How Can 1/100th of a Second Matter?

The Race.

The Race for the State Title.

The 4 x 400m Relay Teams.

How Fast Can They Run?

How Close Can They Finish?

Ben and The Boys 

Took 1st in State ...

by 1/100th of a Second.

It Matters.

The Boys Ran an AMAZING Race.

(Ben and Gibb both set Personal Records.)

Braden Leaned.

The Boys Won.

Yes.  

1/100th of a Second CAN Matter.

For those of you that like details and/or know the defining moments (and stresses) of a track meet ...

The 4x400m Relay Finals are the very last race ... of the 3 day State Track Meet.  This is THE race to watch.  The adrenaline is pumping ... the stress levels on HIGH.  The relays bring about so much more stress than the individual races.

How will their hand-offs be?

Will they drop the baton?

(at least 6 batons were dropped over 

the course of the 3 day meet)

Will there be any pushing/shoving 

as they round the corners? 

(after they no longer have 

to stay in their own lanes)

On the last leg of this relay ...

in the last 150 yards meters of this race ...
(a long, long time ago, when I ran track,
the track was divided by "yards".)

4 of the umpires "threw a flag".

There had been a bit of pushing

as the boys rounded the last corner.

Who was at fault?

We all waited ... and waited ... and waited.

We had the picture that showed that

Braden was the first to cross the line,

but nothing was official.

The reader board was silent about our race.

The other 4x400 relay races were run.

The stadium started to clear out.

The other race participants were up

on the platforms, receiving their medals.

We waited ... and waited ... and waited ...

The announcer said,

"Will the Lynden coach please come to the tent?"

We sat in silence.

We knew that meant trouble.

We waited ... and waited ... and waited ...

Our boys went to the tent.

Our boys came out of the tent,

sorrow written all over their faces.

Ben sat on the ground in the infield,

and covered his face with his sweatshirt.

Papa and Mama were so sad for our boy.

45 minutes after the race,

rumors started to spread,

"No. They were NOT disqualified."

They were called to the platform.

The reader board announced the results.

Our boys WON!

They were 1st in State.

We hooted and hollered!

Then ... as we headed towards the Team Tent

to congratulate the boys, the coach approached.

"It isn't over yet."

"What?!?!"

There were appeals.

There were upset coaches.

We waited ... and waited ... and waited some more.

2 Hours after the race,

1 1/2 Hours after the Meet was Over,

the verdict came in.

YES!!!  

Our boys were innocent of any wrongdoing;

our boys could keep their medals;

we could all start the 150 mile drive home.

Whew!!!

What a CRAZY end to the State Track Meet!