Hughes said his grandson was in a positive mood as he was wheeled into the operating room Friday. He said Nellum, who started running track when he was 7, was born into a family of track stars, including his grandfather and two great-uncles.
He liked to go to the park and race Hughes, who said his own track records put him in Roosevelt High School's hall of fame. It wasn't until Nellum was in the 11th grade that his grandson finally beat him, Hughes said.
"As he got older, he just got faster and faster," Hughes said.
Allice said that the team was devastated after hearing about the shooting and that he hopes Nellum will be able to return to sprinting after he recovers.
He described Nellum as a congenial young man and the most talented athlete in the program.
Phones at the office had not stopped ringing, he said, as coaches and runners from across the country called to check on Nellum's condition.
"This is his passion, this is his gift," Allice said. "To not be able to exhibit that gift would be a tragedy. We are all committed to the fact that he will be back, and he will prove he can."
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esmeralda.bermudez @latimes.com
ron.lin@latimes.com
Times staff writer Eric Sondheimer contributed to this report.
