This is particularly seen with Erik Fisher, the protagonist, who excelled in track despite not having the same opportunities as his more privileged teammates. Erik, coming from a lower socioeconomic background and facing discrimination as a student with a learning disability, was not given the attention or support his talents deserved. As a result, his accomplishments were often overlooked and undocumented, contributing to the invisibility of his achievements within the school community.
The novel uses this theme to highlight the unequal playing field that exists for students from different backgrounds and how institutional structures can perpetuate injustice.