Not IF. WHEN.
Tyler’s our 6′ 2″ long-legged, hurdle clearing machine. And he’s just two races from achieving a major goal for himself – qualifying to compete in the 2008 State Track Meet.
Tyler’s been running track since the 7th grade. Tried cross-country, sprints and even a few relay races, but God blessed him with extra long legs built to step right over things like hurdles. And so, like a wobbly baby giraffe learning to walk, we’ve watched Tyler learn to control his gangly legs and jump over one hurdle after another.
It hasn’t been easy. He’s taken some nasty spills and finished the majority of his high school career at the back of the pack. But he’s there every week – competing. And he’s always believed that he’ll get his Varsity letter and run in the State Meet. He’s said so all season – and until just a few weeks ago, I just nodded in parental support. But you know what? He’s going to do it.
He’s consistently dropped 1-2 seconds off his time each week and last week – he crossed the finish line in his heat of the 300m IH hurdles before the next guy was over the final hurdle. Magic. And the confidence booster he needed going into this week’s trial.
Plus, he believes. He believes in his soul that he’s going to run at State this year. And I believe.
So tonight as I was looking over the District Track Meet schedule, Tyler explained that if you make it to finals on Friday, you qualify for State.
So I said, “WHEN you make it to the finals on Friday, you qualify for State.”
He just looked at me like I had two heads and everything went back to normal.
