Terry’s Victory in 800 Meters Is Payback for Hard Work, Past Disappointments

If Mike Terry was looking for signs, some indications of how he’d run Saturday night at the State track and field finals, he didn’t have to look much farther than his own front yard.

His problem was deciding on which sign to focus: the large, paper banner on the garage door-- “Good Luck Michael, State 800 Meter Champion!” --or the large, gaping hole in his truck where, up until Friday night, there was an expensive car stereo.

Considering Terry’s bad luck in last year’s State meet--the El Modena runner started the 800-meter final as the favorite but finished second from last--he might’ve thrown up his arms in disgust and driven his tuneless truck off a pier. At least in his imagination.

But Terry didn’t let the theft rob him of his concentration. When it came time to line up for the 800 final, he was calm, ready and able.

His opponents didn’t have a chance.

With 100 meters to go, Terry blew by the field, winning his first State championship in three tries. His time of 1 minute 53.99 seconds was more than a second off his career best (1:52.95), but Terry didn’t care.

He had the title and, at the moment, it meant everything.

“This is definitely a big thing for me,” Terry said, beaming like a kid on Christmas. “It’s just a great, great feeling.”

A year earlier, his eighth place finish in the nine-man field had been the worst experience of his life. He ran in a daze. He felt as if someone had wrapped him like a mummy the moment the gun went off.

Saturday was different. He felt fresh. Invigorated. Strong.

Even though he nearly tripped in the first 200 meters, and again 200 later, he didn’t give in to the normal hustle and bustle of the pack. On the final turn, with just over 100 to go, he settled behind a wall of runners and made his decision.

Now.

He sprinted around the outside, finding a gear that left the others behind. Even with that power move--and the fact that he was running in the most physical race in his career--he felt strong and fluid on the final stretch. The title was his.

“It’s a great feeling,” Terry said. “The load off my shoulders . . . A three-year goal . . . Well, you know.”

Watching from the warm-up area, El Modena Coach Tom Weber cheered as Terry raced toward the finish. After coaching many of greatest 800 runners in county history, he now had a state champion to his credit.

“You could almost see his eyes light up on that last turn,” Weber said, enjoying the mental replay.

Terry is not the fastest in Vanguard lore. Dave Kingsland ran 1:49.4 in 1977, and Ruben Esparza had gone 1:52.66 in 1982. But neither of those runners won a state title, and Weber took it somewhat personally.

“This is God’s payback,” Weber said. “Kingsland runs 1:49 and gets second . . . Mike goes 1:56 and wins. I love it.”

The feeling was mutual for Terry. He said the victory meant everything to him, but he couldn’t have done it without Weber, who spent extra hours working with Terry, after practice and on weekends.

“He said he’s spent more time coaching me than any of the other half-milers he’s had in the past,” Terry said.

It paid off. Although often described as the most talented half-miler in school history, Terry responded this year with an increased intensity, in practice and competition. Instead of cruising through league dual meets as if they were seaside strolls, he pushed himself here and there, experimenting with pace and tactics.

Still, the frustration of last year’s state meet stayed with him ever so slightly. When he went to bed Friday night, but couldn’t put the thoughts to rest.

He awoke with a good luck message on his pillow. And on his wall. And all around his house, thanks to his mom and girlfriend. The message was this: “You can do it, Mike!”

“It helps to know there are people behind you,” Terry said.

And better yet if you follow their signs.