Back to the Starting Line

Pole Green Park felt familiar. Just a year ago, TJ ran that same grassy path as a high school senior. Back then, he was one of the oldest on the line, full of confidence and experience. Fast forward to this weekend: same stretches of grass and turns I've walked as a spectator before, but this weekend, everything felt different. 

This time, TJ wore his college jersey. He lined up as a freshman, one of the youngest in the field. And while the course may have been steady and predictable, what wasn't was the shift in perspective. He is no longer the big fish in the high school pond. Now he is stepping into the deeper waters of college athletics. And as his mom, I felt every ounce of that weight and possibility with him. 

And what a stage it was. TJ raced against teams from all three divisions, including powerhouse programs like UVA. Last fall, I watched Gary Martin win the ACC championship on TV, and the fan-girl in me would have loved to see him in person. Maybe it was just as well that he wasn’t racing, because all my focus stayed on TJ, right where it belonged. Still, to picture my son standing on the same line as athletes of that caliber was surreal. Equal parts intimidating and inspiring. And yes, my chest was tight watching him. 

And he did it. He held his own. TJ finished in 20:42.1, placing 97th overall, 28th among Division III runners, 10th among Division III freshmen, and 1st for CNU freshmen. More importantly, he was CNU’s 7th man, just behind upperclassmen Kevin Farnsworth and Tom Foti. As a team, the Captains finished seventh overall and were the top Division III program in the race. And just like that, its offical. TJ competed in his first collegiate meet. He is on the record as an NCAA athlete. How cool is that? 

Now, here's something I didn't realize until I became a cross country mom: that 7th runner can really matter. Only the top five officially score, but the 6th and 7th can change everything. If your 7th runner finishes ahead of another team’s 5th, you raise their score and strengthen your own team. That’s a big deal, especially for a freshman still finding his place.

That is what this weekend was about. Not winning. Not even setting personal records. It was about showing up, finding his rythm, and learning how to compete at this level. He belongs here. He matters on this team. His contribution-- even as the 7th runner-- helps the team succeed. He is a part of the engine that brings in wins, maybe even championships. 

For TJ, it was both a return and a beginning. A familiar park, a familiar course, but the start of an entirely new chapter for this NCAA college athlete. 

...And I cannot wait to see what comes next-- for him, for his teammates, for this season that has just begun.