One final run with his father

Mitchell's Jeff Masterson will try to defend last year's Class 3A state title in the 3,200-meter run.

By BOB PUTNAM
Published May 6, 2005

Mitchell's Jeff Masterson took it slowly, scanning the hollering crowd from left to right, section by section, trying to find the face he needed to see.

He looked fresh, grinning as he stood on the podium. The other runners, beaten and forgotten, shuffled their feet and waited. Moments later, a track official placed a gold medal around Masterson's neck.

But Masterson wasn't thinking about that because he had found his brother Tim.

The two locked eyes.

Jeff nodded. Tim nodded back.

In that flickering exchange was merely everything important, every truth about caring and loss and letting go.

It was then that Masterson understood, maybe for the first time: It's over. For on May7, 2004, Masterson, then a junior, didn't just dominate the 3,200-meter race at the Class 3A state meet or merely elevate the measure of his greatness with his first state title.

By crossing the finish line in a time of 9 minutes, 20.60 seconds, Masterson also released himself from the emotionally exhausting task of winning for his father, George, who passed away at age 48 on Oct.1, 2003 after a long bout with cancer.

The quest had a touch of the macabre, but for someone who is at his most eloquent on the track, it made sense.

George and Jeff Masterson were a fixture on the Pasco County running scene. At every race and practice, father and son trained, prepared and plotted every step of his career, including winning a state title.

"It's everything I've wanted, you know?" Jeff said after winning last season. "I've been here before and I've worked hard and every time ... I've fallen short every time. And every time my dad's helped me through it.

"I got on the line and I was like, "I'm going to give it everything I have, and if I'm meant to win, my dad and God are going to help me win this."'

Jeff's burden became a little lighter. He walked off the track last season with a big piece of his life back.

But as cross country started in the fall, there were more questions. Would the time that elapsed allow him to be mended? Or would running be an excruciating, heartbreaking effort?

After all, there were one-year anniversaries Masterson had to endure. There were tough times, such as the flrunners.com and the district meets.

Through it all, Masterson persevered. He won the Zak Lucas Invitational for the second year in a row and reclaimed the Sunshine Athletic Conference title he won as a sophomore. This season also marked his third straight top-10 finish at state in cross country.

But will that be enough to help him defend his 3,200 title?

"I don't really want to comment on that," coach Jacki Wachtel said. "You'll have to ask Jeff about that."

Repeated calls to Masterson's home this week were not returned.

Masterson's season and career have been a roller coaster. After all, his most painful memories are always tied to his greatest athletic achievements.

Everything boiled over last month when Masterson got into a heated exchange with Wachtel at the Suncoast Relays. He turned in his uniform and took a temporary leave of absence, due in large part to the lingering effects of his father's death.

He did not compete at the Sunshine Athletic Conference meet, preventing him from winning his fourth straight 3,200 title. It was uncertain whether he was going to return at all.

Masterson eventually reconciled with his coach and was allowed back on the team. But he has struggled to regain last season's form, placing third at the district meet and fourth at regionals.

Some of his toughest competition has come from his own county. Land O'Lakes' Steven Bell won the district title and finished third at regionals.

Masterson's quest to become the first Pasco County boys runner to win two state 3,200 titles is just one of many story lines at the Class 3A state meet, held today in Coral Springs.

Another is how well Wesley Chapel's girls will do. The Wildcats won their first region title last week and are sending a strong contingent to the state meet. But any hopes of winning a team title are basically eliminated because they are in the same classification as perennial power Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas.

Instead, Wesley Chapel will focus on trying to medal and set more school records. The same can be said of the boys program, which finished runnerup at last week's region meet.

[Last modified May 6, 2005, 00:38:16]