Tommy O'Hanlon is a promising high school cross-country runner. When a devastating chain of events is set in motion, Tommy is suddenly forced to deal with the deaths of both his parents. Tommy quickly comes to terms with his mother's accidental death, but his father's mysterious demise, in Glacier National Park, haunts him for years.

When Tommy decides to transfer to a rival high school to put at least one part of his painful past behind him, his troubles are only compounded. Through his unfortunate acquaintance with Lee Carter, a fellow runner, Tommy manages to make some strong enemies who patiently await the right time to exact their revenge. With the help of a wily cross-country coach and an understanding girlfriend, Tommy begins to train physically and mentally for the state cross-country championships, with results that only serve to fuel the rage of Carter--and his powerful father.

When it seems that he has finally gotten his life back on track, Tommy and his brother Bill begin training for the Olympic Trials Marathon. Tommy is unexpectedly implicated in the theft and subsequent use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Will Tommy ever be able to overcome his tragic past?

Paul VI High School dominated boys' scholastic cross-country in South Jersey over a span of 20 years. From 1980 through 1999, Paul VI was voted the number one boys' cross-country team in South Jersey an unprecedented 15 times, including 11 straight seasons encompassing the years 1980 through 1990. Paul VI won 7 New Jersey State Championships in boys' cross-country over a 12-year period, within the toughest division in New Jersey-Parochial-A. The Paul VI Eagles also became the number one team in all of New Jersey 4 times by winning the prestigious Meet of Champions, the most titles won by any South Jersey high school. Jason DiJoseph, a 1989 Paul VI graduate and 3-time State Champion in cross-country, was named the Runner-of-the-Century by the Courier-Post newspaper in 1999. DiJoseph's coach, Mike Glavin, was voted the Coach-of-the-Century. From 1980 through 2006, Paul VI High School won 240 consecutive dual meets in boys' cross-country. This streak is the fourth longest high school winning streak in cross-country history. Jim Enright had the pleasure of coaching the Paul VI boys' cross-country team from 2003 through 2006.