Despite Homelessness, Coatesville Sprinter Finds Refuge — and a Future — on the Track

By

Terrance Laird
Image of Terrance Laird via Cory Mull, MileSplit.

He has run through misbehavior, through homelessness, and through family tragedy.

Now, he just runs. Fast.

For Terrance Laird, it’s hard to pinpoint where exactly home is, apart from the place he finds peace, purpose, and a future: the track.

“It’s in my blood to run,” the Coatesville Area High School track star said in a FloSports feature by Cory Mull.

Laird, who claimed an AAU Junior Olympic Games Championship in the 100 meters (10.63 seconds) last year, is bound for Penn State on a full scholarship. He is currently a senior at Collegium Charter School in Exton, and competes for Coatesville High School, since the former doesn’t have the sport.

Figuratively speaking, Laird stands barely a nanosecond off beating a state record in the 200-meter dash. His best is just .09 seconds shy of the all-time record and is the fifth best time in the nation this year.

“Terrance has an acceleration I’ve seen in very few athletes,” said Penn State Associate Head Coach Erin Tucker. “For a guy his size, the way he applies force to the ground, you’re talking about something special.”

But it hasn’t been easy.

The boy who grew up around Coatesville and Parkesburg has bounced from living with his mother to his father to a lifelong family friend. He’s had to go to four schools in four years in order to arrive at a place where he has now set four school records.

Read more about Terrance Laird from FloSports here.

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