Moving Forward

Plainfield Freshman Pushes Past Vision Loss

If there was ever a kid who was born to run, it’s Plainfield freshman Andrew Gray. Andrew’s first exposure to running came in September 2020, when he joined his family on a three-kilometer course at Swinford Park.

At the age of 9, Andrew wasn’t initially enamored with running, but he spent many years watching his older brother, Isaiah, take part in cross-country. When he entered sixth grade, Andrew joined the cross-country team. Initially ranking among the top eight runners, he qualified as an alternate for championship races. He never missed a chance to watch the eighth graders at important meets, and he was determined to enter seventh grade with a renewed sense of purpose and become a top runner.

The 2023 cross-country season gave Andrew his first real taste of success. Spending much of the season as one of the top runners, he eventually competed at the state championship, where he broke the 11-minute barrier for the first time with a run time of 10:49. After the school season finished, he also ran the USATF Hoosier Grand Prix, NXR Midwest and the USATF Indiana Association Junior Olympic Championship, where he finished ninth and qualified for the USATF Region 7 Championship.

With an invigorated passion for running, Andrew began training regularly during both the on- and off-season, averaging nearly 30 miles per week between November and January. In 2024, Andrew took off competitively, joining the MSP Speed Run Club out of Avon after the school season ended. He finished second in the 1,500 meters and won the 3,000 meters and the 4×800 relay at the USATF Indiana Association Junior Olympic Championship.

He continued on to the USATF Region 7 Junior Olympic Championship, where he finished third in the 1,500 meters with a personal-best 4:44 and once again won the 3,000 meters with a time of 10:15. Afterward, Andrew and his dad traveled to Texas A&M University in College Station for the USATF National Junior Olympic Championship. There, Andrew finished 32nd in the 1,500 meters with a 4:47 and 19th in the 3,000 meters with a personal-best time of 10:12.46.

Andrew went on to win most of his eighth-grade races, including taking the top spot at the Junior Mid-State Conference Championship at Franklin Community. After a series of successes, Andrew competed again at the USATF National Junior Olympic Championship, hopeful for an All-American placement. Despite his previous achievements, he burned out quickly, posting one of the worst performances of his life, running 94 seconds slower than he had on the same course just two months earlier.

Shortly thereafter, Andrew’s parents noticed a change in his vision and initially thought the decline was a side effect of vision loss. Like many kids his age, Andrew was headed to the optometrist for glasses. However, that visit soon turned into a series of MRIs, a five-day stay at Riley Hospital and genetic testing. The diagnosis was an inherited mutation on his mitochondrial DNA known as Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, or LHON.

“With his diagnosis, his weekly mileage dropped as we tried to adjust. His vision loss at the time was roughly equivalent to 20/600 in his central vision. He has thankfully retained peripheral vision so far. Because of this, he can navigate fairly well as long as there are no sudden changes in front of him,” says Adam Gray, Andrew’s father. “LHON’s appearance also came with a fairly large systemwide metabolic crash, meaning he lost quite a bit of what might be called fitness, which he is still working to reclaim today.”

Although Andrew still retains an elite aerobic system, the mutation affects the first stage of his energy production. As a result, his body produces lactate sooner than normal, causing heavy legs and slowing him down even though his aerobic system remains largely uncompromised.

When he returned for his eighth-grade track season, Andrew competed in the Indiana Distance Showcase Meet but reported seeing “dots” everywhere and complained of dizziness throughout the race. He spent much of the spring season sick or injured as he worked to return to his normal physical capacity.

For the most part, he was able to run with the team and compete in races. However, a collision with a female teammate on the homestretch of a 2,400-meter race raised questions about accommodations, and his family began investigating ways to best support his future in running.

It was decided Andrew would try a new approach. Wearing his phone on a belt and connected to open-ear, bone-conduction Bluetooth headphones, he could hear instructions from coaches alerting him to upcoming obstacles and lane changes. While this method was initially successful, Andrew came under scrutiny at the USATF Nationals and was nearly disqualified for wearing headphones during the race.

“It was so hot that day that there was a water table set up for the 3,000, but Andrew could not see the cups well enough to grab one cleanly,” Adam says. “It wasn’t until lap six, after several failed attempts, that a volunteer matched his pace to hand him a cup of water to cool down. After returning to our hotel room after the race, we were laughing so hard at the commentary, as all eyes were on Andrew and whether or not he’d finally get a cup. It was hysterical.”

Andrew eventually transitioned to high school cross-country, something he had long looked forward to. He had a rough start, running a 12:18 two-mile after previously posting a 13:13 five-kilometer time the year before. He also suffered a concussion while crossing lane traffic. It became clear he would need a guide runner, and teammate Cole Rightley volunteered for the role.

“Their first race together was a learning experience for both of them at the Brownsburg Invite,” Adam says. “The course is flat and fast, but many sections are narrow for the number of runners. It’s very different racing with someone attached to your side. Even small moves and passes must be planned and communicated to be effective.”

Andrew continues to show improvement with the use of a guide runner. He remains active in winter meets and is looking forward to IHSAA track in the spring.

“Andrew is a kind and compassionate kid who loves to run and is driven to keep pushing himself,” Adam says. “He has met and befriended runners from all over Indiana and the Midwest and enjoys encouraging those he competes with. He has a great sense of humor and is always joking around. Blind jokes at his own expense are his favorite right now.”

The Gray family remains hopeful Andrew will continue to improve during the spring season and stays committed to supporting him in every way possible as he pursues his dreams.