Reynard deserves the title

In my mind, Brandon Reynard is a state champion.
The Jay County High School graduate was among the favorites to win the state title in the 300-meter hurdles during his senior season after finishing fifth a year earlier.
Brandon won the 2009 regional 300 hurdles going away, outpacing the field by more than seven tenths of a second.
But that regional title disappeared about 10 minutes later, when it was announced Brandon had been disqualified for dragging his trail leg around the hurdle rather than over it. The call came not from a licensed official, but from a coach who was serving as one of the hurdle judges. The JCHS coaching staff protested the call, but it was to no avail.
The moment was heartbreaking. Brandon had posted the second-best time in the entire state that evening. He deserved to run for the state championship.
Brandon handled the adversity at the regional meet in stride. It didn’t slow him down. He has gone on to a great career running for the Indiana Tech men’s track team.
This weekend, he has a chance to run for a championship. This time, it’s on the national level.
Brandon is seeded third in the 400 hurdles for the NAIA Men’s Track and Field National Championships, which begin today at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion.
I hope he runs in Saturday’s championship race much like he did at the regional four years ago — cruising smoothly out of the blocks, cleanly clearing  every hurdle, pulling into the lead on the back curve and surging powerfully down the home stretch.
Most of all, Brandon, I hope you do what I am convinced to this day you would have done at the 2009 state finals had you been given the chance.
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