-Written by Peter Scamardo
Photos submitted by Abigail Black
For many athletes, nay, kids growing up, picking a sport to play can sometimes be a difficult task. One has to decide which sport they would be best in, if they wish to compete at all. But for others they have put years of practice in in order to perform to the very best of their ability.
As is the case for Coram Deo Academy eighth grader Abigail Black. Black, who competes in the 400m, 800m and 4x100m relay for Coram Deo, has been running since she was eight years old. Now 14 years old, she looks to increase her mileage even more as she enters into cross country.
"I feel very prepared and I am super excited to start something new," Black said when asked how prepared she feels for cross country season. "This is my first cross country season, which should be super fun and completely different from track. I am really looking to being able to run and compete."
Black may have been born to run but she was not always a runner. Her first real sport was playing soccer at the YMCA growing up. But one day her dad met a track & field coach from Coram Deo during a flag football match. He was the one who convinced Black to start training in track & field.
Within three weeks she had qualified for the state meet in both the 4x100m and 800m. Ever since then she has not looked back, and her family has made sure she kept up her training.
"I have a super competitive family," Black said. "When we were little my parents would set up staggered marks in the backyard and we would run sprints."
Her hard work has paid off as this summer she got to travel to Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti, Michigan for the AAU Junior Olympics. There she competed in the Girls 14 year olds 1500m race. And though she did not medal, Black said it was a great experience getting to travel to Michigan and Ohio where she could compete and then visit her relatives.
Black said getting to travel would be the most exciting thing about running professionally for track & field.
But as is the case with many student athletes growing up, Black has been forced to choose between being a dual sport athlete or focusing entirely on one game. For Black the choice came easy. An injury to her hip while playing soccer left her unable to compete for eight months, much to the chagrin of her coaches.
This past summer, having recovered from her injury, Black did a multitude of things in order to get back into shape. More so than just running. Everything from core strengthening, riding a bike and swimming, to visiting chiropractors and physical therapists. But the time she has committed to getting herself fit has left Black with no doubt that track & field, and now cross country, is her sport.
"After this injury I learned that you have to love your sport to continue in it," Black said. "Every second I get to be running I am beyond grateful because you never know when you may not be able to run again. That has been a good lesson for me."