Sep. 19: Young Athletes Start On Right Foot

Serious athletes want to focus on their sport, not their uniforms.  That’s why the girls’ track team at Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C. wanted an alternative to their sometimes-revealing uniforms, which often left them feeling self-conscious and attracting unwanted attention from boys.

When Coach Marvin Parker learned of their discomfort he took action.  As an admirer of tennis great Althea Gibson, he knew she had competed in a white skirt.  He thought it would be wonderful if girls from the country’s first black high school could run track in similar attire.

Parker and a designer came up with a skort (combination shorts and skirt) that the athletes could compete in effectively.  It was “long enough to provide modest cover but short enough not to constrict movement,” according to a Washington Post story.  Now the young competitors have even more confidence which helps their performance.

Modesty, style, and creativity can be a winning combination.

Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.  (Hebrews 12:1)

Help us become creative problem solvers, Gracious Father.