State race

Sad, a carrot was dangled in front of Lakota last weekend and he got it and ate it. At the Whitefish Cross Country Invitational, the coach tells Lakota if he runs three miles in 30 minutes, he can go to divisionals. He did it. He is going to divisionals. Right on Lakota. I commented on Facebook, whether he was running or not, he would be at state.

The coach tells me today Lakota can’t go to state because some of the 16 runners who will be going say he will be a distraction. Even going as a non-runner, the coach doesn’t want him staying at the hotel because he will be a distraction.

When you have a special-needs kid who just wants to be part of the team, whatever the sport is, and you’re told he is a distraction, who’s problem is this? And how do I tell him the reason he isn’t included?

I guess it’s up to Lakota to become less of a distraction with his disabilities, instead of the coach and some runners with their higher functioning abilities becoming more tolerant of the disabled. That can’t happen if it’s a self-serving team.

Vicki Treat

Columbia Falls