The story of  the Shroder High girls track team in Cincinnati is as good as it gets in sports. The girls train and practice in a nearby parking lot, because the school does not have a track. It’s something that seems insurmountable – except when you learn the girls’ 4-x-100 meter relay team won a state title earlier this month. Sports Illustrated has more on this wonderful story:

The Shroder High girls’ 4-x-100-meter relay team just won the Ohio Division II state championship. It burned up the 400 meters in 48.8 seconds, even with an imperfect exchange. “They truly earned that title,” said Warmack.

Well, yeah. They paid the price in shin splints. And general soreness, hips to hamstrings. Tracks are rubber. Rubber relents. Asphalt is somewhat less forgiving. “I hate running on that driveway,” said team member Toni Harkness. “But when I got on that track at state, it was a whole lot easier. I could just run.”

After dodging bus bumpers, an actual track felt like wind beneath her wings. I’m not sure what it says about a bunch of kids who catch a dream while running on a driveway. But it’s not bad. What’s even better, they’re not impressed. “We set out to win it,” said senior Domynique Shelby, “and that’s what we did.”

The girls each won a medal. I asked Shelby where she keeps hers.

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