Hot sun fries the big stadium at Southern University in Baton Rouge, La. The track meet drowses through the sweet tedium of late afternoon. An athlete plods across the infield with a long bag of vaulting poles on his shoulder. Two tall, leggy blond women run side by side with springing, matched strides. A crew with a truck begins to set up hurdles.
Then a glint of light catches the eye: a javelin, thrown by one of the women in the heptathlon competition. It arcs down into the sod: 120 ft. and change. The distance is not impressive. "Wait for Jackie,"...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
