Logan’s day

COURT WILLS / News Virginian
Published: October 24, 2007

An encouraging shadow.

A familiar shadow.

A shadow that always lingered ahead of Luray's Jenny Logan during a competitive Shenandoah District race - the almighty powerful Mariah Hagadone's.

But on Wednesday, the stakes were different, there was no in-the-flesh automatic Hagadone leading the pack for Buffalo Gap.

Only just an imaginary one for Logan.

"In that first mile when everyone was standing right on top of me, I knew that Mariah wouldn't let that happen. I knew that Mariah would be able to pull through and that's when I kicked it into high gear," Logan said. "I guess to this day I always think of her as in front of me. I had her with me today."

And under an overcast sky Logan started to fly and won her first Shenandoah District title.

One of the main reasons Logan joined the cross country team was to get better at basketball.

"I think when she and Mariah ran together, it was always a happy shadow for Jenny. She just idolized her," said Julie Logan, Jenny's mother. "She always knew she was deserving of it."

But with that shadow gone, mother Logan can only beam with delight when she saw that little determined Bulldog creating her own shadow with the nearest person more than 50 yards away.

"I think that she's just that much more determined because she's not long and lean, she's just this little basketball player that loves to run cross country," said Julie Logan.

"People say you don't have to have competition, but that's when you have to think of yourself as your own competition and push," Logan said.

On Wednesday, Logan beat her competition brezzing past the cannons that line the New Market Battlefield.

"I've always admired Jenny and her work ethic. She's the perfect person to receive this," said Buffalo Gap coach Mike Harmon, who coached Hagadone. "As a runner it's always good to have someone to look up to and finally get your chance to have the sun shine on you. She's done a good job of biding her time."

The runner who had missed her first three races to tendonitis had achieved the ultimate goal.

"It's exciting to see her excel. She's a fun runner that is dedicated to her team," said Luray coach Tara Hoffman.

Amelia Coltrane, Wilson Memorial girls cross country coach and Logan's cousin, could only say one thing.

"Today was her race."

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