Photos courtesy of https://www.instagram.com/sarahmarkwellphotography/
"It's just put things in perspective and made me realize how unimportant running is." - Casey Burr
Runners very seldom take a step back.
Recently, Wade Hampton siblings Casey and Sophie Burr felt it was the right decision. The cross country runners were two of many in the Wade Hampton community to mourn the deaths of fellow students Grant Harrelson and Emma Calder. The students were killed in a car wreck that occurred earlier this month on North Pleasantburg Drive in Greenville County. Both students were 16 years old.
To honor their fallen classmates, the Generals boys and girls cross country teams wrote their names in marker on their faces and shoulders while at a meet at Crooked Creek Park in Chapin.
Sophie, a freshman and the team's No. 2 runner, said that the idea was created by the girls squad.
"Grant was pretty much my older brother," she said. "Me and a couple of the girls decided to write their names somewhere on us. All of the varsity girls and some of the boys did, too."
Sophie admitted that it was hard to run that day, but it ended in a personal-best time of 20:38.
"I wanted to run because I like it, but part of me wasn't motivated," she said. "I also wrote 'I run for my Grant' on my wrist. When I was tired or felt pain, my little angel took some of it away."
Casey, a senior, is the Generals No. 1 runner. He earned all-state, all-county and all-region honors last year.
He said that the Burr and Harrelson families have been linked together for many years.
"My mom and his mom have been best friends for a while," Casey said. "It's been really hard for her the past two weeks. She's been going to the Harrelson's house just about every day. I remember multiple times a week we were going to his house or they were coming back here to play basketball. We've been going over there to spend time with his brother because it's been really hard on him, too."
"Grant was pretty much my older brother," Sophie Burr said. "Me and a couple of the girls decided to write their names somewhere on us. All of the varsity girls and some of the boys did, too."
Casey said that he felt the runners writing Grant and Emma's names on them was a nice gesture.
"It's certainly been different since we're not at school every day. They sent out an e-mail when it happened and had a prayer vigil at a local church. That was good to see. My counselors have also reached out to me. All of the runners were also really excited to do that and made sure they had Sharpies."
Both students' funerals were held last weekend. Sophie said that the team had a meet at Woodmont High School that she planned to take part in before attending Grant's service.
"It's been really hard," she said. "Every day is different. Some days we're stronger and some days you feel weak and heartbroken. You just have to be strong for everybody else. Coach (Rick) Zeller had a moment of silence the day after (Grant) passed. He's been very supportive of us and understanding."
Casey said that he'll have a different outlook on life the remainder of this year.
"It's just put things in perspective and made me realize how unimportant running is," he said. Family and faith are things that can't be replaced. That takes the pressure off of running but also makes me appreciate it more."
Photos courtesy of https://www.instagram.com/sarahmarkwellphotography/
