My Pops Ran A Record Time To Save His Father’s Life
Dad had a D1 track scholarship locked down, but he wanted to become the fastest high schooler in the country
In 1988, my dad, Walter McCall, ran a 47-second 400m, shattering the county record. That’s a lap around a track in less time than it takes to eat an apple. He had achieved his goal not to break records or win medals, but to earn a scholarship — and to save my grandfather’s life.
“When I got to my junior year, the doctors told my dad if he doesn’t retire soon, he’s going to drop dead at work,” he told me years later. “He kept telling me, ‘Hey, I made a commitment to my kids. I will die for my children so they can get a college education.’ And so I prayed that summer because I didn’t want to see my dad die. I said, ‘God I need help getting good, really good, and I need to do it fast.’”
My grandpa worked a factory job for much of his life, and his health started to decline. Earning a scholarship in track became the only way my dad could save my grandfather’s life so he could finally retire. So after having an average track career the first two years of high school, he took his training to the next level.
