CdM’s Keddington defies odds

Yet not all the adversity came physically. She also had to deal with playing catch-up in her academics. Missing close to a month of school forced Keddington to intensify her study habits. And because she wasn’t able to sit up in a chair early on, she would stand in several of her classes to receive the information necessary for upcoming tests.

Keddington still managed to find some joy. She, of course, took pleasure in getting her grades back up. She also smiles when she says the surgery added two inches to her height.

However, there were several times she was cut down to size. During her first sessions with the cross country team, Sumner told her to just run for a minute at a time. The minute turned to three and so on.

Keddington, who also battles with asthma and iron deficiency, continued to run. When every obstacle seemingly told her to find something else, she believed running picked her.

The payoff came last spring.

She performed well for the Sea Kings’ track and field team. Her greatest achievement, perhaps fittingly, came at the end of the season. She finished fourth in the 800 meters at the CIF Southern Section Division III finals.

Then this cross country season, she has been a runner who has been as high as fourth on the team.

“It’s pretty amazing,” said teammate Marisa Cummings, a senior who is CdM’s No. 2 runner. “Just two years ago I saw her in the hospital, laying on the bed. For her to come back in just a little time is just amazing. She is a fighter. It’s pretty inspiring.”

Keddington is not only showing her strength in competition. She has also made it a point to share her story with many, especially those who have scoliosis.

In January, she’s scheduled to speak at a CHOC fundraiser to tell her story of redemption.

“I think it would’ve been nice before I went through it to have read a story like mine,” she says. “I think I would’ve felt more confidence.”

Now she has plenty of self-esteem. She had a rough performance last week, finishing 47th, but she’s eager to turn it around, yet again, in Fresno.

“We worked really hard this whole season and we want it so bad,” Keddington said of winning a state title, which would give the Sea Kings seven, unprecedented in the meet’s history. “I know we can do it. We are really determined. Orange Lutheran is a great team, but we believe we can do it.”