Regional Qualifier Times 2

Hey All;

Can you say regional qualifier in TWO events???

Well, that is what we are learning to say around the Taylor household after Joshua pulled off the most amazing finish of his life. When all was said and done, Josh had secured third place in the 1600m with yet another personal record. This time a 4:35, eight seconds faster than his old PR. The winning time was 4:33.

With 200 meters left in the race, it was a five person race. By the time they hit the straight away for the final 100 meters, it had become a four person race with Josh in fourth place. With about 25 meters left, Josh was still in fourth but was closing in on third. As they crossed the finish line, we could literally not tell if Josh had gotten third and his second ticket to the regional meet. Deshonna and I looked at each other and we had no idea. We kept looking to where the timers were and at the same time watching Josh for any sign of emotion that would give us a definite answer. Josh started walking away from us and we still had no answers. It wasn't long until we saw Josh's coach give him a "high five" and then a big bear hug. By now we were starting to think that maybe he had nosed out the runner in front of him. We continued to watch Josh and some of the other coaches and his teammates kept giving him "high fives". It was probably another five or ten minutes before Josh made his way to the stands where we got the answer. To say the least, he was a little excited and had finally caught his breath enough to start showing some emotion.

The weather was another issue. In the girl's race right before the boy's, the rain was coming down pretty hard. By the time the gun sounded for the boys' race, it had stopped.

Josh got a little extra inspiration from some friends of ours who live in Corpus Christi, Larry & Phyllis Cash. Larry was our minister and fellow EMT when we lived in Littlefield. The Cashes sent us an e-mail Sunday night with a scripture for Josh to read. It was Isaish 40:28-31. The verse says, ISA 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. ISA 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. ISA 40:30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; ISA 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Josh told us on the way home that the verse has become his favorite and he even quoted vs. 30 from memory. "I have read it so much the last couple of days that I have memorized it." Deshonna asked him if he was thinking about the verse the last 100 meters? He replied, "No. I was just asking God to give me the the strength to keep on running."

OK Larry and Phyllis, what can you come up with for the Regional meet?

Josh will run the weekend of April 18 & 19 in a regional qualifiers' meet, but we do not know where that will be yet. The Regional meet will be April 25 & 26 in Denton. More on that later.

Quite a week...Deshonna turned ??, and Josh qualified in the 3200m and 1600m and it's only Wednesday.

Until next time...