Running in circles and building bridges
Manzano, a 2004 graduate of Marble Falls High School, was a member of the U.S. Track and Field team that went to the Beijing Olympics in August.
Many reasons exist for the School Board’s vote.
But the most important is not because of Manzano’s accomplishments, although the only reason trustees entertained the idea is because of the recognition Manzano has brought the community through his running.
No, the biggest reason is because the champion runner is just an easy person to support.
He is the people’s runner. The son of Mexican immigrants, he realized through hard work and determination he could be anything he wanted.
His father Jesùs has been a laborer his entire life. Getting up early and training is not unusual for Leonel Manzano, considering his father was an early-morning riser as well.
Just about anyone who has worked hard to achieve a long-range goal can relate to Manzano.
He is one of the few who can build a bridge between people no matter their walk of life: social, economic or race.
He proved as much when the city of Marble Falls threw him a congratulatory party soon after he secured his place on the U.S. Olympic team in July.
Business owners, sports fans, community leaders and front-line employees attended that day to celebrate the accomplishment of an athlete who is someone everybody can relate to.
That’s why the School Board renamed the track after him.
They had enough people talk to them about it, emphasizing how much they respect and love Manzano.
Board members themselves commended the runner for what he has done for the community, the example he sets and the humble person he is.
As board President Martin McLean noted, the school board was honoring an individual, not only because of the number of races he’s won, the world records he’s set and the decisive way he achieves victory, but also because of his character.
He is the champion we believe we’d like to be – always the first to congratulate his competitors no matter the outcome, always giving credit to other people for his success, and never resting on his laurels.
Even when staff and faculty members of Spicewood Elementary School went to congratulate him, Manzano first congratulated them for being named a recognized school by the Texas Education Agency.
The board was right in naming the track after him – even if he has competed in more races at Myers Stadium at the University of Texas than he has at the track at Marble Falls High School.
But tracks are used to build bridges, and there’s no doubt Manzano has done that for the people of the Highland Lakes.