State champion overcomes the pain and strides toward a certain peace

Lily Cridge of Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis celebrates finishing first—for the second year in a row—in the Indiana girls’ high school cross-country state championship race on Oct. 29 in Terre Haute. (Submitted photo)

By John Shaughnessy

The pain kept surging through Lily Cridge’s petite body, challenging her, testing her, letting her know that this was the price to pay for going out too fast in this race, trying to match one of her toughest competitors.

That runner had faded, and Lily was still in first place, but as she fought the pain while running this final straightaway of the Indiana girls’ high school

cross-country state championship race on Oct. 29, the roar of the crowd let her know that another challenger was closing in fast on her.

Last year, Lily had won this race in stunning fashion as a junior, finishing more than 30 seconds in front of her nearest competitors on a rainy day when the course in Terre Haute was marked by mud and puddles. Now, the 17-year-old senior wanted to repeat as champion on a day filled with sunshine and more tough challengers than a year ago.

As she prepared for both races, the student at Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis had prayed to God throughout the week—“just asking him to take away my worries, to save me from the stresses and anxieties I’m feeling.”

Yet while she felt the pressure from herself to defend her title, she also believed she had gained a different perspective for this year’s race.

“This year, I had a better handle on the pressure,” says Lily, a member of St. Simon the Apostle Parish in Indianapolis. “It was experience. And I have the mindset that whatever happens, everything will be OK. And I’ve already shown what I can do with my special abilities that God has given me. And so, no matter what happens during this race, everything will work out. And even if I do get passed, it’s going to be OK. God is still going to love me. My family and friends are still going to be there for me.”

As those family and friends cheered for her in the final straightaway, and as the crowd roared about the heart-pounding, tightening race to the finish line, Lily made her own surge through her pain. With her one-word, inspirational motto, “DRIVE”, written on her left leg, Lily found the gear she needed.

“The girl who was second behind me was closing in on me pretty hard, and so I just had to remember I needed to drive it home one last time. I was definitely pumping my arms and moving my legs pretty fast in that last straightaway.”

Lily crossed the finish line first, three seconds ahead of the second-place runner, and collapsed to the ground, exhausted and exhilarated.

“It was so amazing,” she says about her feeling at the finish. “Just seeing everybody—my family and friends. It was indescribable. It’s one of my favorite feelings.”

Getting up from the ground quickly, she turned toward the finish line where she started greeting and congratulating the other runners, especially praising the ones who had pushed her.

“I think I need to give back and congratulate them because they’re amazing runners, too. I just wanted to give my respect to them.”

As she talks about her back-to-back state championships a few days after the race, Lily also offers praise to her high school coach these past four years, Dan Kinghorn.

“He’s like my second dad,” says the daughter of Matt and Jill Cridge. “I tell him everything. He’s seen me at my lowest. He’s seen me at my highest. He gets up at 5:15 in the morning and bikes with me when I run. He sacrifices as much as I sacrifice for the sport. The one thing I’ll remember is him being so supportive, no matter what’s going on with me.”

She has a similar feeling about her relationship with God.

“It’s definitely pretty strong,” she says. “When I went to church the day after the race, I thanked him for everything he has done for me.”

Lily made that prayer of thanks even as she has felt that God has tested her more than any competitor, especially when she has dealt with challenges that have limited her at times during her high school running career.

“The battle for me in the past has just been with my health, just asking God, “Why would you have this happen to me when I have such a bright future? Why would you want to take running away from me when it’s so much of my life—just such a pure joy?’

“Even though he has definitely put me through a battle, I always say God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers. I think he definitely gave me a tough battle, but together I’ve come back stronger. I’ve found those lowest of lows make me the strong person I am, and it makes me appreciate the highs and wins even more. You’re going to have highs and lows in life. That’s just part of God’s plan for you.”

In this moment, the pain she felt during the race and the pain from her health issues are behind her. Lily soon flashes a smile that beams with pure joy.

It’s the smile of someone who knows she has so much to be thankful for and so much to look forward to, including knowing God will be there with her through it all.
 

(Stories about the state championship victories of the boys’ soccer team of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis and the girls’ volleyball team of Our Lady of Providence High School in Clarksville will be featured in upcoming issues.) †