California State Meet, 6/2/01, Hughes Stadium, Sacramento CA

Barrientos - disaster and triumph

If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same,

If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it.

(If, by Rudyard Kipling)

 

In 60 seconds plus 4 of a blistering last lap in the California State Meet 1600 meter race, Alejandra Barrientos erased the disaster of exactly one year ago. In the 2000 state meet, Barrientos entered as the favorite and exited without finishing the preliminary round with a stress fracture in her leg. In the 2001 state meet, Barrientos entered as a longshot and exited in triumph..

Thus, opposite dramas were played out in the front row just beyond the finish line. In 2000, Barrientos watched from a wheel chair with a smile on her face, telling everyone it could be worse. In 2001, she was triumphant, but tears flowed freely. As soon as she crossed the finish line, she streaked to the front row of the stands, where a large group of family and friends occupied an entire section.

Dad and daughter, Sal and Ale Barrientos

A hug for coach Rob Collins as Dad videotapes

The competition (Amber Steen, left, and Sara Bei, right) remind her she won

. . . . and it's time to smile again.

Return to California State Meet

 

   

This web site is edited and published
by John Dye. For corrections, news,
zany off the wall comments, friendly jibes, hostile pot shots, or welcome praise, send email to John Dye at [email protected] .

©DyeNet LLC 2000-2001