Messenger photo by Joe Duty

Shadows streak over well-trodden earth like what’s left below when the sun rises behind a graceful line of skyborne birds.

Hearts fueled on fresh air and virtue gallop long strides on the sacred path to glory. Though lost in a sea of like minds and bodies and blurred shadows in a field, the individual effort somehow still shines outward.

Our roaming photographer captured this image at the state cross country meet Saturday at Round Rock. When covering an event that included so many local teams, he searched for a shot that portrays runners without revealing individual competitors.

The shadows show the running, provide a mystery, while the feet and legs in motion gives a human element. The type of sneaker and the way the laces are tied provides the individuality needed. It makes each runner, even in partial view and shadow, their own character, just like the angle of every photograph taken reveals the uniqueness of every photographer behind the lens.