By Jim Hague
The weather last Thursday was beyond oppressive, just downright nasty. The local temperature soared into triple digits, the hottest June 9 ever recorded. The humidity was almost as stifling as the temperature. It was a day to sit in front of an air conditioner and pray for some sort of relief, not compete in the state’s premier track and field meet.
But there was nothing that was going to stop Lyndhurst’s Patrick Rono, set to compete in the final track meet of his high school career, the NJSIAA Meet of Champions at Old Bridge High School.
Rono paid no attention to the thermometer or the conditions. He was determined to make history, trying to win both the 800-meter and 1,600-meter run championships.
When most athletes head to the M of C, they try to concentrate on just one event. After all, only seven previous athletes had ever captured two gold medals at the storied championship event.
Now, with the temperature hovering near 100, there was no way that Rono was going to pull a double. Or was there?
To read the full story, see this week’s issue of The Observer.
