Local Knowledge

Been an exciting few weeks in the reflected glory department, as several athletes from my home county (and that of Marls) did cool stuff on the global sporting front.

Derek Johnson, who graduated from the same high school as my kids, made the final of the 3000m Steeplechase at the U.S. Olympic Trials, narrowly missing a spot on the team headed to Paris. Drew Hunter, who went to Loudoun Valley High School, where his parents have built a running dynasty, finished fourth in the 10k final, one spot away from qualifying.

Ashburn's Emily Fox, currently a starting defender at Arsenal, was named to the U.S. Women's Soccer team by new head coach Emma Hayes. Fox has 49 caps for the Stars and Stripes.

And last night, Weini Kelati did this:

Kelati defected from Eritrea ten years ago at the age of 17 at a track meet in Eugene, OR - the very same place the Olympic Trials are being held. She moved to Leesburg and graduated from Heritage High School before attending the University of New Mexico. She became a U.S. citizen in 2021. And now she's headed to Paris to wear a USA uniform in the Olympics. That's the good shit.