Science Hill High School

Lena Summers Benisch

Lena Summers didn't exactly dream of winning a state title in the pentathlon her whole life. In fact, winning apparently wasn't the inspiration for competing in the grueling series of events in a state meet.

"You got to miss two whole days of school," Summers said. "That was the motivation for entering."

Summers says it with conviction, but those who were around know Summers' primary motivation for most anything was the challenge.

"Lena was an absolute animal when it came to working," said former Science Hill track coach Bill McKinney. "Of course, she obviously had some God-given ability too, but she always worked extremely hard."

Summers debuted with a second-place finish in the pentathlon at the regional her junior year. A couple of weeks later she won the state title in the event.

"It was very surprising to win it," Summers said. "I loved every minute of it."

Summers' day job was soccer, which she went on to play at East Tennessee State University. During her time as a Hilltopper and Buccaneer, Summers played everywhere from keeper and sweeper to center midfielder and striker.

She was Science Hill's defensive MVP as a junior and team MVP as a senior.

"We looked forward to any game with (Sullivan) South or Dobyns-Bennett," she said. "We fought intensely in those games. In college, we had great rivalries with UNC Asheville and Radford. Beating those teams was always gratifying."

A favorite memory from high school involves a game the Lady Toppers lost -- eventually -- in Maryville. Night set in with the game tied at a field without lights.

"All of the parents drove their cars up so we could see," Summers said. "It did go to PKs (penalty kicks) in the headlights."

Summers is quick to credit running coach Roberta Kuziola and soccer coach Tony Farrace for assisting her maturation in high school.

"Coach Farrace took me under his wing in soccer," she said. "Roberta Kuziola, by far, was one of my most inspirational people. She'd suggest running track and say, 'Just try it! Just try it! Try the pentathlon. Why not?'"

Ernest Hill worked to improve her jumps and ETSU Hall of Famer Angie Barker helped her when she took up throwing. (Barker also helped Summers decide on a college -- and a sport. She had some offers in track and field and some for soccer.)

Summers had stress fractures in both legs during the spring of her senior year at Science Hill. Unable to run, she qualified for the state in the discus. Wasn't there pain involved in launching the discus on gimpy legs?

"Yeah, but I had to do something," Summers said. "I was going crazy."

Summers says she feels almost addicted to striving, a sort of inability to avoid challenging herself.

"I live for it," said Summers, who still plays rec-league soccer at her home in Golden, Colo. "I wasn't that talented, but I've always liked to work hard."