Members: Breanne Moore, Sarah Roegge, Tayler Onion, Erin Ealy.
This is my beautiful niece Tayler Onion and her 4 x 200 relay team. They placed 2nd at the State Track Meet today for Class A teams! What a difference a year makes. Last year, we went to the state track meet excited for whatever would happen. The girls made it through to the finals....guaranteed at least 9th place and medals! Awesome, we thought. Guaranteed!
Never count your chickens before they're hatched my mother used to say and that's exactly the lesson we learned. The girls dropped the baton in a handoff and couldn't pick it up to finish...no place, no medals, no cheering crowds. Just tears, heads in their hands, and saying, "Well, what if?" The hurt was so deep, you just couldn't help hold back the tears for them. It was devastating.
This year they returned. Posted the fastest qualifying time from sectionals. Posted the fastest qualifying time going into the finals and then....one member fell during another event and banged up her knee. No...not again! This can't be happening. Somehow, she dusted herself off and was ready to go. They ran their fastest time ever...Broke their school record again! 1:45.71. JOY, HAPPINESS! To God be the glory. We learned the lesson to never take ANYTHING for granted, never count on anything. Enjoy the ride. Just enjoy the ride!
These have to be the biggest smiles of the day. The other three members also took first place in the 4x100 relay. Lightning struck twice ! Team finished 6th in state....Big grins, happy girls, and memories they'll never forget, because in the end, it wasn't about the medal really, it was about people, memories and never giving up and hoping for something better in the long run. A very Christian message!
