Two Greeley senior cross country runners participate in prestigious last race

Henry Koster (left) and Kyle Eager before the race
November 27, 2009
by Katri Backman-Koster

The conditions were perfect for last Saturday’s Cross Country Federation Championships. On a bright, sunny and unseasonably warm November afternoon, approximately 250 runners gathered in Bowdoin Park overlooking the Hudson River in Wappingers Falls, New York, for one final race of the 2009 Cross Country season.

Just a week earlier, in upstate New York, two Greeley seniors, Kyle Eager and Henry Koster, had made Greeley history by placing fifth and tenth, respectively, at the State Championships. Their placement at States qualified them to run at the Federation meet where the top runners from all public, private and Catholic schools in all of New York State compete against each other in one single race.

Unfortunately, during the week between the two races, Kyle got sick and his ability to run at the Feds was in question until the day of the race. Realizing what an honor it was to simply participate in a race of this magnitude, Kyle decided to give it his best shot.  Supported by a large group of Greeley Cross Country team members who had traveled to see the event, the boys put on their spikes, race numbers and prepared for the physical and mental challenge awaiting them.

A herd of wildebeest

Unlike the week before, when the boys wore their Section colored T-shirts, the runners wore their high school race uniforms. With an electronic chip tied to the laces of each of their spikes, the 250 runners lined up on the far end of a field. It was by far the largest, and most prestigious, event in which either Henry or Kyle had ever participated. Across the field, just where it narrows down to a path, a large group of spectators stood in awe, watching what looked and sounded like a herd of wildebeest running toward them. 

The energy in the group of runners was palpable. There was a lot of pushing and shoving, heels were stepped on and shins got bloody from the spikes around them. Then the climb to the top of Bowdoin Park began, for both the runners and the spectators. It was clear this was a very fast paced race as the spectators, out of breath, struggled to reach the first vantage point to see the runners as they continued the climb even higher.Trying to keep up with the runners who were zig-zagging up and down the mountain, the spectators were left to follow a road, intended for cars and busses, nearly straight up and down that same mountain.

By the time the leaders descended to the lower part of the 5 km (3.1 mile) course, they were no longer in one large group. They were now following each other on the path, each trying to pass as many runners in front of them as they could. With less than 1 km left in the race, the runners entered the field where the race had begun and then disappeared into the woods. A short time later they emerged from the woods, speeding toward the finish line. Exhausted and with blood dripping down his left shin, Henry Koster crossed the finish line, medaling in 23rd place with a time of 16:43, breaking the Greeley course record which he had set only two weeks earlier.

For these two Greeley seniors, the final Cross Country season of their high school careers, one that took them to both States and Feds, is one for the record books! 

Koster after the race with Señor McKenney (left) and Mr. Houser (right)