JACOB RELAYED THE BATON (4 OF 7)
by Tony Thomas
Scripture: Hebrews 11:21, Genesis 48:8-20
This content is part of a series.
Jacob Relayed the Baton (4 of 7)
Series: Habits of the Faithful
Tony Thomas
Hebrews 11:21; Genesis 48:8-20
The cylinder tube you see on the screen is used for relay races in track and field. There are two traditional relay races in high school competition covering 400 and 1600 meters. The fastest of the two relays is the 400-meter-relay (four runners run 100-meter-legs). At the high school level, by the time a team races at the state meet the difference isn't speed; it's the timing of the handoffs.
My high school team qualified for state meet in both relays. We finished second in the 1600, and we came into the state meet with the state's fastest time in the 400-relay. Only eight teams qualify for the state meet (a traditional track has eight lanes).
In 1972, the last race of the state track meet was the 400-meter relay. By the time the last race started we had nearly wrapped up the state championship! Our coach told us that all we needed to do was finish: not first, not second, and not even third. We were so far ahead all we needed was a single point. I can remember Coach Willie Smith saying, ''Our goal is finishing. We don't need to win this relay. We don't need to take any chances. We don't need to set any records. We just need to finish.''
Our first runner was Steve Green, my best friend. Steve had already claimed second place in the 400 open. Our second runner was Rick Mercer. Rick finished third in the high and low hurdles races. Our third runner did not qualify to run in any other race, other than the 400-meter relay. In fact, he was our only non-senior on the relay team. Our anchor was Tinker Owens. Tinker won both hurdles races, and the long jump competition. He also had received a football scholarship to Oklahoma University.
The gun sounded and Steve got a great start! He had a clear lead and a clean hand-off to Rick Mercer who was running the only straight stretch of the race. All we needed was two more clean handoffs and our anchor, ...
Series: Habits of the Faithful
Tony Thomas
Hebrews 11:21; Genesis 48:8-20
The cylinder tube you see on the screen is used for relay races in track and field. There are two traditional relay races in high school competition covering 400 and 1600 meters. The fastest of the two relays is the 400-meter-relay (four runners run 100-meter-legs). At the high school level, by the time a team races at the state meet the difference isn't speed; it's the timing of the handoffs.
My high school team qualified for state meet in both relays. We finished second in the 1600, and we came into the state meet with the state's fastest time in the 400-relay. Only eight teams qualify for the state meet (a traditional track has eight lanes).
In 1972, the last race of the state track meet was the 400-meter relay. By the time the last race started we had nearly wrapped up the state championship! Our coach told us that all we needed to do was finish: not first, not second, and not even third. We were so far ahead all we needed was a single point. I can remember Coach Willie Smith saying, ''Our goal is finishing. We don't need to win this relay. We don't need to take any chances. We don't need to set any records. We just need to finish.''
Our first runner was Steve Green, my best friend. Steve had already claimed second place in the 400 open. Our second runner was Rick Mercer. Rick finished third in the high and low hurdles races. Our third runner did not qualify to run in any other race, other than the 400-meter relay. In fact, he was our only non-senior on the relay team. Our anchor was Tinker Owens. Tinker won both hurdles races, and the long jump competition. He also had received a football scholarship to Oklahoma University.
The gun sounded and Steve got a great start! He had a clear lead and a clean hand-off to Rick Mercer who was running the only straight stretch of the race. All we needed was two more clean handoffs and our anchor, ...
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