What was your most memorable meet or race?
My most memorable meet was probably our home track meet of our senior year. Marionville boys had not won a meet as a team in about 20 years, and to do it on our home track with my best friends was a really special accomplishment.
Out of all your high school accomplishments, which stands out the most?
I would say my biggest high school accomplishment was graduating as valedictorian of my senior class. It was a goal I had worked for my entire life. On the track, I would say the biggest accomplishment we achieved was building a track program with numbers. We raised the bar as a team and competed at every meet. It was great to draw younger track fanatics to participate and teach them the ropes of the sport.
If you could do it all over again is there anything you would change?
If I could do it all over again, I would have pushed myself harder as a younger athlete to be the best. During freshman year, it was hard to grasp at how quickly my track career would fly by, and how much I would miss it.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
I would say the greatest obstacle I had to overcome was tearing my ACL junior year. I tore it the day before our first meet and missed all season. During physical therapy I had to learn to walk, run, jump, and finally hurdle all over again. Knowing that I had my senior season approaching pushed me to rehab my knee as quickly as possible and get back on the track.
What will you miss the most?
I will miss both the people I met, and the race itself. During meets, I made countless new friends. Track is not like any other sport, there is an opportunity to make a new friend at every meet. I will also miss the race. The thrill of the gun going off and then running a full set of hurdles is an adrenaline rush.
Do you have any advice for younger athletes?
I would say to just enjoy it, like I said it goes by in a blink of an eye. Track, in my mind, is the best sport, and it should be enjoyed!
What are your college plans?
I plan to attend Missouri State University and major in elementary and special education. I also plan on coaching high school track.
Who would you like to thank?
I would first like to thank God for the ability to run this great sport. Next, my family and friends who supported me during every race, practice, and every aspect of life. From driving me to physical therapy after my ACL tear to cheering me on at the sectional meet, they all mean the world to me. Also, a thank you to the great staff at Mercy Hospital and HealthTracks Sports Med. Center who gave me a new knee, and the opportunity to run again. And last, my coaches, especially Coach Rodger Young, who lives and breathes track and field. Not only did he unlock the field house year-round so that I could practice, but he taught me everything that I know about the sport, and inspired me to coach track one day.
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <em style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: invert none 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana;">Want to be featured in our Salute To Seniors series? Email PEverett@milesplit.com and answer the questions above! Congratulations to the seniors on all their hard work and success.</em><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana;"> </span></p> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p> </p>