In Our Thoughts

Two Arena Athletes have Olympic Trials races this weekend: Sarah Groff and Zoila Gomez. Sarah is racing in a USA Triathlon selection race in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Saturday; and Zoila is racing in the US Olympic Marathon Trials here in Boston on Sunday. All that said, and as I often tell ITA-interested folks, the chief metric for the success of this organization is not the number of US Olympic Teams made by the athletes on the Roster, but the way in which the athletes on our Roster are able to internalize, translate and transpose the lessons learned in the arena of athletic competition for the benefit and advancement of today’s youngest citizens. So while Sarah and Zoila have prepared meticulously for their races and will, I’m sure, thrive in their competitions, I also know without a doubt that both are performing the highest services in their respective communities. As a result, win or lose, on the team or not come Monday, I’m confident that both women are on a path that leads to their own growth concurrent with the growth and benefit of those fortunate to come in contact with them. Sarah and Zoila, you have the support, respect and strength of this ITA community and of your communities in CA and CO as well. We wish you the best in your races this weekend.