Humrichouser’s saving his best for last

  • brian questel
  • October 31, 2012
  • 298
                        
110412 HumrichouserStateCC Promo: Years of work pay off for Generals’ Humrichouser with berth in state meet Humrichouser’s saving his best for last By Brian Questel Thirty hours after finishing the race of his life, Zach Humrichouser still was at a loss for words on how to describe it. “I still can’t believe it,” said the Wooster senior after advancing out of the Youngstown Boardman Division I Regional cross country meet Oct. 27 After failing to reach regionals in his first three seasons, Humrichouser stepped up to the test in his final opportunity and earned one of the individual spots in the state meet Nov. 3. “If ever there was a kid who deserved it,” said Wooster coach Doug Bennett. “He’s had a long, long road from a freshman to now. This is a kid who now believes in his own ability. Anxiety, doubt and high expectations had really hampered what he wanted to accomplish. He set that all aside this year, and now he goes out and competes. He’s fun to watch. “He is exited and sees this as an adventure. He has goals ... and he knows he’s accomplished something, which has helped him as a runner to work through the up-and-down moments you have as a runner.” Humrichouser certainly had an up moment Saturday in a field that was clearly one of the top regions in Ohio. “He ran against some amazing runners,” said Bennett. “This field was more competitive than the last time we took kids (to state). When a team like (Malone District champion) Boardman doesn’t get out, it’s amazing. They had a kid sub-16, their No. 2 was right in front of Zach, their third ran a 16:49 and their 4-5 guys were in the low 17s, and they didn’t get out. For Zach to get out, man.” Humrichouser had to be one of the top 16 runners in the region to make the state meet at the National Trail Raceway in Hebron. The good news for Bennett was that Humrichouser posted a 12th-place, 16:31 clocking after a sterling finish; the bad was that sophomore Kevin White just missed joining him. The sophomore finished in 19th with a time of 16:48, 14 seconds from the final qualifying spot. “The coach in me wanted more,” said Bennett. “Kevin was really close – he was in 19th place and ran a 16:48. He was a little sick and he didn’t run as well as he could.” Humrichouser nearly produced a personal best on a day that was less than perfect. “It was a little muddy, but it wasn’t as muddy as it has been in the past. That’s what Kevin talked about,” said Humrichouser, referring to White’s regional berth as a freshman. “You could tell in our race it was getting torn up a little, but I had half-inch spikes and could navigate the course. We got over there in plenty of time and were able to warm up over half the course and get to know the rough spots.” Despite that knowledge, Humrichouser found himself in trouble immediately. “I was boxed in at the start and literally thought my season was done 50 meters in,” said Humrichouser. “Somehow, these people right in front of me spread open a person apart and something told me to go and go up with the leaders.” “He had to get out there and focus and race,” said Bennett. “For whatever reason, he put aside any doubts. You can’t make a move like he did if you doubt yourself.” Humrichouser was siting in “29th or 30th until the two-mile mark, when I dropped to 20th,” said Humrichouser. “I thought this could be my last mile of high school racing and I told myself I didn’t want this to be my last mile. During the last two weeks in the last mile, no one passed me. I started to bring it all home and going into woods, about 500 meters from the finish, my dad was yelling the guys right in front of me were in 15th and 16th. With 300 meters left I caught them. There was also a pack of four runners in front of me and they were starting to fall apart. I could tell from their form I could get these guys. “All I knew was I didn’t want to place 17th, so I started kicking 200 meters in and passed all of them to go from 17th to 12th. When I crossed the line, I didn’t know what place I was in … to be 12th is great. To realize my PR was 16:29 and I ran 16:31 on a muddy course. That was a 45-second PR on that course and to nearly run a PR in those conditions, I’ll take that performance.” Humrichouser was disappointed that White missed out on accompanying him to state. “We ran together for the whole race,” said Humrichouser. “We were five seconds apart at the mile and then he caught up at a mile and a half. At two miles I started to pull away, but when I was 20th he was right behind in 21st. We had talked that it would be great to send both of us, but let’s help get one of us down. Our goal was to run together like we did at districts … because that gives us a practice sense. “This season has been one of learning for me and having someone like Kevin around is great. I tell him everyday he’s an ideal practice partner because he’s always willing to learn and someone who will push me. Kevin had a breakout year (and ran No.1 much of the year) and I told myself to be patient. I have a strong faith in God and I know He has a plan. I didn’t have the pressure this year and I was confident. “The most pressure I felt was (Saturday) and I knew if I didn’t finish in the top 16 my season was done. I was nervous, but more excited to go out and race. The last two meets I felt like I belonged and that I belonged up with the leaders.” He proved that and as a result Humrichouser will run at 12:30 Saturday at National Trail Raceway in a meet designed for the best.


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