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I’m sitting at my high school desk and wondering which other athletes I’ve coached that have stories others could learn from. Inspiration for me is never far away. I just have to look at my bulletin board and desk.

At my right is the picture box I got from last year’s team. On top is the picture of the 4X100M team of Amy Billings, Jen Deschenes, Meg McKenna and Caitlin Hurley. I remember how they recovered from disappointment of not repeating as state champs changing to the giddy excitement of placing in the New Englands out of the unseeded heat. Also how Meg fought for a spot on the team I didn’t think she’d get, only to prove herself indispensable. What a season Big Mac had – how inspiring.

Just above my computer there’s a picture of Ashley Nunes handing off to Amanda Baker. It reminds me of how much I love relays. The simple act of passing a baton creates such a bond between athletes. I’m also amazed how different the Nunes I’m looking at is from the one I saw last night on TV cheerleading for UCONN.

There’s another relay picture, this one of "Bull" Dromsky, face frozen in a grimace handing off to a youthful looking Matt Wernborg. This was a scene from my second year coaching boys. It was the first in a string of great 4X400 teams trying to carry on the tradition of a New England placing team of Espinosa, Burns, Brennan and Espinosa. There have been many Hock Champ teams since.

Just to their left is a picture of Karen Pearce handing off to Kelly Magnan. The memories come flooding back of state championships – it was a heady time. What a competitor Kelly was - on a day when her spin was off she ended up throwing 120' from the front of the circle to win the State Coaches Invitational.

Above is Lisa Rush in mid spin. How effortless she looked in the circle, so calm in her spin before exploding to a school record 126’11. So natural and a reminder that it gave me the opportunity to talk to Joan Benoit (now Samuelson) - pre gold medal - when she coached at BU and heavilly recruited Lisa.

Then a host of hurdle pictures. There’s Jay Feid attacking the hurdles as North won the event at the Class C relays. Also Michelle Puccio leading the pack at the Hock Championships and finally one of Emily Estey starting the met winning in the 300MH and on her way to another four victory day.

For distance there’s pictures of Cheryl Lyons and Lynn Liberatore in their battles against Lori Kelley, a reminder that competition against great athletes brings out the best. Those were all classic duels. Then a picture of Ethan Estey from cross country, the flopping mop of hair reminiscent of so many great 400M to Mile victories in the spring. Also Erin Kimbrel who was part of an Eastern State Championship 3rd place 4XMile team.

There’s Marc Lefebvre. He became state champion in the shot after being a 5:08 miler as a freshman. Then Mike Pestana leading the pack on KP’s old cinder track. Jim Sullivan, the man of 100 shoes, gently soaring over the high jump bar and now Feid again, this time unleashing the javelin. This picture reminds me of how I took a basket of softballs out to practice and found a new thrower (he eventually tossed the spear 191').

There’s Sherry Booker sprinting to two consecutive appearances in the New Englands 100M dash and Jessica Blake out in front all alone in the two mile. Then Kristen Violet outkicking freshman teammate Sarah McKinnon, a rare talent whose star burned brightly with a frosh 800M record but whose running career was cut short by a car accident. She came back to run again but couldn't recapture the magic of her freshman year when she joined with Beth Pfefferle and the Violets in the 4X800M Nationals at Yale. My final action shot is of Sandy Phipps, first winning the long jump to solidify the final victory in a four year undefeated streak and then running over to hug her coach, the full head of blond hair disguising the fact that it was me just over 21 years ago. Then a few snapshots,Chris Sullivan, Rick Johnson, Peter Cragan, Kristen Hanley, and Aimee Morrison all taken from Sun Chronicle All-Star articles. Each of them also have a story.

I’m only sad for a few things. First that I can’t tell everyone’s story. Those faces in front of me each mark a significant chapter in my track life. And sad that I have so few pictures. I keep adding to them as I come across old files. Each one brings a great memory.

I still see track alumni and others I only hear about. Like Sheryl Pearce who battled on aching knees but still looks back on track fondly. I was glad to find out just yesterday that she’s back in town and sending a new generation of runners into the school system.

I regret that most of them don’t realize the mark they have left on the program. I’m not just talking about the records they may have set. Each has also been a brick. Taken together they’ve built a program that is still solid. They established a pattern of dedication and sacrifice that still exists today.

Just as my own children had the opportunity to watch and learn from some of the greatest people around, so too have they been fortunate to become part of its history. That is an opportunity available for anyone. The lesson here is that everyone in this program is important. Learning from those who came before is a crucial part of "joining the family". Think about what they’ve accomplished and realize they came into the program just as uncertain and raw as any newcomer. Then take those lessons and build upon them to make your own place.