Grace Christian’s Cade Fookes, McNeese commit runs for 3 main reasons
ALEXANDRIA, La. — Cade Fookes has always been a sports fan of any and all sports. He tried most of them in his early years, but just could not find one that he felt was his fit–one that he really loved and could do well in. Well, that all changed when he ran the 5K Turkey Trot in the Fall of 2011. He ran with his dad, Sherman, and they finished with a time of 29:21. He was eight years old at the time and he has not stopped running since.
Fast forward to this past fall, Cade is now a senior at Grace Christian School; he runs the Lake Charles Toyota McNeese Cowboy Stampede 5K. Cade finished in 5th place with a time of 17:12. Cade has signed with McNeese University and will be running for the Cowboys this fall.
Cade has competed all four years of his high school career in both cross country and track and field. The majority of his races ended in first place wins. At this year’s District 6B track meet, he participated in four events winning all four giving him the honor of Outstanding Male–2022 District 6B Track Meet. In April, he qualified to run in four different events at the LHSAA State Meet in May.
If you ask Cade why he runs, he is ready to give you three reasons. When Cade was little, he remembers running with his Grandfather Neel (AKA “Pop”). And, he wanted to run just like his Pop. Thank goodness he’s still running, but not like his Pop! Also, he says it is a time to disconnect from everything. Whether it is just being alone in the quiet and clearing his mind; or that it is some really personal time that he spends with God and talks with Him. But most importantly Cade says, “Running is a gift from God that He has given me. So, I want to use it to give Him honor and glory.”
Yes, Cade loves to run–in the rain, in the heat, early in the morning, well I guess he loves to run any time he’s awake. One of Cade’s favorite quotes sums up how he feels about this gift God has given him: “God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.” Eric Liddell, a gold medal winner at the 1924 Paris Olympics.
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