Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 24, 1994 TAG: 9411290025
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: CHRIS KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FLOYD LENGTH: Medium
Those two pale in comparison to Floyd County High School cross country runners Ben Cooke and Jason Morisco. For Cooke running is a labor of love, for Morisco it is just labor.
``It's like this is his play and its my work,'' said Morisco.
Regardless of how differently they feel about running there is no denying the success they have enjoyed as individuals and as part of the team. The duo, led by Cooke, finished 1-2 in the Three Rivers District championship meet and led the Buffaloes to the team title.
Morisco turned the tables in the Group A Region C meet as he shaved two minutes off his time from the previous week to capture the individual title, while Cooke finished third to help lead the Buffaloes to a second-place team finish.
Floyd County also finished second in the state meet on the strength of Cooke's second-place finish while Morisco crossed the line in eighth place.
Had it not been for a dose of peer pressure the two may never have been united. Prior to last season Floyd County was short on runners when Cooke remembered running in a road race with Morisco, who at the time had never run cross country.
``I remembered [the road race] and knew we had to have him,'' said Cooke, a junior. ``We [the other runners] all got him.''
``I got pressured into it,''said Morisco. ``He kept calling over the summer telling me to run.''
Though he has been successful on the course, Morisco's running accomplishments don't provide him with off-track gratification.
``There was a little bit of happiness,'' said Morisco of the regional meet. ``I guess it was cool.''
``I was in awe,'' said Floyd coach Kathy Wilson, of Morisco's performance at the regional competition. ``He has a lot of talent and he pushed it that day. It was neat to see.''
Cooke on the other hand pushes himself every time he runs.
``I was happy to come in second [at the state meet], but I'm already thinking about doing better next year,'' Cooke said. ``If I win state I want my time to be as good as the AAA guys. I want to be the best.''
``Ben has always wanted to do it, and really enjoys it,'' Wilson said.
Cooke hopes to continue running in college while Morisco harbors no such ambitions.
``If it's the only way I can go to school I guess I will,'' said Morisco. ``I enjoy being with the team but I don't really like the running part.''
As one might imagine the two do not use the same motivational techniques to prepare for their 5 kilometer (3.1 miles) races.
``I tell myself all the way through I need to finish first,'' said Cooke.
Morisco observes that ``sometimes I feel like quitting but I know everybody else would be mad at me. And I would have to walk back to the school.''
In addition to their cross country, the pair has also enjoyed success running track. At last year's state track meet Cooke finished second in the 3,200 meters and broke the state record.
``We both broke the old record but he broke it better,'' said Cooke of his competitor, who won the race by four seconds.
While the two approach the sport with totally different mentalities the results have been undisputable.
``They have done very well,'' Wilson said.
by CNB