Kirby Lee – USA TODAY Sports
Sprinter English Gardner is coming off an exceptional junior year that included an indoor team championship for Oregon University and a second straight 100-meter dash outdoor title. After completing her events on Saturday, Gardner announced her decision to forgo her senior year and become a professional runner with Team USA.
From her freshmen days at Eastern Regional High School (Voorhees, NJ), Gardner dazzled and dominated on the track. During her junior year in high school, Gardner sustained a season-ending injury, but came back strong for her senior indoor and outdoor season. Gardner proved her naysayers wrong by winning.
Her success continued at Oregon and now Gardner is ready for the next big thing. If her past is any indication, Gardner’s determination and hard work will help lead her to success. No matter the amplitude of her success, Gardner humility will keep her grounded and working hard to improve even more.
Some might be quick to bash Gardner’s decision to leave college early and become a professional runner. However, I think Gardner is making the best decision for her. Since her days at Eastern and from my conversations with her in the hallways, Gardner’s passion is track. (Gardner and I attended school together for three years at Eastern.) Why stay at college if she feels that she can compete among the best track athletes around the world?
Now that the 2013 Outdoor Track and Field Championships are over, Gardner’s focus shifts from collegiate competition to professional soccer and qualifying for the 2016 Olympics. Before we know it, we will now how well Gardner will do with Team USA. But one thing is for sure – Gardner is used to having naysayers, but she has proven them wrong before and is ready to do it again.
She will join Team USA in Des Moines, Iowa on June 20.
Phil Naegely is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Like him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter @pnaegelyRS and add him to your circles on Google.
