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Some days it doesn't pay to be a coach! That's all I could think about when trying to come up with my theme for explaining the boys' race of the Hockomock Championship. This was the day to be just a fan. To relax, focus on the race and appreciate one of the best head-to-head battles in Hock history, not to mention a pretty awesome team race.

I expected the day to be a little too hot. The cloud cover kept temperatures lower than the predicted mid-seventies. To be blunt – it was an awesome day for running. The sun only peeked through occasionally, never creating a solar handicap. Still, there are enough surprises to re-enforce the idea that “you just never know until the race is run!”

Coach Julie Collins grabbed my interest before the race. After I apologized for putting undo pressure on her team with my pre-meet write-up, she promised me an inside story after the meet.

It's somewhat magical watching the nine Hockomock teams settle on the line before the Hock Championship. There's color, tension and that anticipation of something special about to happen. Then the gun goes off.

Being the definite underdog, the Panthers decided to make an early statement. During the short loop. John Dacey and Frank May jumped out to an early lead. Nick Wade hung back off the pair in third, not unexpected with his penchant to go hard early. The ever-patient Mike Moverman sat back off the lead, relying on his ability to gauge his own abilities – confident the early pace-pushers would come back to him eventually.

Then the entered the “great void!” The problem with the Borderland Park course is that beyond this point the real racing begins. Somewhere between the double-field and the bridge is where the over enthusiastic get dropped and the real contenders start to battle. The fans (and the girls' coaches who are thinking about their own teams) have to wait. What fans see is the fallout – not the dropping of the bombs!

Here's what I know. First out of the woods were Moverman and Dacey. No big surprises there. Even if expected, a close race rarely materializes. But, this was everything a big match-up should be. The top gun vs. the “new and improved”. Looking backward Moverman was heir apparent - the best of the remainders of '06 when he placed third behind Ryan Collins and John Lutkevich. Dacey was only 19th, a full 39 seconds slower on a shorter course. It shouldn't be close. Yet somehow over the last 12 months Dacey found a way to bridge the gap. Suddenly, less than 15 seconds from the completion of the race  it was a dead heat. But as soon as they left the path Dacey thought of nothing but a win, surging to a decisive 2.5 second victory. Decisive you ask? It looked that way and to Moverman it probably felt that way.

Thirty seconds later Nick Wade crossed the line. A lot has been said about Wade – particularly on Dyestat. His 800M win at the Class B meet in the spring elevated him to godly status. 5K can be tough on gods. Wade proved that his learning curve is quick. He just as easily could have been 8th. Instead, he measured the competition, relied on what he'd learned over his first season of XC, and decided to run the early parts of the race conservatively. He finished strong.

With the top three runners all juniors, it sets up an incredible match-up for '08.

Seniors Andrew Erwin, Frank May and Ben Mattocks were next across the line. Mattocks upheld Sharon's tradition of garnering a long-shot All-Hock placement.   Mansfield's Kevin Meagher grabbed the last All-Hock spot.

In eighth, the first sophomore across the line was Patrick McGowan. McGowan has burst on the scene, not even a participant in last years' varsity meet.

The top 12 rounded out thusly:

Senior Greg Payne – a top runner all year – excellence expected

Junior Chris Letourneau – junior – stepped up to the plate as Franklin's #3

Mansfield freshman Shayne Collins – if he had any other last name we'd be in shock that a freshman would place that high

Tom O'Brien – King Philip – knocked off some runners that beat him during the season

After the dust settled Coach Collins let me know that her secret was the sitting out of Mike Bolea (12 th last year – Hock's #9 at Bay States '07). So despite the absence of Mansfield's usual #3 runner, they were still able to grab the title. Take nothing away from Franklin! I thought they could be bested by 30 points. After the first three runners for each team they were winning 16-19. After 4 runners Collins put them ahead 30-31. The icing on the cake was sophomore Matt Hernon. He needed only to beat Franklin's 5 th runner. Hernon grabbed 17 th overall. Senior Andy Childs ran his heart out at 26 th , securing the second place for Franklin.

Special kudos go to Mansfield's Joe Cole who was the second best frosh on the day placing 1 second behind Matt Hernon and just 17 seconds behind super-frosh Collins! Fast improving soph Max Nolan of NA placed 24 th , just 32 seconds from a top-12 finish.

Pat Sweeney sat in the lead truck and called out to me just before the start. After jibing him about being in the “retired coach's seat”, he then got to enjoy the best seat in the house. Watching thru the rear window he undoubtedly saw one of the best finishes in Hock history.  

Later, he explained how Moverman eventually worked his way to the front (as everyone expected). With a mile to go May had dropped back, Wade and Irwin battling him for 3 rd . It became a two-man war. For the last mile it was anyone's race. Each threw challenges, the other responding. Usually, if it is still a race by the stone house the final hill decides the meet. But the hill didn't separate them. They crested the rise together. Side by side they pushed the pace down the path. As they reached the corner the crowd started to roar. I had visions of a photo finish reminiscent of this year's Chicago Marathon.

Dacey didn't risk hold back. As soon as his feet hit the grass of the field, he edged into a lead he wouldn't relinquish.

If there is one drawback to this sport, it is the inability of the fans to see the drama unfolding. Had Sweeney still been coaching, he would have missed one of the best Hock races in recent history. Some days it doesn't pay to be a coach.