What waited for this teen track star on the finish line was much more important than gold.
Members of the military can fight over which branch is the best but they will always agree on one thing – that the most challenging part of serving the country is living away from your loved ones.
That’s why reuniting is so sweet.
Families huddle together in front of the television, watching the news of battles that unfold.
Important events like birthdays, graduations, reunions, and Christmases are missed or, if they are lucky, are done online.
It’s a harder price to pay than living in constant danger, but they still do so just to protect their families back home.
Meet Captain Erika Woodson and Jada McGee.
Captain Erika Woodson was serving a three-year assignment in Anchorage, Alaska. And while she’s living in the same country as her daughter, her life as a soldier and a mother is the same as those serving abroad.
Captain Woodson knew the pains of working so far from your children. She has missed a lot of milestones, especially the important competitions of her daughter Jada.
But there was one she wouldn’t miss.
“Being apart from my children and not being able to be there for their activities is really hard.” Captain Woodson said to Inside Edition.
But Captain Woodson is determined to make up for all the delayed hugs and support.
When her return to California coincided with her daughter’s championship race, Captain Woodson decided to surprise her champion athlete.
With Jada’s most important race in full swing, Captain Woodson sat in one of the tents and waited for her daughter to run the home stretch.
When she saw her daughter sprinting towards the finish line, the soldier mother walked into the track with her arms wide open.
Putting some pep in her step
An emotional Jada ran faster than ever when she realized what was waiting for her at the finish line.
The prize was not clad in gold. It was wrapped in camouflage fatigues and with the biggest smile on her face.
As the then 13-year-old athlete crossed the finish line, she collapsed into her mother’s embrace and cried her heart out.
“From that moment that she knew it was me, she really turned up the heat.” Captain Woodson said as quoted by The Daily Mail.
McGee also shared with Inside Edition that her mother’s presence at the end of the track made her run faster.
She clinched first place that day but celebrated something much dear to her.
Captain Woodson said it was indescribable.
“So many emotions through my entire body. When she buried her face into my shoulder, it was one of the best hugs that I’ve had in my life.” she said to the news outlet.
“This whole experience was a representation of, ‘Mommy will always be at your finish lines. You have to run the races, but rest in knowing that Mommy will be there when you finish’.” She added.
The duo planned on spending a lot of time together after her championship race. She said she will continue training track but this time she won’t be doing it alone.
Watch this mom help her daughter win in the video below!
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