Hanna's Ben Comen Keeps Going
Ben (second from left) hands President Bush a Hanna sweatshirt. |
Comen is a normal runner to each and every spectator until the race comes close to an end. Comen has Cerebral Palsy and Sports Illustrated calls him "the slowest cross-country runner in the world."
Being the slowest runner does not decrease the size of Comen's heart or his diligence at practice and in meets.
Ben started to run after his mother Joan called Coach Rick Parker at Hanna to see if he and his twin brother Alex could run on the team. "She told me about his condition (Cerebral Palsy) and I told her (Joan) that my wife and I would take care of him and to bring him on," said Parker. Both, Alex and Ben started to run in the eighth grade. The twins are currently juniors at Hanna.
Parker's philosophy is to give each runner the same treatment, fast or slow. "All we expect from our runners is that they try to get better every year that they are in the program," Parker said.
Comen is helping the team become more united and showing what it takes to be a cross-country runner. "It makes me proud (as a coach) to see my runners encouraging each other," said Parker. "At Hanna we have a philosophy that we have one combined cross-country team instead of a separate boy's team and a separate girl's team."
Attitude is what makes a team and individual the best they can be. Parker believes, "Without a doubt, Ben's attitude makes a difference on our team. He doesn't complain about practices and he always tries his hardest in every race."
Hanna's Comen To Be Featured On C.B.S. Sports Arete Awards Show Sunday
Ben (second from left) hands President Bush a Hanna sweatshirt. |
T.L. Hanna's Ben Comen will be featured on the C.B.S. Sports Arete Awards Show which will be aired this Sunday afternoon from 3-4 p.m. (ET). on C.B.S.
Comen steps to the line as any cross-country runner does every week during the season. In 2003 Comen was interviewed for Sports Illustrated, met the United States President on Nov. 11 and also goes to the school where "Radio" attended.
Comen is a normal runner to each and every spectator until the race comes close to an end. Comen has Cerebral Palsy and Sports Illustrated calls him "the slowest cross-country runner in the world."
Being the slowest runner does not decrease the size of Comen's heart or his diligence at practice and in meets.
Ben started to run after his mother Joan called Coach Rick Parker at Hanna to see if he and his twin brother Alex could run on the team. "She told me about his condition (Cerebral Palsy) and I told her (Joan) that my wife and I would take care of him and to bring him on," said Parker. Both, Alex and Ben started to run in the eighth grade. The twins are currently juniors at Hanna.
Parker's philosophy is to give each runner the same treatment, fast or slow. "All we expect from our runners is that they try to get better every year that they are in the program," Parker said.
Comen is helping the team become more united and showing what it takes to be a cross-country runner. "It makes me proud (as a coach) to see my runners encouraging each other," said Parker. "At Hanna we have a philosophy that we have one combined cross-country team instead of a separate boy's team and a separate girl's team."
Attitude is what makes a team and individual the best they can be. Parker believes, "Without a doubt, Ben's attitude makes a difference on our team. He doesn't complain about practices and he always tries his hardest in every race."