hurdler49

Missing the 1st day of the UAAP was out of the question. Even if I do not have leave credits yet, I bravely asked my new boss for permission to leave work early, just to watch my old teammates compete. The 1st day harvest was bountiful, with the team bagging 3 golds, a silver and a bronze medal. The young 'uns are promising indeed.

It was refreshingly nostalgic to see my old training buddies, Jots and Mike, in action again. Jots has improved a lot. He starts a lot faster and he snaps his lead leg quicker than the last time I saw him. Mike was his usual cool self: composed yet intense.

Seeing the other hurdlers run, it was obvious that Mike was in a league of his own. His form was just too fluid and his speed too overwhelming for the other hurdlers. Mike was my hands down choice for this year's gold.

But of course, my two sets of eyes were focused on Jots - my close friend and former training partner. I wanted him to win a medal, to go out with a bang. But fate it seems, had other plans.

Jot clipped the 3rd hurdle with his trail leg, and fell badly on the track. He was out of the race. I can almost feel his pain and disappointment when I saw him lying face down on the orange surface. If life really did have a rewind button, I would've instantly pushed it in an attempt to reverse the day's tragic outcome.

For the next 10 or so seconds of the race, I did not know where to look. On one side of the track, Mike was pulling away from the field. On the other, Jot was immobile. As I saw Mike raise his arms at the finish line, I immediately went to the bleachers near the 30m mark to have a closer look at things.

To my relief, both of Jots' limbs were intact. Thank heavens, he didn't fracture anything (he had torn his hip flexor or some other hip muscle). But the moment he tried to stood up, I heard a scream of pain. It was obvious that my friend's last UAAP had ended prematurely.

It broke my heart seeing him lying on the track in pain and in tears. Why did it have to happen to him of all people? Then again, injuries are a part of sport. That's just the way things go when you're an athlete.

To be honest, I didn't know what to say once I finally made my way to the track. I know for a fact that no words could possibly soothe the frustration that he was feeling. That battle is an inner struggle one has to face - alone.

We visited Jots at the hospital this evening. He was his usual bubbly self, albeit with a faint glimmer of gloom. The next few days will be the hardest on Jots. But I know for a fact that with his character, his attitude towards life and his faith, Jots will pull through.