McFarland
Last Thursday night I went to see the prescreening of the
Disney movie McFarland.
If you are a runner, this is the perfect feel good movie to
watch.
Coach White seems to struggle with each of his coaching jobs
until he lands at McFarland High School. After getting fired as their assistant
football coach, he sees the kids in his class running and convinces the school’s
administration to let him start a cross country team. These are the same kids
that spend as much time working the fields picking produce as they spend in
school.
The year is 1987 and California holds their first cross
country high school state championship. The entire McFarland Cougar team
consisted of just 7 kids. They come from not having a cross country team to qualifying
for States by finishing 4th in their sectional championship in a
matter of months.
During this time Coach White learns much about the community of
McFarland and the people who call it their home. So much so that by the end of the
movie he turns down other offers to remain in McFarland.
As with most movies possibly the best moment comes in the
last moments of the movie. Danny their slowest team member has the race of his
life during the championship meet and helps them win the championship.
This is a definitely a movie that will appeal to runners everyone.
See you at the movies,
The Cool Down Runner
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