RallyNorth.net

Tue, Feb 09, 2010 05:30 PM @ North Andover

Team	Final
North Reading	43
North Andover	74

Knights' Cha makes a statement

Tuesday, February, 09 By Michael Muldoon
Staff writer

ROXBURY — Byung Cha couldn't fathom being on the same level as Kyle LeBlanc.

Kyle LeBlanc the three-sport whiz. Kyle LeBlanc, who placed third in the 55 meters at New Englands last year. Kyle LeBlanc who held a share of the Cape Ann League 55-meter record.

Even when the North Andover quad-captain upset the Newburyport speedster in their dual meet matchup, Cha looked at it as a fluke,

That was no fluke.

Cha proved that yesterday by winning a thrilling showdown, 6.56-6.57, yesterday at the Cape Ann League meet. That sliced .07 seconds off the meet mark held by LeBlanc and two others.

Cha later anchored the winning relay to lead the unbeaten Scarlet Knights (10-0) to the CAL Open title over Newburyport, 74-61.

"I was speechless,'' said Cha. "Kyle had beat me three years straight. But the PR (personal record) was the biggest. I thought he'd pass me.''

As a matter of fact, Cha thought LeBlanc did pass him.

When did you find out you won?

"When I was on the victory stand!,'' he said. "It was quite a moment.''

Cha's stirring relay leg to win the 4x200 was impressive as well.

"I called it right before the race,'' said Mike Ely, who ran the first leg on the relay. "That he'd be down about 20 feet and win it."

The 5-foot-6 Cha said, "I just kept running. I was dying.''

Making up a few yards is nothing. Cha has had to travel nearly 6,800 miles from his former home.

"We came from South Korea six year ago,'' he said.

When asked if he ever wished he remained in his native country, he said, "No. No. It was hard, but I was catching up.  I just had to catch up.''

Just like yesterday, he has a propensity for catching up against long odds.

 Now he's being recruiting by UMass Lowell and Newbury College. He also overcome the pain and frustration from last winter, when he blew out his hamstring.

But he rebounded in the spring to run an 11.23 100 meters.

Yesteday's time, though, was far more impressive. In the Bay State, only Andover's Christopher McConnell (6.43) has a faster time this season.

 Knights get the call and the title

 Leading by four, the Scarlet Knights knew they had Newburyport right where they wanted the Clippers.

They were 1-2 in the finale, the 4x400, when disaster nearly struck. David Foote and a Newburyport runner got tangled up. If the Knights were disqualified, that would have meant no points and no title.

"That would have been terrible,'' said relayer Ross Marchand.

"When I saw the flag, I bolted across the track,'' said North Andover's second-year coach Josh Herzog. "We got lucky.''

Yes, it was the Clippers who were DQ'ed.

Soon after, the jubilant Knights were celebrating.

Towering shotputter Dylan Lurvey, all 6-foot-7 of him, led a wild chant: "What time is it?!"

The mosh-pitting Knights responded in unison: "Knight time!''

Herzog said, "I love this team. They get along well. They know how to have fun. But when push comes to shove, they are working hard and competitive.