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Coaches and players always are striving to reach new heights.

Wednesday afternoon I reached a new height.

After driving up mountains for more than an hour and then hiking a near vertical 300 yards I stood atop the tallest peak in the eastern United States, gasping for air like I had just run 10 suicides.

It was worth the effort.

I was standing atop Mount Mitchell, 6,684 feet above sea level. I was in the clouds, literally. There wasn’t much to see on this misty and overcast afternoon, yet the view was amazing.

The mountain is named for Dr. Elisha Mitchell, who died on the mountain in 1857 while attempting to verify his previous measurements that the peak on the Black Mountain was, indeed, the highest along the eastern seaboard. He was correct.

Mitchell’s body was reburied atop Mount Mitchell in 1859. It’s entombed in rocks just below the viewing platform. In 1915, Mount Mitchell became North Carolina’s first state park.

The 300-yard descent from the peak along the brick path was much easier, although there was a bit of worry that a slight misstep could send one rolling to the bottom.

It was quite an experience.

You should always reach for new heights with a peak performance both on and off the field or court.

Now, back to the flatlands of Bladen County.

FRIDAY’S PICK TO CLICK

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani puts on a show for the fans in Atlanta. The two-way superstar strikes out 10 and gives up 3 runs in 7 innings.

THURSDAY’S PICK: Top-ranked Minjee Lee opens with a 4-under 67 to be among the top 10 after the first round of the Amundi Evian Championship in France. RESULTS: Lee shot 1-under 70 and is tied for 39th, which is 7 shots behind first-round leader Ayaka Furue.

• GOLF: Amundi Evian Championship. Second round play from the LPGA’s fifth major of the season. 9:30 a.m., GOLF

• GOLF: PGA Senior British Open Championship. 7 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., GOLF

• CFL: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Edmonton Eskimos. If you haven’t given the CFL game a chance, you should. It’s a different game. 9 p.m., ESPN2.

Sonny Jones can be reached at wibbyj@gmail.com.

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