We talked yesterday about the best sporting activity for 2013 and how, in my opinion, it was the Wiarton Red Devils winning the Canadian Junior Men’s Fastball Championship in Owen Sound back in August.
But, with no offence to the Red Devils, Jordan Binnington, Cindy Collins or anyone else in local sports, the best moment that I witnessed belonged to 12 year old Morgan Elliot of Dundalk Proton Highpoint School.
On October 5th, the Meaford Coyotes staged their annual Cross Country meet utilizing Georgian Bay Secondary School and the neighbouring woodland.
Morgan Elliot was in the Senior Boys division, but unlike every other athlete in the meet, he couldn’t navigate the established course. Morgan is in a wheelchair.
So instead of running the 3,000 metre course, Morgan Elliot, with the assistance of his teacher Curtis Coyne, circled the track at GBSS, 7 times before rolling up the grass chute for the final 200 metres.
When he started, there might have been a half dozen people watching at the side of the track.
With each 400 metre circuit completed. more & more spectators lined the track and eventually the large group began to walk behind Morgan.
By the time he rolled up the chute, the following was massive, and truthfully, when Morgan Elliot crossed the finish line, I had a difficult time reading the official time. It was that impressive.
Happy New Year. All the best for 2014.
I’m Fred Wallace