Me and Eric Grubb
My freshman year was one of those years where, like many freshman, I had quite a transition to high school track. In those times I thought breaking five minutes for the mile was hollowed ground and never broke it until sophomore year. In fact, my best time that year was 5:08 in a two mile! Eric was also a freshman at Powell High School which is about 15 minutes from Karns. I do not remember racing Eric in cross country that year but I do remember the first time that I can recall racing him in track. During this time, the Knoxville area championship was called the KIL. The KIL in turn was divided into two preliminary competitions called the City and County Championships. Being out in West Knoxville, both of out teams participated in the County Championships which were held that year at Powell. Since the 3200 runners automatically made the KIL competition my coach placed me in the mile along with a few of my teammates.
Like I said before my mile time was not outstanding by any means. I believe my best time was about 5:12 or so at the time. Due to this amazing time I was placed in the last heat along with one of my teammates (Brandon Fyffe) and Eric. I thought that Eric was almost so good that there was no way for me to beat him. For goodness sake, he had run like 4:58! Well he did beat me that day in a race where I was third from last and Brandon was second to last. I didn't like Eric from that point until about the middle of the cross country season.
I believe that my teammate Addison Fritts knew Eric for a while before I did and was friends with him. Since I was around Addison a lot I decided that I just needed to become friends or the next four years were not going to be all that great. We ran against each other in some great races through high school including one that stands out in my mind. Up to this year in cross country I had never won a cross country race on any level. However, I had confidence that this would soon change in the fall. My first opportunity was at Melton Hill Dam against none other than Eric. After leaving a small field of less than five leaders before the mile the only two in contention were me and Eric. With the whole second half of the race being downhill we flew down the course with Eric drawing even with me with about a quarter of a mile to go. I kicked before a 180 degree turn and won by about 9 sec. However, I knew that our races for the rest of high school were going to be battles.
Eric had an amazing final spring of high school that saw him become all-state in the mile against an outstanding field. He was a double champion at regional meet in the mile and the 800 fending off a field including Blake Ketron, Zach Moss and Michael Danehy. He became one of the more decorated track runners in Powell High School history. He possesses a handful of school records that will not likely be challenged in the coming years. Eric will probably attend Hiwassee in the fall and will be successful under the tutelage of the Julian family. Whoever has him as an athlete after that will be more than happy to have such a hard working athlete and a great guy. Good luck Eric and best of luck. Call me and will catch a run this summer.
Next week my article will be on Andrew Shankles.
As always,
Chris Kane