Class of 2022: Howard Bell V

Hurdling Past the Pain to Run Again: Howard Bell V, Hillsboro High School
Posted on 05/13/2022
howard bell running on track

Howard Bell running track with a cast

We all have heard the mantra that when you get knocked down, you have to dust yourself off and try again. Well, in Howard Bell V’s case, after his fall he did not expect to get back up with a broken wrist. So much for dusting himself off. 

But he did it anyway, tried again – and succeeded.

Howard, a senior at Hillsboro High School, injured himself during the beginning of the track & field season. Learning to adjust and then compete with a cast seemed impossible, but now he is determined to cross the finish line. Howard Bell V

“It was hard coming back from the injury and trying to run with a cast. I became anxious, a bit nervous,” Howard says. “Now I keep an open mind and tell myself to run. All I have to do is run! That is what I tell myself every track meet.”

Howard broke his wrist during the 4x100 meter relay exchange.

“My teammate took off without doing the baton exchange,” he recalled. “He was so far ahead; I was trying my best to catch up with him without running out of the exchange zone. I overextended, fell forward and snapped my wrist.”

Howard was out for three weeks before getting doctor’s clearance and returning to track practice. On average, an arm cast weighs around 2.5 to 3.5 pounds, and when running hurdles you want to ensure that nothing hinders you from clearing them.

Howard felt every ounce of the extra weight. But he didn’t want to sit out his senior season, so he pushed through and got comfortable with the cast while running 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles.

Although the season is not over, Howard is taking it all in stride as he prepares to complete his last year as a Burro. He wants to move at his own pace. Once he finishes with track, he will narrow down his collegiate decision and make a choice.

“His father and I could not be prouder of Howard,” said his mother, Sharita Bell. “He has shown himself as well as his coach and his teammates that he can push through the pain. His dedication and love for the sport goes without words, and we cannot wait to see what more is in store for him at the next level.”

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