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Bitburg cross country team dominates homecoming race

  • Published
  • By Capt. Lisa Barber
  • 52nd Mission Support Squadron
BITBURG-MOETSCH, Germany --  BITBURG-MOETSCH, Germany - After an emotional beginning of the season, Bitburg High School runners Sandra Davidson, a junior, and Ryan Poock, a senior, secured their positions as two of the fastest runners in Europe at their home meet Oct. 13.

The two set new course records during the cross country race dedicated in memory of their late coach, David Turner, who died of a suspected heart attack during a team practice in September.

Davidson led the field during the girl's race, finishing the 5-kilometer course in 19 minutes, 37 seconds, shaving 31 seconds off of the course record and beating her closest opponent by almost a minute. All four varsity girls who ran in the race finished in the top 10, a first for the team this season.

Poock dominated the boy's race, finishing in 16 minutes, 20 seconds, a personal record, and 67 seconds faster than the previous course record. Sophomore, Derek Lowry also finished in the top 10, running the course in 19 minutes, 13 seconds.

Home team fans made the race more meaningful for the team who call themselves "Turner's Burners" this season. Hilde Turner, wife of the late Bitburg head coach, came to watch the team run in their home race.

"It's amazing to watch," she said about the race. "David [Turner] was so excited when Ryan came to Bitburg last year. He was excited to coach someone who truly loved running."

A love of running is something Bitburg's cross country team shares this season. The team of ten high school runners and three middle school runners has shown impressive improvements over the past eight weeks. Some runners have improved their 5-kilometer times by as much as four minutes in a single season.

When asked what inspires the runners this season, the answer is almost unanimous - Mr. Turner.

"I can still see him at the finish line of every race waiting for us," said Brianna Checkley, a middle school runner on the team. "I just want to make him proud. I miss him so much."

Ryan Poock, a senior and team captain this year, is inspired both by his late coach and by his desire to leave his mark at next weekend's European Championships in Heidelberg, Germany.

"My goal was to finish our home course in less than 16 minutes 30 seconds, and I did it," Poock said at practice. "This weekend I plan to break 16 minutes at Mannheim."

A strong finish for Poock at Europeans will be the perfect ending to a challenging season, and the perfect memorial to Coach David Turner, who inspired this year's cross country team to run smarter, harder and with a bigger sense of purpose than any other team in Europe.
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