Race against Bush/Students for Kerry 5k Report

By George Ingham, September 26, 2004

“VICTORY.”  That was the only word Bert Jacoby had on his mind when he stepped on the starting line at the highly anticipated Race against Bush / Students for Kerry 5k race.  Out-dueling teammate George Ingham throughout the last kilometer, Jacoby was able to put away the race, and with it, criticism about his controversial training plans.  Jacoby’s own Team Blitz secured six out of the top six spots in the race.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to kill anyone,” Jacoby told Ingham over AOL Instant Messenger after the post-race meal.

The race went out much faster than expected.  After the race organizers separated the field into Team Blitz and Not-Team Blitz, you could see fire in the eyes of all competitors.  Designated dark horse Brian Doherty toed the line, standing slightly behind Jacoby, and next to pre-race favorite Trevor Cable.  Cable, anticipated to be one of the fastest Team Blitz members this season, declined to comment before the race.

Jacoby took the lead from the gun.  With Ingham at his side, and Doherty on his heels, Cable next to Doherty, and Benjamin Beiter hanging on for dear life, Jacoby got set with pace and began preparing for any surges by his teammates or possible rivals.

“Is there anyone with us that shouldn’t be with us?” Jacoby asked as the pack hit 600 meters.

“Just Beiter,” returned Ingham.  The group concurred, including Beiter.  Ingham later apologized for this comment, giving credit to Beiter, who owned Ingham throughout their respective high school careers and their freshman year of college, and is probably just out of shape.

At the one mile mark the pack knew the race had gone out fast at 5:17 first mile.  This was exactly what Jacoby wanted.  Knowing that designated dark horse Brian Doherty had not run in the past six days, and Cable enjoyed faster finishes, Jacoby was licking his lips.

After Doherty and Cable had dropped off, Ingham fought valiantly with Jacoby over the next two miles, leading for a while until the last kilometer where Jacoby overcame a wrong turn to take the win in 15:34. Ingham placed second in 15:38, followed by Cable, and then Doherty.  Beiter and elected official Ryan Stevens raced down the final straight for fifth place honors, with Stevens outkicking Beiter by just inches.

I don’t have anything else to say, so the article is over now.