Running Over Expectations

Today's Underdog: Latipha Cross

Latipha Cross's story is heartbreaking. It seems she can never catch a break, so to speak, as her life has faced event after event leaving her to question her existence. Yet through it all, Latipha has succeeded, flourished, and shown us that an underdog may not be expected to win, but always has a chance. She shows us that adversity is only a hurdle. Put a little extra effort in, and you'll jump right over it.

Latipha Cross's story is really incredible. Abandoned by her mom at a young age, her sister killed when  Latipha was only six, and abused by her foster parents, Latipha faced difficulty after difficulty. As a sophomore, she ran away from her foster parents. Now homeless, Latipha's only place of comfort was on the track. Latipha didn't run away. She ran forward. And soon she was a track star.

But nothing could come easy for Latipha. Her biological father abused her, physically and sexually, and the next day she had a meet. But Latipha didn't run away; she ran forward. She ran the best meet of her life. The next year, as a junior in high school, Latipha was diagnosed with melanoma. But she continued to run. In fact, while recovering from melanoma, still in treatment, Cross set a state record in the 400 meter. Colleges started calling, and an education after high school, something she never imagined, was possible.

In her senior year, Cross was diagnosed with lymphoma. Defending her state title in the 400, Latipha lost by 0.3 seconds, collapsing at the finish line. Now running for Eastern Michigan, Latipha has finally found a home, or a second home to the track. She keeps running. Always forward.

Latipha Cross was an underdog. She still is. Abandoned, orphaned, abused. Two cancers. And yet, despite all of this, a state record. A scholarship. A home. What can we learn from her story? That no matter how down we are, no matter how heavy the odds are stacked against us, no matter how unfair life seems, we are still in control of our fate, of our potential, of our future. We just have to keep running. Forward. Over the hurdle.