Foot Locker Finalists - Share Road to Recovery
 | DyeStatFL.com Sep 6th 2012, 10:03pm | PrintReport |
“In prosperity, our friends know us; in adversity we know our friends.”
Nothing can define the relationship between Florida high school running star Olivia Ortiz and Georgia standout Grace Tinkey than the quote from 19th Century English literary critic John Churton Collins.The two runners, who met at last year’s Foot Locker South cross country meet in North Carolina, have become close friends over the intervening months sharing the adversity of serious injuries that have put their careers on hold.
Ortiz, 17, a senior at Lakewood Ranch High in Bradenton, FL, and Tinkey, 17, a senior at First Presbyterian Day School in Macon, GA, have been sidelined by a broken femur and a broken fibula respectively.
Ortiz, one of Florida’s most decorated prep distance runners, a state champion and a Foot Locker Nationals cross country qualifier in 2011 (she was Florida’s top finisher in 19th), broke her left femur in the 3,200-meter finals at the FHSAA Class 3A Track and Field Championships last spring. Tinkey, one of Georgia’s most honored prep athletes, a four-time state cross country champion and a three-time Foot Locker Nationals participant (she was sixth in 2011), was initially injured at the USA Juniors Cross Country meet in February in St. Louis.
Word of injuries to top runners spreads quickly and once each became aware of the other’s misfortune they made contact and maintained it over the summer, Ortiz even spending time at Tinkey’s home where they deepened an already established friendship. Now even though the school year has resumed and studies come first they remain in touch each drawing on the other’s strength.
“Our friendship has grown,” Ortiz said, “When I went through this injury she reached out to me because she was recovering from her injury . . . ever since then we have become great friends and best friends.
“I don’t know where I would be without her right now. She’s been great, just a great person. We talk on the phone for over an hour just to let things out. I feel like I can talk to her about anything.”
Both have a lot on their minds with Ortiz set to miss the cross country season to ensure her injury is fully healed and Tinkey putting the majority of her’s on hold as well, hoping for a return late in the prep season or around the time of the Foot Locker South meet.
The opportunity to be a four-time Foot Locker Nationals qualifier is a dream she won’t relinquish without a fight. But at the same time she realizes what is at stake if she attempts to come back too quickly.
To that end the friends shared the rigors of their rehabilitation, cross training together during Ortiz’s visit to Macon and their thoughts and hopes and aspirations as well.
“It was just a phenomenal trip,” Ortiz said. “Obviously we bonded tremendously. Swimming together, biking. Helping each other. I’m very grateful that we have each other.”
Tinkey shared Ortiz’s sentiments about their friendship being built on the foundation of common ground.
“When you have another athlete . . . it’s a lot easier to talk to someone who knows what you are going through,” Tinkey said.
“I was out for six months so I can definitely relate to her. Injuries stink. I’m not going to say they’re fun because they’re not. You can definitely get stronger through them. You learn so much.”
And lot of that knowledge comes from sharing the experience with someone to whom a person feels close and comfortable in sharing their pain and frustration.
“She’s been a great person for me to talk to,” Tinkey said.
And that included the time they spent together.
“It was awesome,” Tinkey said. “We know exactly what each other is feeling and going through. We both want to be running so bad and we want to be back to where we were. But things happen and so you have to move forward and trust God.
“We’re both going to be back. It’s just a matter of time. She’s been great encouragement for me. I don’t know where I would be without her.”
So to that end even a quick text message - even not immediately returned - can help each get through a rough patch or a bad day or share the joy of a good day.
And with their friendship providing the rock on the shifting sands of their emotions and their common experience they have high hopes going forward.
“We both believe that we can be back.” Tinkey said.
Added Ortiz: “Grace Tinkey, it’s so nice to have her encouraging voice. I feel very blessed.”
By Mark DeCotis
For DistancePreps.com
DeCotis can be reached at [email protected]
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