Fox Chapel Area track coach Tom Moul recalls last year’s 800-meter race at the PIAA Class AAA championships.
Junior Elias Graca stumbled out of the blocks before falling behind the leaders and getting boxed into the pack. Another trip cost him any chance of advancing past the preliminaries, and Graca was sent home empty-handed and yearning for another chance.
“He’s really got that on his mind. He knows what to do this year,” Moul said. “While it was unfortunate last year, it helped prepare him for this year. He’s got high hopes.”