Star-Journbal Editor
After running neck-and-neck with some of the nation's best 13- and 14-year-old 800-meter runners, you'd think Nathan Vogel would be ready for a little rest.
Little rest was what he got.
Just a few days after his fourth-place finish Aug. 5 at the Hershey's Track and Field Games North American Final, Vogel was running again.
Practice began Monday for Vogel and the other runners on the Hillsboro High School cross-country team.
For Vogel, the national meet marked the end of a long track season, and the end of a painful journey of recovery after a serious arm injury.
Both ended happily.
"I think I've proved what I needed to prove," he said.
Vogel placed fourth in the 800 meters with a time of 2:14.62, just two-tenths of a second behind the third-place finisher (2:14.50).
Vogel had qualified for nationals by winning the 800-meter run at the state meet June 21 in Emporia.
His time (2:12) was the fastest in a vast region, including Nebraska, Colorado, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, and the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
While the winner at nationals was clearly best that day (2:05.75), family photos of the race show Vogel battling the eventual second and third place winners all the way to the finish.
"I think I could have done better, but it went pretty good," Vogel said. "I wanted to stay in the top three or four in the whole race and see what I could pull out in the end."
While Vogel had been working hard in training, it was his first real all-out race in more than a month.
What he discovered, albeit too late, was that he was in good enough shape to push the pace earlier in the race, and thereby perhaps avoiding a sprint against long-legged runners at the end, he said.
But having lots of energy in his tank at the end of 800 meters was a good sign for Vogel, who'll be running three-mile races for the first time during cross-country season.
Even more encouraging news came during Vogel's physical exam the day before he left for Hershey, Penn.
For almost a year after being injured in a middle school football game last fall, Vogel had been battling to regain the use of his left wrist, hand, and badly broken arm.
But after his last exam, Vogel's hand surgeon released him from any further therapy.
"There wasn't much of a ceremony, other than a hug and some tears from Polly, the therapist," said Vogel's father, Brad.
"We see the doctor again in mid-October just to see how things develop. In the meantime, he's to continue stretching and splinting."
Dad, mom, Bev, and older brother, David, were there to watch him run at the national meet, and to share in his victory over his injury.
Part of the hoopla at the Hershey's meet was an exhibition mile race run by professional athletes, with several of them breaking four minutes.
And, Vogel and the five other athletes from Kansas had their picture taken with former Olympian Carl Lewis.
"That was pretty cool, even though we really didn't get to talk to him," Vogel said. "I've got that picture up on my computer."
After a fourth-place finish and a clean bill of health, don't be surprised to see Vogel get off to a fast start on the cross-country trails.
"I think it will be pretty fun," said Vogel, who was forced to retire from football and take up a new fall sport.
"There are a lot of cool people on our team, and it will be nice to train with others. My goal is to keep up my grades and work hard."
Boys 13-14 800-Meter Run
1. Julian Patchett, Ajax, Ill. 2:05.75; 2. Arnaud Kpachavi, Loma Mar, Calif., 2:12.72; 3. Ronelle McGraw, Seattle, Wash., 2:14.50; 4. Nathan Vogel, Hillsboro, 2:14.62; 5. Justin-Glenn House, Bowling Green, Ky., 2:15.06; 6. Michael Jacobs, Fredericton, Conn., 2:15.88; 7. Jeremie Labbe, (unknown), 2:19.71; 8. Albert Gladney, Shreveport, La., 2:31.29.
