Legally Blind High School Freshman Turns Heads at Texas Relays

Published: 4^th Apr 12 4:09 pm

by Marian Hinton
Texas Sports Blogger

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Legally Blind High School Freshman Turns Heads at Texas Relays

Photo Courtesy of the Dallas Morning News

Last weekend, the 85th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays were held on The University of Texas campus in Austin, TX at Harry Myer’s Stadium. Some of the top athletes across the country, both collegiate and high school, gathered together to compete in one of the nation’s most prestigious track and field events. Among all of talented the athletes, there was one young lady who garnered lots of attention at the meet, particularly for her speed as well as her performance in the pole vault: fourteen-year-old Charlotte Brown.

Though her performances at the Texas Relays were incredibly impressive for a high school freshman, what makes Brown’s feats even more impressive is that fact that she is legally blind.

The Dallas Morning New’s tells the story of Charlotte Brown, a freshman at Emory Rains High School located in Emory, TX who just so happens to be legally blind. In the article, Brown describes the 20/400 vision in her right eye as “looking through a coffee stirrer, and then making it blurry all around.” Her left eye is even worse, allowing her only to discern between light and darkness.

Yet at the Texas Relays, Brown was able to complete her leg of the 4×400 meter relay in an incredibly impressive 62 seconds. As a member of the relay team, her teammates simply shout out her name when they are ready to hand off the baton, and because she cannot see the lines on the track, she stays in the inside lane so that she can differentiate between the track and the grass. She also runs the 400 meter and the 100 meter individual events.

In addition to running, she also holds her school’s all-time record in the pole vault as well. If you think that sounds frightening for a young lady who is legally blind, you are not alone; her parents shared the same concerns.

However, for Brown, it’s no big deal. Through repetition and practice, she has it all figured out. There are fourteen strides to the bar. By counting them in her head, she knows when to put the pole down, and when to make the jump.

Track and field isn’t Brown’s only sport, however. She is also a member of the school’s cross country and basketball teams.

In cross country, she stays on course by listening to small bells on the backs of her teammates’ shoes. In basketball, she listens to her opponents’ dribbling pattern on defense. On offense, her teammates call her name when they pass her the ball. By following the sounds, she knows where to be.

Though she excels athletically in multiple sports, according to Brown, track is the sport in which she feels that the playing field is most level.

She plans to continue with the 400m relay and the pole vault, hoping to qualify for state meet in May. She also is interested in trying out the 10om hurdles. Like the pole vault, it’s all about the numbers. She knows there are 10 hurdles; she knows they are all the same distance apart–she will figure it out. It’s simple.

I don’t know about you, but I certainly wouldn’t bet against her.

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