I’m a college athlete. The system that gave me my dream is starting to break

Every detail of my life, no matter how small, has been influenced by sports. My parents met at a Florida Relays track meet at the University of Florida. During my childhood, my mom was a Division II track coach at the Colorado School of Mines. I would spend my afternoons at practice with her, carefully observing every throw and every cue she gave her athletes.

Although my parents signed me up for every sport under the sun, all I ever wanted was to throw. Being exposed to college track at...