“Talent.” It’s an understatement

by Andie Tibbetts for DyeStat Florida       

I have a firm belief that everyone has a talent. That everyone is good - or even better than good - at something. My brother has an ear for music. Guitar and Ukulele are his favorites, but a few weeks ago he taught me a few bass chords so we could play together. He even picked up a set of drumsticks once - my chosen instrument - and proceeded to crash and ring ting ting his way through a song better than I ever did. My dad can play as well - and he’s not a bad singer, although he says he’s not. My mother has the most perfect running form you’ve ever seen, and she’s an excellent motivator. And I’ve been told that I’m not half bad at writing.

Although running is something all the members of my family are intimately comfortable with, there is always room for improvement.

Unless, of course, your name is Seneca Milledge. Then you’re just breaking records from the get go and end up becoming the fastest 100 meter freshman in the country.

Yes. You’ve read me right.

RELATED - SEE THE BOY'S 100M RANKINGS (subject to change as performances are added)

He comes from Fort Myers, in Southwest Florida, and attends Dunbar High school, where he is proud to be a Tiger (It’s cheesy, I know). His enthusiasm for his high school on the phone really is something to be noted - as a Senior only a few weeks away from graduation, it’s refreshing to hear someone this close to the end of the year in love with their school. “The principal always makes sure you’re working, that you’re getting better. You can’t slack off. We score high there. It’s a good school!”, he assures me. And Seneca feels that pressure times double, because not only is he a record-breaking track star, but he also takes the field as a part of their football team, and from what I hear, he’s pretty good. But all the accomplishment isn’t without a fight.  

“My hip is messed up.” He admits to me. “It hurts when I run, so I rest in between as much as I can, you know? I’m gonna try for state next week, and right afterwards I’m gonna rest up.” However bad the pain is, he doesn’t say - it’s a topic he doesn’t elaborate on - but it doesn’t stop him from PR-ing with a 10.47 in the 100m, a 21.72 in the 200m, and a long jump of 23' 11", all in this year.  And this isn’t his first article, either. www.news-press.com has written two separate articles on the Dunbar star in both track and football, even crediting him as having “one of the most compact and beautiful strides you’ll see in Southwest Florida.”

Seneca Milledge at the Ida Baker Indoor/Outdoor Challenge by Robert "Twangster" Brown

But even though he’s done so well, it’s still only his first year of high school. He has a long career in running - and possibly football - out ahead of him, and if he’s breaking records this year, who’s to say what won’t happen next? We could have a future Olympian on our hands, folks.

Seneca started running when he was twelve years old, and he’s been pounding the pavement ever since. It all started at the Olympia Track Club, with Coach Madette Smith. “I call her my mom.” He laughs, in between bouts of bad reception on the phone, as he spells out her name multiple times for me. “She was always working with me, taking care of me, supporting me. She kept me going.” Not just that, but he says his favorite part about the runs are “showing up and seeing everyone do their best and doing my best and everyone just hyping each other up.” With football it’s very nearly the same thing. “Seeing everyone happy and hyped up, everywhere, that’s what keeps me motivated.” Motivated to keep running, to keep playing, even while his hip throbs with pain.

You would think, with the star times, and the articles, that the whole “fastest 100m freshman in the country” might even be getting to his head, but he said he tries not to think about it. There is no grandeur with him. “It’s just a fact,” he states. “I just want to stay humble.”

And he is. I have never spoken to a man of fewer words - he’s quick to the point but not aggressive. There is nervous laughter when we accidentally cut each other off.  He’s a freshman, excited and humble and full of possibilities that extend far beyond States next week.

I’m a firm believer in talent, although in his case it’s a bit of an understatement.

Whatever it is, Seneca, I think yours will lead you to greatness.

About the Author

Andie Tibbetts graduated from Oviedo High School in 2016 and is attending the University of South Florida as an English Major in the class of 2020. In addition to writing, she enjoys running and did her first triathlon when she was a sophomore in high school. She would love any critique her readers may have to offer and thanks all the athletes for the inspiration they continually bring her. Contact Andie on Twitter at @andietib. Follow her on Tumblr at s0methingold-s0methingnew or on Instagram at @Andietib.