Dear Running: Goodbye Track I'll love You Forever And Always

Dillon Bedell is a senior at Lancaster High School. In this essay, Bedell shares his high school experience with the sport. He discusses his growth from early on and and how he developed and persevered through injuries. The Baylor University signee eventually won a state title in the 400m as a junior and even ran PRs indoors with a US No. 5 time and currently sits at US No. 2 with his 47.28.

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"Life was good...who woulda known that 
Meet of Champs would be our last meet as Tigers. This was supposed to be the year. We had goals 
and ambitions...all were snatched away in less than 72 hours...why did it have to be us? "

Dillon Bedell, Lancaster senior

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Dear high school track...,

Before you, it was all fun and games. The summer track meets and middle school meets were like little kid crushes compared to you. But, when you finally came around...man oh man how my life changed.

I changed eating habits, sleep patterns, and changed groups of friends just to be better for you. Year one with you was good, but when year two started it was at a new school with a new family and that's when the real fun started.

Everything about Lancaster High School track and field just said GO HARDER...so I did, even made it to state and put myself on D1 coaches radars...but junior year was one for the books. From coming off an injury and running 51 in the first meet to finishing the season State Champ with a pr of 47.42, I had so good of a season that some Power 5 schools came knocking to my door. Got some offers and committed to one of my dream schools down in Waco #SicEm.

But, there was still one more season left, one last ride with my Lancaster family. I started off the season right during indoor with dropping the US No.5 time at Texas Tech. Every outdoor 400m that I'd ran this season resulted in a US top 10 mark. But, then the Lancaster Meet of Champs...our home meet -- I broke my pr and set the new US No. 1 mark at the time.

"We know that we are not in control of this world, but only ourselves and how we respond to it. Deep down  inside me there's still hope on the season...but I also know how to be a realist.
Goodbye high school track... I'll love you forever and always."

Dillon Bedell, Lancaster senior

An undefeated season in the 400m, 4x400 Relay, and the 4x100 Relay....both our throwers were Top 3 in our class/division and our jumpers showing out as well, life was good. Who would have known that Meet of Champs would be our last meet as Tigers. This was supposed to be the year. We had goals and ambitions...all were snatched away in less than 72 hours...why did it have to be us?

But, we know that we are not in control of this world, but only ourselves and how we respond to it. Deep down  inside me there's still hope on the season...but I also know how to be a realist.

Goodbye high school track... I'll love you forever and always.

-Dillon