<p><a href=“http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/highschool/03/30/westwood.distance/index.html?eref=si_highschool[/url]”>http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/highschool/03/30/westwood.distance/index.html?eref=si_highschool</a></p>
<p>Few specators at last fall’s Division 1 EMass boys’ cross country meet were surprised when Mark Amirault crossed the finish line in first place. During the previous three years, the Xaverian senior had established himself as the state’s premier distance runner and entered the race as the defending EMass and All-State champion. In fact, eyebrows would have been raised if Amirault hadn’t won. </p>
<p>But to Xaverian coach Bryan Dunn, the result was a miracle.</p>
<p>“It was the most impressive running performance I’ve ever seen,” says Dunn, who was an elite runner at Virginia’s William & Mary in the mid-1990s and has seen his share of great performances. “He could barely walk earlier in the week, but he put his talent and heart on display that day. He was digging as deep as he could.”</p>