For years now, as a high school runner, I have looked up to the school records at my school as a source of motivation and a precedent for what could be done at the highest level. On May 19, 2026, I ran the Wingfoot Mile which is an event hosted annually by the Atlanta Track Club to showcase some of the top milers in the state of Georgia and the southeast. I finished the race running a time of 4:14.63 for the full mile. Our prior school record was set by an incredible runner by the name of Mac Howie with a time of 4:17.69 for the full mile which is roughly around a 4:16.2 conversion for 1600m. My conversion was around 4:13.2. Even though Mac and I never interacted with each other nor were in high school at the same time, his legacy as an elite runner has left an impact on me and has been a consistent motivator to help me perform at the highest possible level. I hope I can do the same for future runners that come through the Wesleyan xc and track programs. The following day on May 20, it came to my understanding that post season races (races after the state meet) do not count toward the Wesleyan record book per head coach Candler Baxley. Regardless of what he has to say, Mac’s performances can be found at the Henderson stadium record board and Hoyt Athletic Complex field house. What infuriates me with this situation is that Mac’s performance was done in the post season of his senior year track season. It has been in place now for about 5 years and has been standing on the board and found in the documented track school record word document as well. Given his performance also being done in post season, it would be highly inconsistent to not recognize mine in the same manner that was given to him. It is unjust that my record is not ratified especially at a school where doing the honorable thing is always commended. This is not a personal fight with my Coach. This is a fight to raise the bar for what futures athletes of the school can do. All I can do is hope and pray that someone can find the peace and solace that I have found in this sport. I hope their love for it takes them as far as they could possible go.