Lone distance runner

Sports

October 28, 2009

By PORKY FALCON The McAlester News-Capital Wed Oct 28, 2009, 12:02 PM CDT

The McAlester Buffaloes’ all-terrain runner Patrick Ramsey qualified for the state cross country meet, Saturday at Mitch Park in Edmond. Ramsey, a junior at McAlester High School, qualified in the 5K run, 19.14, at the Regional meet Oct. 24 in Tulsa.

Ramsey ran 3.1 miles over a rough, muddy course and “usually runs better times,” according to Head Coach Suzanne Carney.

“He (Ramsey) has run three years for McAlester, every year he’s been here,” Carney said. “He’s had a really good season despite our team not qualifying for state but he was able to qualify as an individual.”

The McAlester’s long-distance runner must better his time more than one minute if he wants to win the state championship to join the ranks of Tommy Ward, McAlester’s only cross country state winner — who won in 1965 when McAlester was a Class A school.

As a junior, Ramsey should gain experience, if anything, at the state competition. He will race against 13 individual qualifiers and 14 other teams.

Ramsey will have a slight disadvantage running solo against a large crowd. Teammates seem to run better when they are paced by other individuals.

The upside to Ramsey’s lone status, is that he can “chase the rabbit.” Just like a gray hound dog race, Ramsey could follow the leaders and pace himself as he plays “catch up.” Running with an individual could slow Ramsey’s pace down.

Carney has worked with Ramsey on his running technique to better his chances at state.

“His strength is the last quarter mile on the course,” Carney said. “He’s got a really good kick.

“We marked the course for Ramsey on the last quarter-mile,” Carney said. “We’ve been running practices that consisted of running 13 to 20, 400 meter sprints. The last ones he was running were almost breaking 60 seconds.”

The last quarter mile Ramsey ran was at the regional meet. He passed over 10 runners to help him qualify for state, according to Carney.

“Ramsey’s got a lot of heart,” Carney said. “He’s got some guts that keep him very competitive.”

Contact Porky Falcon at pfalcon@mcalesternews.com

Text Only

Sports

Globetrotters stop into McAlester for World Championship game
On Monday, the Harlem Globetrotters chose McAlester as a stop on their World Championship Tour.

February 7, 2012 23 Photos 1 Story
NFL works to protect copyright, as Brady admits illegal viewing
NFL Super Bowl officials were hoping to score some major media attention with the arrest of a "web pirate" accused of illegally streaming sporting events over the Internet. They ended up with news stories that led with Super Bowl-bound quarterback Tom Brady admitting he watched last year’s NFL championship game on an illegal website.

February 3, 2012 1 Photo
POTAC: Is the Ada rivalry over?
Opportunities to watch the tradition of POTAC, or Pounce On The Ada Cougars, will be more scarce for McAlester fans for at least the next two years, but current interest in the rivalry didn’t seem overwhelming this week.

February 3, 2012 2 Stories
Buff gridiron standouts sign for college play
Three McAlester High School seniors took steps Wednesday to take their football playing days past high school and on the collegiate level.

February 3, 2012 3 Photos 2 Stories
NFL Play 60 Kids Day gets them moving
It was kids, kids and more kids Wednesday at the Indiana Convention Center, as 38 classrooms of fifth- and sixth-graders enjoyed a morning at the NFL Experience, courtesy of the NFL’s Play 60 Challenge.

February 2, 2012 4 Photos
Giants' Manning emerging from brother's shadow
Giants quarterback Eli Manning has a chance to outshine his more famous brother in Sunday's Super Bowl.

January 31, 2012 1 Photo
SLIDESHOW: Giants arrive in Indianapolis The New York Giants arrived in Indianapolis Monday to begin preparations for their matchup with the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI.
January 31, 2012
SLIDESHOW: Patriots best Ravens in AFC Championship The Patriots defeat the Baltimore Ravens 23-20 in the AFC Championship game, securing a spot in Super Bowl XLVI against the New York Giants.
January 25, 2012
Viral video: Announcer goes nuts after full-court shot wins game
One college basketball play-by-play radio host likely needed some throat lozenges when he woke up Sunday morning, a day after his shocked, screaming reaction to a game-winning basket.

January 18, 2012 1 Photo
Kiowa ropes in pair of wins
The Pittsburg County Expo Center will be the stage for the Pittsburg Eight Conference Tournament Monday through Saturday in McAlester. The small-school conference will feature boys and girls teams from 2A schools Savanna, Canadian and Crowder, Class A schools Stuart, Indianola and Haileyville and Class B Kiowa and Pittsburg.

January 14, 2012 1 Photo
More Sports Headlines

It's awards season? Which 85th Academy Award nominated movie for Best Picture is your fave?

Sports

Search Results

Lone distance runner

It's awards season? Which 85th Academy Award nominated movie for Best Picture is your fave?

Site Map

Contact Us