Albertville cross country runner Daniel Leija surprises team at meet, two weeks after accident
GUNTERSVILLE — There was a familiar sight on Saturday during the Lake Guntersville Invitational.
Albertville cross country runner Daniel Leija was once again leading the pack of runners out of the block and throughout the race. Leija has established himself as one of the top runners in Marshall County and was looking to break into the 15-minute range at the meet.
Except the moment wasn't normal. Leija was wearing a neck brace and riding in a golf cart that was leading the pack. Leija was in an accident two weeks ago that ended his senior season prematurely. He had cuts and scrapes on his face and legs, where there were cuts so deep that you could see ligaments and bones. He shattered his C6 vertebrae but that was put back together by doctors. He described his recovery as a "grace from God."
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Leija wasn't supposed to be at this meet, he was supposed to be in the hospital until Monday. He was able to walk a mile and was released on Friday. He lied to his teammates and told them that he couldn't make it but he surprised them ahead of the Lake Guntersville meet. For Leija, once he was out of the hospital it was a no-brainer to be out here for this meet.
"I lied to them," Leija said. "I'd go through hell and back to see these boys run. My one motivation was just to get back out here for the meet to come and see them."
On the course, it was the best race of the season for the Aggies, with the top-five runners all going under 20 minutes in the five-kilometer for the first time all season. They finished fourth in the event, one of the best team finishes.
"He was a really big motivation. What gave us a lot of motivation was us seeing him at the last minute at the race. It feels good having your teammate here after an accident," senior Jorge Ramos said.
Leija won't run again for Albertville this season but plans to be at the rest of the meets, continuing a streak of not missing meets that he has had since freshman year.
Sand Rock swept both the boys and girls team competitions, with Caleb Yoder winning the small school boys race.
The playoffs start on Nov. 2, with the state meet running Nov. 11.
Maxwell Donaldson covers high school sports and Jacksonville State athletics for the Gadsden Times. Find him on Twitter/X @_Max_Donaldson and contact him at MDonaldson@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Albertville cross country runner Daniel Leija surprises team at meet
