Chasing the dream; remembering faith
MBaron@CalhounTimes.com
Faith Austin is making a 90-minute journey to Dayton, Tennessee. The Sonoraville High School graduate put pen to paper, signing a track scholarship with Bryan College in a ceremony with family and coaches.
“To finally sign the paper, I was extremely happy,” Austin said. “From the time I’ve been in middle school through high school, I’ve always wanted to go to college to run track off of a track scholarship, it was ... a dream come true for me.”
Austin said she selected Bryan College because they sought her out. Austin said Bryan College’s sprint coach, James Eliezer, direct messaged her on Instagram to inform her he was keeping track of her times during the track season.
“I posted videos of me running track on ... my Instagram,” Austin said. “(Eliezer) said God kept leading him back to me and it was just in his spirit that he had to have me at Bryan College.”
Austin brings plenty of talent and experience to Dayton. In high school, she ran the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 4x100-meter relay and the 4x400meter relay. She placed 13th overall at the 2019 GHSA Class AAA state championships in Albany.
During the recruitment process, Austin said at first she was anxious to be leaving home, but added the excitement of starting a new chapter of her life outweighed the nervous notions.
Austin’s family has a legacy in track and field. Austin’s mother, Mamie, ran track for Red Bud High School in the 1970s. Austin’s cousin, Mel Pender, represented the United States in the 1968 Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City. Alongside Charles Greene, Jim Hines and Ronnie Ray Smith, the group captured a gold medal in the Men’s 4x100-meter relay.
“He trained me my senior year for track, so he got me ready for state,” Austin said. “I always told him I wanted to be in the Olympics like he was. It’s always been a dream of mine.”