An Ambitious Runner and his Experienced Coach hope to make up for their pasts by winning a Division One Title but neither can forgive the other for an incident from years before.

SYNOPSIS:

Trent Riker had always dreamed of using his talent as a runner to escape his small hometown of Ticonderoga, NY and compete in the Olympics. However, he realized the only way to guarantee a necessary Division I scholarship was to win the New York State Championship but found strong competition from his rival Floyd Connors. Trent was so desperate to win he chose to cut the course during the race. It seemed that he had finally earned his coveted scholarship but Denver State scout Taylor Hammond had seen him cheat and labelled him with Questionable Character, ruining his chance of being recruited by a Division I program. In a feeble attempt to keep his dream alive, Trent chose to attend Division II Sonoran University. His senior year, Sonoran University is moved up to Division I, finally allowing Trent to live his dream for at least one year. However, the season opens with the team’s legendary Coach suffering a stroke forcing him out of his position. It seems the season is saved when the University hires a new Coach but Trent is horrified to learn that it is Taylor Hammond.

When the two finally meet face to face, Hammond is willing to bury the hatchet but Trent can’t forgive him for ruining his chance at becoming a Division I athlete. The young man’s stubborn attitude forces Hammond to take drastic measures and fuel a budding rivalry between Trent and the team’s Freshman star, Jeff Miller.

When it becomes apparent that not even Jeff can keep up with Trent. Hammond enters the team in the prestigious Paul Short Invitational but soon learns the team will compete against Denver State and Trent’s old rival, Floyd. The chance to defeat Floyd entices Trent too much for him to race tactically and is beat not only by Floyd but also by Jeff.

Trent blames the loss on how Hammond favored Jeff and starts a fight with his younger teammate. This infuriates Hammond and he is ultimately forced to kick Trent off the team, making Jeff the team’s number one runner. Without the team to keep him in check, Trent spends most of his time drinking while Jeff pushes himself past his breaking point and tries to conceal an injury from the rest of the team and Hammond. Trent refuses to attend the Conference Championship but is forced to go by one of his roommates. Jeff only makes his injury worse during the race and is ultimately forced to drop out. An athletic trainer’s examination reveals that Jeff has damaged a tendon and will not be able to compete for at least a year but seeing Jeff work so hard for the team makes him realize how selfish he’d been.

Trent resumes training on an abandoned road to improve his downhill running but is passed by Hammond on his way to work everyday. After seeing him a few days in a row, Hammond gets out of his car to speak to Trent. It is then revealed that Trent’s father would burn him with cigarettes whenever he disappointed him. Hammond agrees to meet with Trent in the mornings to continue working on his downhill running. After meeting for several sessions, the two come to respect each other and Hammond offers Trent his place back on the team.

With Trent back on the team, Sonoran University has a chance at finishing in the top three for Regionals and travels to Colorado. The race begins with Trent’s Rival Floyd taking the lead but Trent holds on and lets Floyd tire himself out. Knowing of Trent’s poor downhill running, Floyd speeds ahead near the end of the course but Trent just barely manages to cross the line ahead of him. The team is thrilled with Trent’s victory but heartbroken when they learn they came in Fourth and will not be advancing.Nonetheless, Hammond has never been so proud of a team and promises to continue coaching them. Just before the team leaves, Hammond tells Trent had run the best race he’d ever seen. Trent responds that he has a good Coach.