WEST FORK — Tiffany Redlarczyk didn’t see the slower runner come to a sudden stop in front of Jenna Scott in time to yell a warning or give her end of the rope a pull.

The other runner lost a shoe in the collision an instant later. Scott lost her balance, but only for a split-second.

The West Fork eighth-grader only paused for a moment before stepping around the slower runner and getting back to running the longest cross country race of her life at the Chile Pepper Festival’s junior high meet Oct. 4.

The run-in was only a minor speed bump for Scott. Blindness hasn’t deterred her or her fellow eighth-grade sister, Rosanna, from running. Relying on guide runners to direct them with ropes while running has become second nature over the course of the last few months. A mid-race collision or the occasional bloody knee from practice isn’t about to slow them down.

“They’re tough,” said Redlarczyk, West Fork’s cross country coach. “They fall down and get back up. They’re the most mentally strong kids on the team.

“It’s been easier than what I thought it was going to be, because their senses are so strong. They’re very coordinated. They have that natural athleticism.”

The Scotts have proven that by not just competing, but placing and scoring points in several high finishes for West Fork’s junior high girls team this year.

The girls have been quick to fit in on a tight-knit West Fork roster that includes just 23 runners, boys and girls, in junior high and high school. Cross country gave the Scotts an opportunity to use their athleticism in a sports setting more conducive to their limitations, unlike basketball, softball or soccer.

“We didn’t have any other interesting sports,” Jenna said.

“We’re not interested in balls so much,” Rosanna quipped.

GETTING INVOLVED

Jenna and Rosanna are not biologically related, but both were born blind in China. Travis and Veletta Scott adopted Rosanna when she was 9 years old and Jenna when she was 7.

Jenna has glaucoma, while Rosanna is visually impaired as a result of a congenital abnormality. They are the oldest of the Scotts’ seven children, including five adopted children who are all visually impaired to some degree, a conscious decision made by the Scotts in the adoption process.

“It just seemed kind of natural to keep going that direction,” Veletta said.

Jenna and Rosetta loved running at an early age. Veletta often lets them run free in a flat pasture near their home. But they weren’t afforded the same freedom while attending elementary school in another area district, forced instead to sit in the bleachers during gym class.

“They weren’t allowed to do much in P.E.,” Veletta said. “Their P.E. teacher wouldn’t let them run.”

That led Veletta to home school the children for several years up until she enrolled them in West Fork this summer. One of the first people she sought out was Redlarczyk, who was entering her third year as boys and girls cross country coach and girls track coach.

“When she came to me, I was excited and also a little bit nervous,” Redlarczyk said. “I’d never dealt with anyone who is visually impaired. Because I knew they wanted to run, I was going to make sure it happened.”

The sisters were cleared to compete after passing a physical and Redlarczyk checking with the Arkansas Activities Association, the state’s high school sports governing body. Their new teammates didn’t know what to expect and were a little quiet and nervous during the early stages of the first practice the Scotts attended as a result.

But they quickly warmed up to Jenna and Rosanna.

“I’ve been amazed and thrilled with the response,” Veletta said. “The team has been wonderful. Everyone has just been really welcoming. I think it’s been a terrific experience.”

RUNNING TO WIN

Rosanna had one hand on the rope she was sharing with assistant Shad Surber when another runner latched onto her free hand.

“I thought like, ‘Uh, I think this will be difficult with three of us on the field,’” Rosanna said.

Fortunately, one of her West Fork teammates intervened almost immediately.

“One of my other girls goes, ‘Leave her alone. She’s fine,’” Redlarczyk said.

The Scotts need help in the sense that guide runners are a must. But they don’t look for shortcuts or the easy way out, whether in a race or when it comes time to go on a four-and-a-half-mile practice run.

“They always want to do the extra mile, the extra repeats,” Redlarczyk said. “They want to go as long as everyone else or extra. They’re tough. Cause people are trying to sometimes baby them, but they’re like, ‘No, we’re fine. Let me run.’ They’re tough. If they fall, they’ll get up even if they’re bleeding.”

Their relentless attitude has resulted in rapidly improving times in the few short months since they joined the team. Student guide runners now struggle to keep up with them, prompting West Fork’s coaches to assume the roles.

Rosanna began the year with a two-mile time of 20 minutes, 31 seconds but has cut it down to 17:28. Jenna trimmed her 20:08 time down to 17:05. Rosanna is faster in shorter distances, while Jenna has the advantage in the longer lengths featured in cross country. They have a friendly competition going with each other every time they race.

“Sometimes I run past her and say, ‘Hey, Rosie, I’m going to beat you there?’” Jenna said.

But they’re competing well against other runners, too, especially considering it’s their first year.

Jenna is West Fork’s No. 5 junior high girls runner, and Rosanna is close behind. They’ve helped West Fork win a meet at Lavaca and finish second at Shiloh Christian this year.

They’ve earned respect at every meet they’ve run in.

“A lot of parents email from other schools and are inspired by seeing them run,” Redlarczyk said.

Pretty soon, runners and parents from opposing schools will be used to seeing the Scotts.

They plan to keep running through the rest of junior high and into high school. They may even get guide dogs to aid them in races when they turn 16.

To the sisters, being blind and running cross country just comes natural.

“At school, one person asked me how I did this,” Jenna said. “And I said, ‘Well, let’s see. I put one foot in front of the other and I ran.’”