- The young pair started the cross-country season off by running two mile races but then started running 5k races. They hoped to finish a 5k in 20 minutes or less by the end of the season, reported 5 News.
- Scott said that Hays “inspired and encouraged” him to run faster. It was Scott’s last year of being able to run with the team, so Hays wanted to help him “finish strong.”
- Coach Tiffany Surber, the coach at West Fork for over nine years, had visually impaired athletes on her team before Scott, reported MileSplit AR.
- Scott’s three siblings, who were all also adopted from China and are visually impaired, ran on Surber’s team. His older sisters, Jenna and Rosie, ran from 2014-2018 and his brother, Tim, ran for the last few years but later focused on the marching band.
- Although he runs at Holcomb Elementary School, Hays admitted it was hard to keep up with the older students and train every day, but he “has to do it for Paul.”
- “If I don’t run this distance, it’s like I’m cheating on Paul. I can’t cheat on Paul so, I have to run this distance, or this time no matter what,” Hays said.
- “He’s not only a great runner, but he has a huge heart and he is willing to serve,” Surber said.
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