – the pitter-patter of the rain, the groan of the large crowd behind the ropes as she dropped to her knees, the sloshing and thud of feet as one runner after another after another kept racing by on Saturday.

The University (San Francisco, Calif.) junior cross-country runner was face down, arms extended, and a mere five yards from the finish line at the CIF State Championships in Fresno.

But she could barely move. … barely think. … barely function.

She had in laymen's terms – "hit the wall."

"I was scared," the 16-year-old said. "I've been running since I was the third grade but never felt anything like that before. It was really strange. Totally surreal. It was like everything stopped."

She had finished fifth a season ago, leading her team to a seventh Division V championship – tying it with Corona del Mar (Newport Beach) for the most titles for any school, division or gender.

Her goal was to beat the place and shatter her previous best time of 18 minutes, 42 seconds on the rolling 3.1-mile course at Woodward Park.

She was shattering that time, running in third place for 2.5-miles when her body began to shut down. A combination of dehydration and hypothermia – temperatures had dipped into the low 40s - began to set in.

"My legs got incredibly heavy," Reynolds said. "My breathing got faster and faster."

Like a car overheating, Reynolds stammered and shook, before eventually teetering to an unstable walk.

"It was the longest 800 meters of my life and the last 50 to the finish line were pretty brutal," she said. "There wasn't really a question in my mind if I should finish. But I remember thinking CAN I finish."

Frankly, there was too much at stake.

College coaches were on the course.

The record eighth team title was on the line and as the team captain, she was supposed to lead the charge.

So she pressed forward until finally her body had given all it could.

She dropped to the grass, dazed and confused, however with one absolutely clear thought.

"I just wanted it so badly for our coach," she said. "And I was willing to do anything to get there."

LOTS OF TEARS
In June, popular University coach Jim Tracy, 60, was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, a fatal condition also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with no current cure.

A highly successful high school runner in San Francisco at Riordan and later at Cal, Tracy didn't enter the coaching fray until his 40s when he took an assistant's role in 1994.

His direct, no-nonsense approach connected with the driven student body at the small private school and when he took over as head coach in 1998, he led the Red Devils to the most successful run in any sport in North Coast Section history.

University has secured a remarkable 32 titles – 17 for the girls and 15 for the boys.

"When Jim tells you something, when he pays you a compliment, you know it's true," Reynolds said. "He's the best coach I've ever had."

Agreed, said senior Adrian Kerester, a college-bound soccer player and the team's No. 4 runner.

"He knows so much about the sport, he gives great individual instruction and he's incredibly fair," she said.

When given the news of Tracy's condition over the summer, the team took it extremely hard.

"There were lots of tears," Reynolds said.

Tracy offered to resign – he didn't want to be a distraction - but University athletic director Jim Ketcham wouldn't accept.

"(Coaching) is what he loves to do, and the kids love him," Ketcham said. "We had good assistants in place to pick up any heavy lifting."

His condition has taken its toll physically. He's fallen at practice and brings a chair to workouts, a far cry when he would train – and often beat – the young pups.

After winning the NCS championship on Nov. 20, Tracy apologized for his occasional slurred speech, loss of thought and general energy level.

But he didn't apologize for another title.

"One thing I'll never apologize for is for winning," he said with a wry smile. "The way I see it, if someone is going to win, it might as well be us."

Chances are, he's not going to beat the disease, and being a direct sort and meticulous record keeper, he's quite realistic about his condition.

At the same time, Tracy isn't the sit around and mope type either. He plans to apply his coaching philosophy – "1. Show up. 2. Keep improving. 3. Enjoy what you do." – to his very last breath.

"I'll coach as long as they'll have me – as long as I can keep making a difference," he said.

His drive and inspiration made all the difference while Reynolds labored on hands and knees.

VICTORY CRAWL
A race official quickly approached and asked Reynolds if she wanted to finish the race – any physical assistance would have disqualified her.

She kept nodding.

Tracy, whose physical limitations kept him past the shoot, but within eyesight said he'd never seen such determination.

"She had this look on her face – it was a mask of will of determination," he said. "Runners were passing her one by one, it had to be discouraging."

But winning the team title – winning that magical eighth crown for Tracy – was all Reynolds focused on.

Team scores are calculated by the squad's top five finishers. Four University runners had crossed and to cement the title, the Red Devils needed Reynolds to cross.

So she crawled.

"I really don't remember much at that point," Reynolds said. "The official told me I needed to get both feet over the line, so I just kept moving and when I got both over I just passed out."

In perhaps the most courageous 37th-place finish in the history of the meet, Reynolds secured the team title with 88 points compared to 119 for College Prep-Oakland.

"It took her 22 seconds to crawl 2 yards and over the line," Tracy said. "It was one of the scariest but most inspirational things I've ever seen."

Reynolds was immediately carried to the ambulance, secured to an IV and regained consciousness about 20 minutes later.

"I was kind of out of it for a while," Reynolds said. "I just assumed it hadn't gone well but when my mom told me we won, I was so happy."

The team accepted their championship medals 45 minutes after the race at a ceremony tent a quarter-mile from the ambulance. Tracy also received the state's CIF model coach award.

"When they announced we won, the whole team exploded like fireworks went off," Tracy said. "I know they felt pressure to do well for me, and then for them to see their teammate go down, it was emotionally draining. I've never been happier for a group of kids. It was an amazing day."

The team joined Reynolds in the ambulance and rewarded her with her medal and a chocolate milk. "I told them the straw wasn't working but I think it really was," Reynolds said. "I wasn't really working that well. I was pretty confused and pretty loopy."

She and her teammates were able to finally let loose.

"We were all so shocked earlier in the season with news of Jim's disease," Reynolds said. "We definitely wanted that title for ourselves, but obviously more for Jim. We wanted to have the best ending to the season possible. We wanted to end his career on a high point."

Tracy video during celebration of his life on University of campus on Nov. 24.

To defray medical costs for Tracy, University has set up a special needs trust in his behalf. Donations (checks) should be payable to: Jim Tracy Special Needs Trust. And mailed to: University High School, 3065 Jackson Street, San Francisco, Calif., 94115. More information about Tracy's life, condition and A.L.S. - go to www.coachjimtracy.com