How Chris Gravois overcame injury setbacks to sign with UL track and field

Chris Gravois felt a sharp pain in his stomach in the days leading up into the LHSAA state indoor track and field meet in early 2021.

The former E.D. White Catholic sprinter, who signed with University of Louisiana track and field team on July 14, was in the middle of his junior season when he needed an emergency appendectomy. He was forced to miss the state indoor track meet.

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“One night my stomach felt weird and it just got worse,” Gravois said. “I wasn’t able to sleep that night and then I went to the hospital the next morning and they said I needed my appendix removed, so that was tough.”

Gravois said he missed two months of his junior outdoor track season to recover from the surgery. He returned in time for the LHSAA outdoor state meet but finished sixth in the 400.

“After my surgery, I couldn’t do anything for two months to avoid getting a hernia,” Gravois said. “I wasn’t as strong as I was before.”

Gravois returned to full strength for his senior track season and become one of Louisiana’s top high school sprinters.

He won the Division II 60-meter dash at the LHSAA state indoor meet in February with a time of 6.91 seconds. He also placed second in the 400 at 50.35.

At the state outdoor meet in May, he was the Class 3A state champion in the 200 and was runner-up in the 100. He helped E.D. White finished as Class 3A state runner-up. He had the fastest times in the 100 (10.32) and 200 (21.27) in the Houma area.

Gravois played football as well for E.D. White and helped the Cardinals finish as Division II state runner-up.

Gravois said it was the perfect way to close out his high school career, especially after dealing with many setbacks. He injured his hamstring as a freshman. His sophomore season was canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic and he dealt with emergency appendectomy as a junior.

“I go into every race just wanting to run my fastest,” Gravois said. “I definitely knew I would get to the point I’m at eventually. I’ve had a few setbacks over the years. Thankfully this year went as good as I could’ve hoped. It just felt like a long time coming for me to be able to go up there and compete at a state level. I was happy I was able to compete this year.”

Melanie Gravois, who is Chris’ mother, said she knew her son would battle back from injury setbacks.

“Our whole family is so proud of him,” Melanie said. “We all just enjoy watching him run. It’s what he loves to do. He is just dedicated to the sport. He worked out every day. He’s just a beast on the track. He was just determined to get back. He refused to let those issues stop him from doing what he loves."

And next year, he'll continue his track career at UL.

“I always wanted to go to UL," Gravois said. "They were at the top of my list. When they finally reached out to me, it was an easy choice. When I went visit over there, the facilities were nice. The coaches were great. They gave me some benefits I wouldn’t have received at other places.”

Reach Chris Singleton at 985-857-2213 or chris.singleton@houmatoday.com and on Twitter @courierchris.

This article originally appeared on The Courier: Louisiana track and field: Chris Gravois signs with Ragin' Cajuns