A teen’s championship win ends in a surprise embrace from her deployed mom
Not every finish line is just about the win — sometimes, it’s about what’s waiting just beyond it.
In 2019, 13-year-old Jada McGee from Edward Harris Junior Middle School in Sacramento, California, sprinted her heart out in the anchor leg of her 4×100-meter relay at a championship track meet. The moment she crossed the finish line in first place, the race became unforgettable — not just for the victory, but for the embrace that followed.
“I instantly started crying because I was excited to see her and I couldn’t believe it had happened,” Jada told T&T Creative Media.
That emotional release came as Jada ran into the arms of her mother, Capt. Erika Woods, who had just returned from a six-month deployment. Stationed in Anchorage, Alaska, for a three-year assignment, Woods had not been able to attend any of Jada’s events that season.
“It’s been pretty tough not being able to see her run during the regular season, I normally was able to make most of her basketball games she has, ballet recitals, gymnastics,” Woods said. “Being apart from my children and not being able to be there for their activities is really hard.”
Determined not to miss her daughter’s championship race, Woods coordinated a surprise return through the school counselor. Her timing was perfect.
“Coming down the home straight I was excited because I was in first place and I saw my mom close to the finish line so it made me start running faster,” Jada said. “She was putting her hands up and clapping and I was like, ‘Oh shoot, that’s my mom.’”
The emotional reunion on the track was just as powerful for Capt. Woods.
“When I finally hugged Jada and she crossed the finish line, just a release of a lot of different emotions, happy that I was able to be there for that moment for her, excited for her to finish in first place, even tears of sadness that I had missed so much of her season or all of her season,” she recalled. “All of those emotions wrapped in one.”
During her time back home, Woods and Jada cherished every moment — bonding, celebrating, and even training together for the next season.
This moment is a reminder that not all heroes wear uniforms on the track — some wear military ones in service. Jada’s story is more than a tale of athletic triumph; it’s a celebration of sacrifice, love, and the extraordinary power of presence. In a world that moves fast, it’s these deeply personal, heartfelt pauses — like a hug at the finish line — that leave the most lasting impact.
Source:
- https://youtu.be/KC8rnP2Ow3o?si=1M6V79WQdrYgEjNf
- https://youtu.be/KC8rnP2Ow3o?si=Vb66vz0LRYrPAPcq
- https://www.insideedition.com/13-year-old-track-star-surprised-military-mom-finish-line-54644
- https://app.pictory.ai/
- https://chatgpt.com/
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