Chaminade sprinter T.J. Brock is known for his speed. Although, he nearly ran his way out of track, entirely. As quickly as his track career began, it almost ended.
New to the sport, around the sixth or seventh grade, Brock didn't have much success. Club coaches told him not to expect success. He was told he wouldn't be that good, and he wouldn't amount to anything in the sport.
It crushed him.
"I'm not even going to lie," he said, "I cried."
Contrary to the belief of the club team coaches, his parents saw potential. Brock, however, had his doubts.
"I had a tough time with confidence," Brock said. "It was disheartening but my parents giving me that extra push helped get things together and set things in motion for me to become what I am today in track. My mom came in and was like 'You know what, you got to be confident in who you are and know that you can do this and if you want to do this, don't let these coaches run you out of the sport.'"
Brock's mother, Kanika, who is also Chaminade's track coach, sparked the flame in him to prove not only the coaches wrong but to himself that he can have success in the sport, he says.
TJ Brock Mission League 100 champ 10.45 pic.twitter.com/HYJoMG743b
— Chaminade Athletics (@Chaminadesports) May 7, 2015
The junior is the Mission League champion in the 100m, 200m and the anchor on the champion 4x100m relay team.
He won the 100m in 10.45. Earlier this season at the Mt. SAC Relays, he ran a wind-aided 10.20, which is the second fastest in state history.
Brock is among the favorites at the CIF-Southern Section Divisional Finals on Saturday at Cerritos College.
In addition to motivating him, Brock's mom also worked on technique with her son which helped him turn a corner in the sport.
The success is great but when Brock is blowing past the competition he carries the responsibility of being a role model in hopes that others are able to persevere despite negativity the way that he has.
"I want to be able to inspire others to go out and understand that you can defy the odds," he said. "Don't listen to what everybody has to tell you. Some people will be for you and some people will be against you."
Mission League 4x100 relay Champions! 41.04 pic.twitter.com/v1DyXEDLya
— Chaminade Athletics (@Chaminadesports) May 7, 2015
