Logan gets inspiration from lead runner on relay

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Kammesha Thomas leads the Logan girls 4X100 and 4X200 relays.

“It’s kind of nerve wracking.”

She leads those relays because she has to.

“You are supposed to turn back to your left and switch it to your right. But since I only have my right, I just lead off.”

Kammesha was born without the lower part of her left arm. But that hasn’t slowed her down.

“I grew up with it so it’s not hard doing stuff with it.”

“It’s a lot of big inspiration for our team and it just means a lot to have someone with that trouble,” says relay teammate Ashley Sprain. “She’s overcome so many things like being bullied so it just means a lot to our team to have someone overcome those and then be able to run as fast as she does.”

“They’re awesome,” Kammesha says about her teammates. “They help me with stuff like when I’m tying my shoes. I’m kind of slow and I mess up a lot and they are like, ‘Here, I got this for you.'”

With her lead, Logan on Friday placed second in the 4X200 in 1:42.66.
And fourth in the 2X100 in 48.69.

“It’s awesome.”

And Kammesha on Saturday will lead Logan into the final of the 4×200 at the 2014 WIAA State Track and Field Championships. That Logan relay is going for a state title three-peat.

“I want to do it. I want to get there. There is another team ahead of us by 0.22. It’s like, ‘Gotta get them.'”