Friday and Saturday was the Oregon 3A/2A/1A State Track Meet. Emma qualified in three events; the 4×100 meter relay, the 100 meter sprint, and the 200 meter sprint. All season long, she has been one of the “top dogs” across the state in both the sprints, and she was expected to do great things at the State Meet.
Unfortunately, for the past few weeks, Emma has been struggling with a hip injury which morphed into injuries to both her hips. She strained a hip flexor. The hip flexor is a small muscle in the front of the hip, right inside the hip-bone. It is aggravated as the leg extends backwards – like at the tail end of a step as you begin to bring your leg forward for the next step. As Emma compensated for that injury, she aggravated the other one (that’s why you see the yellow athletic tape on both her thighs – to help her hips).
Hip Flexor Muscles
Look at the pain on her face – it makes me hurt just to look at her.
Emma had a rough weekend. She was down on herself for not doing as well as she thought she should. She was down because of her injuries. She just had a rough weekend competition-wise, and didn’t make the finals of any of her events.
For one of the first times in her track career, Emma had to face defeat.
I felt horrible for her, but I think it might be a little bit good for her, as well. Losing gracefully is a hard lesson for anyone, let alone a 16-year-old girl, but Emma managed to overcome her disappointment. She battled through her injuries the last half of the season, and she didn’t give up, even at the end when she just wanted to throw in the towel.
Emma is AMAZING, and this weekend, she demonstrated the difference between facing defeat and being defeated.
Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.
~ F. Scott Fitzgerald
I am more proud of Emma for the manner in which she dealt with the obstacles and problems than I am for the successful season she had. I am proud of her grace, dignity, and poise. I am proud to say that my daughter is one of only 12 girls who made it to the state-level competition in the two sprints at the 2A classification. I am proud to be able to say that she is the DISTRICT CHAMPION in her events.
Most importantly, I am proud to say that not only has Emma learned to lose gracefully, she knows how to win gracefully.
Losers quit when they’re tired. Winners quit when they’ve won.
~ Author Unknown
After one of her races Friday, Emma was pretty upset, and Harley did what she knows best. She gave her big sister hugs and love. This is absolutely my favorite image from the entire weekend, and it demonstrates perfectly Harley’s love and admiration for her big sister, her hero, Emma.
While the end-result of the track meet wasn’t what any of us were expecting or hoping for, I know it was still a successful weekend.
Emma Kate – I have said it before, and I’ll say it again. YOU. ARE. AMAZING! I am proud of the beautiful, loving young woman you are becoming, and I love you beyond anything you will ever be able to comprehend. – Mom
Nature Girl. Mom. Wife. Friend. Photographer. Sewer. Crafter. Artist.
To borrow a phrase – “Yeet Ye Riche”