SAN DIEGO — Imagine the courage it takes for someone with no vision to run as fast as they can.
In this Zevely Zone, I meet a track star at Mission Bay High School. You've heard of friends being attached at the hip but in this case, it's a 12-inch tether. "He's got to communicate everything to me because remember I don't know where I am in physical space, so he has to tell me where I am in physical space," said 16-year-old Chris Adamson.
Adamson is a track star at Mission Bay High and was born with Alström syndrome. "I don't have any vision, so I can't see anything, I am under the classification of totally blind," said Chris.
This is why from sun up to sun down, he's shadowed by David Cervantes. "Oh, this guy? The guy with the massive beard?" laughed Chris.
David is Chris' educational aid and guide runner. "8:45 in the morning to 5 pm we are here together," said Chris. "He's a very nice guy, obviously he needs a shave, but we'll not talk about that."
Together they set a national record for the 100-meter sprint in Chris' division. "The T-11, U-17 and U-20 record," said Chris who also enjoys boogie boarding, snow skiing and mastering chess. "He has done football, he has tried to do basketball, he is open to doing anything he can set his mind to," said Track and Field Coach Danny Perez. He showed me a trophy that symbolizes how inclusivity leads to championships. "We won the Division 3 CIF Title for Boy's Track and Field and this is our third in a row," said Coach Perez.
"Amazing, consistently doing more than I could ever think," said sprint coach Andre Evans who says finish lines are just the beginning for Chris Adamson. "Challenges are hard," added Chris. "But sometimes if you stick with it, it can have a reward that you are happy with, and a lot of times that can pay off."
Chris wants to go to college. He hopes to someday use his talent to make the world more accessible for people with disabilities.