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MESQUITE—As high school track programs are finishing out the year, the Mesquite Friendship Striders are just beginning to practice. Starting their 15th season, the faith-based track program is a ministry of Mesquite Friendship Baptist Church, having reached out to thousands of young people throughout the Dallas area.
On average there will be 45 to 50 kids participating, ranging in age from 5 to 18. About a fourth of the athletes are members of the Mesquite congregation, but each year the program prompts participants to get involved in other ministries of the church.
“We have many families join the church simply because of what they see at our practice,” explained Coach Sharon Ellis. Some of the athletes accepted Jesus as their personal Savior.
Ellis spoke of the added value that all participants receive. “Our children are taught respect for themselves and for others.”
That’s what appealed to Tanya Carter when her son began practicing with the Striders at the age of 7. “His coach is a very respectful man in the church and he really looks up to him, listens and respects him,” she said, praising the commitment of Erick Boger who got involved seven years ago.
Boger has three sons of his own participating with the Striders. “Once you get out there as a parent to participate, you sometimes get drafted,” he told the TEXAN, describing the three-day a week commitment to coach the boys from 6–8 a.m. “I love it,” he said.
With other sports programs, Boger noticed that coaches didn’t give the same amount of time to those who didn’t perform as well, pushing them off to the side.
“With the Striders everybody is treated the same regardless of their talent,” he said. “If a kid doesn’t make the race, he’s still encouraged to run hard the next week.”
In 2010 the Striders had 69 competitors from Mesquite and surrounding cities compete in the AAU Junior Olympics Southwestern division trials and then on to the regional track meet. Fiftteen advanced to the National Junior Olympics held in Norfork, Va. Ten participants in the program advanced to the national competition last year.
“For the past few years, we have qualified for the Junior Olympics in the 4×800-, 4×400-, and 4×100-meter relays, as well as the 100-, 200-, 400-, 800-, and 1,500-meter runs,” Ellis recalled. “We also have had hurdlers, long jumpers and high jumpers qualify.”
“They’re not only teaching them track, but also helping them to learn responsibility and respect” as well as directing the attention of athletes to God, Carter said
“At the end of each practice, we all get together in a circle and if anyone needs prayer, there is usually a minister out there who prays for the group,” she said. “I like that we’re not just up and leaving and everybody going their separate ways. We always end our practice with our group meeting as a whole, holding hands and ending in prayer.”
Pastor Terry Turner is often the one leading that effort. “They’re letting the kids know it’s OK to pray wherever you are.”
“Prayer is an important element of practice and competition,” Ellis said. “We teach our children to ask for strength to finish each race.”
And when the Striders athletes finish in the top three places, Ellis hears teammates yell, “One, two, three, praise the Lord!”
