He said his final prayer and went through stretches as he prepared to mount the blocks.

Though he felt minor pain in his hip, he didn’t let it affect his mind.

This was his race. He was ready.

The judge lifted the gun, and his heart began to race. Though he was usually one of the fastest runners, he knew he just needed to finish this one. With district qualifiers the following week and his relay team position at stake, he just had to stay healthy.

“Please just run and finish the race. Please just run and finish the race,” shot through his mind.

The gun fired. Immediately giving his all, he shot off the blocks. He planned to follow his normal strategy, start strong, let off, and finish even stronger. He started off in the front of the pack.

As he reached the halfway point he felt fine and even had a chance at winning the race. When he approached the final stretch of the track, he began to re-accelerate to full speed.

On the third stride of his sprint, he suddenly felt a pop in his hip and fell to the ground at full speed. The world went blurry around him, and he felt the presence of his coach and teammates at his side.

Though the pain was intense, his fear for the future hurt even more.

• • •

Junior Lorenzo Daniel Jr., or LJ for short, had always loved sports. Starting track at age 6, he loved to compete from an early age.

“[Track] was just something I grew up doing,” LJ said. “It was different than other sports for me.”

By running track every summer he quickly built skills in events such as the 50 meter dash.

At age 10, he had already competed at the state championship level for his age group. After also competing through all of middle school, it seemed to be a given he would be a part of the high school team.

Though he also played basketball and football his freshman year, he was able to earn a spot on the junior varsity team running the 400 meter dash and in the 1600 meter relay.

The following year the varsity relay team made it to state for the first time in 30 years. As the team was losing its graduating members, LJ knew he would have a chance at contributing to the winning team in the future.

“I was looking forward to helping out that team,” LJ said. “It was amazing how they came together as a team and just achieved.”

After all, as the son of a former Olympic class runner, he had big shoes to fill.

• • •

After his injury, his family wanted him to get X-rays as quickly as possible, so they made the decision to bring LJ home that night.

Holding back tears became difficult as pain shot through his body. Every time he turned, his hip felt like it was in flames.The realization that this wasn’t a normal injury began to set in.

He got nearly no sleep that night with the uncertainty of diagnosis looming the following morning, especially since his dad had been in a similar situation 30 years ago.

• • •

His father, Lorenzo Daniel, had broken the World Junior Record in 1985 while in college for the 200 meter dash. Once he realized he had a chance at being a member of an Olympic team, he ran a qualifying race in Oregon hoping to earn a spot in the Olympic trials and did well.

In fact, he did so well that not long after he received a letter in the mail from the President of the Olympic Committee personally inviting him to the trials of the Seoul 1988 Olympics. Since he was considered one of the fastest men in the world at the time, it seemed a medal was inevitable in the upcoming Olympic Games.

He realized he could capitalize and truly make a name for himself. He began to train intensely for the trials, but it wasn’t long before he tore his quadricep.

The doctors told him he’d only be out for a few months. He would miss the trials, but still be able to run in the Olympics.

However, when the Olympics came around he wasn’t fully recovered and chose to scratch because he felt he couldn’t represent the USA team at the Games as he wished and did not want to jeopardize the team.

• • •

Though a different injury, Lorenzo now saw his son awaiting results just as he had years ago. However, he wasn’t too worried knowing LJ’s persevering nature.

“When LJ runs I never really think about me,” Lorenzo said. “I always look at him independently of what I did because I know he always runs to the best of his ability.”

As LJ continued to wait for his results, emotions were running high. Though he realized his injury could harm his chances of competing in the future, his dad’s experience years ago gave him faith.

After his father’s injury prior to the Olympics, he went to work with his recently earned degree and founded his own successful company that helped athletes of all ages train to reach their goals.

“It gave me hope for the future that though the injury might have set me back it would help me in the long run,” LJ said. “It gave me hope that I could turn it around like my dad did.”

The diagnosis came after several X-rays: He had broken his hip and would be out for several months. This would mean missing much of the preparation for playing varsity basketball his junior year.

Though he was disappointed, LJ saw the time off as an opportunity to focus more in the classroom. As a member of National Honor Society and currently ranking in the top 20 students of his class he sees excelling in school as another way to honor his dad’s name.

“There is always going to be someone better than you,” LJ said. “I just try to work hard to be the best I can be.”

• • •

Now six months later after competing in varsity basketball, LJ sees the entire experience as part of God’s plan.

After running the 400 meter dash on the track last week for the first time since his injury, his time is faster than anyone expected on return.

“My dad always told me everything happens for a reason,” LJ said. “I feel like if I could get through that, I could get through anything.”

Since he allowed his hip to fully recover without stress and still has two years left of athletics to improve, he has considered playing basketball or running in college as well.

“I’ll just wait to see where God puts me,” LJ said.

Regardless of where his athletic career might take him, Lorenzo will be proud of his son.

“He’s a leader and represents the family name well,” Lorenzo said. “I think he’s the celebrity in the family now, not me.”