The following poetic concoction takes me back to 1997, where I had a chance to watch one of my fellow trackmates and friend compete for the Section Championship at a high school in Minnesota. I was an official and had an opportunity to watch her make it to the state track and field competition for the first time in two years, an achievement that included a storied competition of how she got there. This one’s for her with many thanks for her work and dedication in the sport:
The last time, the last journey
Ten years in the making
Tens of thousands in the waiting
As I enter the ring
With the disc and the shoes
With one more throw to go.
.
The first time, the first journey
Tall and scrawny
Young and inexperienced
The coach sees my long arms
The coach sees my first throw
The coach sees my will to win.
.
During this time, during this journey
Pumping it up
Running the sprints
The coach pushes me to limits
The coach teaches me the skills
The coach toughens me up.
.
As I grow up, on this journey
The scars of my past
The hurt, the pain
All confronted
All to terms
All to be put in the past.
.
As I begin my last throw
On my last journey
My rivals watch
My friends jeer me on
My family watches
As I enter the back half.
.
One of my rivals is an official.
We clashed during practice
We helped each other in practice
He has since moved on
But he was a source of motivation.
.
As I start swinging the disc
For the very last time
The thoughts of a championship
The thoughts of failure
The thoughts of toil and tears
And the thoughts of trials and triumph
All came to a head.
.
The sprint, the pivot
The turn of the arm
The hunger for the title
Came out with a roar!
As the disc was released
And it went sailing.
.
I did not see where it landed
I did not see if I was out or in.
I did know my rival saw the throw
And saw me stay in bounds.
.
With the sound of “Mark it,”
I knew it was in.
Was it enough?
Was it the longest?
Would I win it all?
I just didn’t know.
.
120 feet and three inches!
I jumped for joy!
I bursted into tears!
I made it to the top!
But drowning in a sea of jeers.
.
My rival said “Congratulations, you deserve it!”
It took me this long
It took all the hard work
It took all the energy
It got me to the top.
.
He was the first to congratulate me,
Followed by my coach,
Followed by my friends
Followed by my family
Followed by the newspapers.
.
I remember that last throw
I remember how far it went
I remember how far I’ve come
I remember the sweetest victory
I remember how it ended my journey.
.
Looking back at it today
I came a long way.
How I could relive this day
That is far, far away.
I can remember the last throw
And it made me a champion.
.
.
THE FLENSBURG FILES 