This blog dates back quite a few years. It relies on memories of my college days at Elmhurst College in Illinois. I was brought up by Christian parents, who imparted their faith into both my sister and I since our respective births. As a result, I carried this sense of the Lord’s presence to Elmhurst College. In my senior year there, I was a member of their Varsity track team, competing in both high and low hurdles and was fairly proficient in both events.

Without going into a lot of detail, on a quarter mile track, the ten low hurdles are spaced at intervals nine paces apart for the average six footer, and five paces apart for the high hurdles. This requires the runner to go 120 yards over the highs, and 220 yards over the lows. The trick is to use the same lead foot with straightened leg for both events and to skim the hurdle the hurdle as closely as possible with the rest of your body without knocking the hurdle over or breaking your pace. Although it requires some speed in between, not as much as for the straight dashes, or for the quarter or half mile events, ,sans hurdles to clear. Needless to say, that allowed me enough leeway to win the hurdle races at most meets in which our school was competing.

Elmhurst was a member of the CCIW, College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, which also included Wheaton, North Central, Illinois Wesleyan, Illinois College, Augustana and Carthage, all Christ-related Division III colleges. I’m quite convinced that my parents upbringing (I lived at home), my wife, and Jesus’ presence were great factors in any success I had then and have now.

Warren