Highland Park High School’s Ben Casey (No. 94), who graduated this past spring, competes in the CSL Championships along with teammate Brett Davidson and Glenbrook North’s Nate Whitfield. Photography by Joel Lerner
His Achilles injury has completely healed.
But the hurt — the emotional kind — still lingers a little.
Flashback to Nov. 8, 2014.
Ben Casey was all set to set the world on fire. The Highland Park High School distance ace, who thankfully graduated this past spring with both of his Achilles tendons completely intact, strolled up to the starting line at the IHSA Class 3A state cross country meet last fall full of confidence.
But, five seconds into the race, the unthinkable happened.
A fellow competitor accidentally spiked him.
“Right after the starter’s gun went off,” Casey said. “I had to run the whole race with a hole in my Achilles.
“Pretty devastating.”
Also … pretty amazing.
Kevin Caines, former head cross country and track coach with the Giants who now serves as an assistant, remains in wonderment of Casey’s gutty performance on the three-mile layout at Detweiller Park in Peoria.
“Try running with a puncture in your Achilles,” said Caines. “It wasn’t a broken femur or anything like that. But it was a trauma injury.
“To run, you really need to have your tendons functioning,” the coach added. “Every single step you take, you feel it.”
Caines wasn’t surprised that Casey stayed the course and finished the race.
“He’s a kid who puts his heart and soul into running,” Caines said. “He’s had more than his share of ups and downs. But he’s one of the most talented guys we’ve ever had (in our program).
Elite athletes can amaze.
Elite athletes figure out a way to push through the boundaries of pain — even the agony of a perforated tendon.
On that fateful day, Casey’s threshold for pain was profound. This was a case of mind over tatter.
A pierced Achilles tendon? Apparently, it’s not Ben Casey’s Achilles’ heel.
There’s no way to truly document this. But Casey’s 126th-place finish just might be the finest 126th-place effort ever performed at an IHSA state cross country meet. Somehow, he completed the three miles in 15 minutes, 31 seconds — a 5:10.2 pace.
“It really hurt in the first 400 (yards). And that’s where I lost ground,” said Casey. “And it hurt pretty badly in the last mile, and that’s when I kind of shut down. But I never even thought about giving up or stopping. Our coaches always tell us, ‘Be defiant.’
“I know it was a freak thing. Dumb luck,” he added. “It’s taken me a long time to get over it. But, I’ve had to move on.”
The tough part? Casey entered the state race in primo condition. He was in an Autobahn zone. No speed limits.
A week earlier at the Schaumburg Sectional, he took eighth (15:17) in a terrific field at the Busse Woods Forest Preserve, edging long-time nemesis Sam Oh of Stevenson High School by one second. And, a week before that, he claimed the fifth spot (16:10) in the Libertyville Regional at Adler Park.
“I had worked hard. I was trying to do everything right,” Casey said. “Beating Oh was a confidence booster. Finishing in the top 10 at state was my goal.”
To his credit, Casey proved to be a quick healer.
And having a dad like Timothy Casey didn’t hurt. The elder Casey is a foot and ankle surgeon.
“That’s been pretty helpful,” the runner said.
Casey wound up being sidelined for a month. He made it back for the outdoor track season — and experienced a few more “ups and downs.” On May 15, in the Central Suburban League North championships at Niles North, he raced to a first-place finish in the 1600 meters (4:23.43).
One week later at the Loyola Sectional, Casey put together a gallant effort only to miss qualifying to state. Heading to the bell lap of the 1600 meters, he was looking strong and leading the entire field. But on the final lap, his legs failed him.
“That was devastating for me to watch,” said HP distance teammate Brett Davidson, minutes after the race.
HP head coach Michael Sommers had a similar sentiment, after watching Casey finish just shy of the state-qualifying standard. He ran a 4:23.42. He needed a 4:22.04.
“He’s tough. He’s resilient,” said Sommers, after the sectional meet. “This is not the end of the world for him. It wasn’t his day. But he’s got a lot of races left.”
Casey, who is as fit as can be right now, is ready to head west. He’ll run cross country and track at Redlands University in southern California.
“With his work ethic, he’s far from reaching his potential,” says Caines, “especially if the fire in his gut keeps burning.”
Running at the next level has become a natural progression for HP’s elite distance runners. The list includes all-staters Ari Rothschild (Elon University), Jonah Hanig (Columbia University) and Angel Estrada (University of Illinois). Davidson, who will be a senior this fall, is next in line.
“Looking at their success makes me want to push myself and prove myself at the next level,” Casey said.
Notable: In addition to lifeguarding, Casey has been training with Hanig this summer. “I’ve learned a lot from him,” said Casey. “He’s telling me to be consistent with my training and take care of the little things. He’s definitely had a good influence on me.” … Running is a family thing in the Casey household. His two brothers — Matt and Jack — will be running for HPHS this fall. … Casey’s two other sports-related passions: pick-up basketball and paintball. “My uncle is big into paintball. It’s pretty exhilarating.” His dad? A former basketball player.
Casey (right) competes against Loyola Academy’s Christian Swenson in the 1600-meter run at the Loyola Academy Class 3A track sectional. Photography by Joel Lerner