Later today my wife and I will make the trip from Santa Clarita to Torrance to watch a track meet. It’s not atypical for us. Usually, our sons are competing. Both were injured prior to Foothill League Prelims this year, so that’s not the case today. Today we’re headed to the CIF Southern Section Division 1 Finals to watch others we consider family, Mya Davis, and a young man I’ve not featured on this photoblog before, Soloman Strader.

One of the best things to happen to our family is the Santa Clarita Storm Track Club. So many great lessons have been learned and so many wonderful friendships have been made. My wife, Rocky, has coached some of these exceptional athletes through the formative years of their running lives and Isaiah has run on teams with Mya and Solomon since he was very young. The fact they now compete at a rival high school has never stood in the way of how they have supported each other.

Today, Solomon will take the next step in earning his way back to the California State Track & Field Championships. Last year he advanced to the State finals in both the 200M & 400M but a coaching error kept him from competing in either. He handled it with grace and composure. I’m proud to know this exceptional young man, and looking forward to cheering him on as he takes those next steps later today!

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