I checked in with Napa High coach Derek Moore after spotting something different in a photo by Thomas Benjamin.
I saw a man running in the JV girls race that happened last Wednesday.
Upon closer inspection I could see he was tethered to a runner.
Moore said, “The girl is sophomore Miel McGrath, who is legally blind. Neptali Lona is her guide runner and a volunteer coach for our team.
This is Miel’s second season completing for us. She’s a strong runner and hard worker. She is at every practice and meet. Neptali has a cool story too – former Marine (infantry) and utramarathoner who just completed the triple marathon in Lake Tahoe.
In the second Vine Valley center meet this year she places 9th out of 24 in the JV race in 24:43.3 for 3 miles.