Triple Threat: Three of East’s Track & Field stars tell how they’re going to take on the season

Tess Roman

Senior Tess Roman explodes with her first step off the block, her steps getting farther and farther away from each other as she sprints toward the landing pit. She takes off and flies through the air for a second and lands with sand kicking up all over her body. She jumped 17 feet— a few inches shy of her record—to earn a sixth place finish at state. 

Having been on the Track and Field team since freshman year, Roman is used to the high stakes with lots of eyes on her, especially from recruiters. But this year, things are different. 

On Feb. 9, Roman signed to run track for Wichita State University at the Division 1 level. At WSU, she’ll compete in the heptathlon which includes seven total events across track and field. 

For Roman, being committed takes lots of weight off her shoulders for the upcoming season — a change from the heavy amounts of stress to compete she’s felt in years past while pushing to make it to D1. 

To ensure Roman stays healthy, she will only be competing in two out of the three jump events —long jump, triple jump and high jump—at each meet. She will alternate which two she competes in every week. 

“I do think it takes off stress because I feel like I have things figured out,” Roman said. “I can get help from my college coaches if I need it.”

Although she’s less stressed, her mindset for high school track hasn’t changed. This year, her goal is to place in the top three for triple jump and long jump, along with winning a state title in high jump.

“She always works, especially with her extra hours in the offseason,” junior and fellow high jumper CJ Leonard said. “I think now being committed and having a plan for college lets her be free and just focus on the actual sport.”

Grace Meyer

Walking out of school to a gust of the cold, dry wind of Kansas City winter, senior Grace Meyer suits up for her daily six-mile run — a routine that seems insane to most students. 

After placing first in the state in the 800-meter run last track season and committing to Kansas State University, Meyer’s natural competitiveness hasn’t stopped. She hopes to break new records this year in the 800-meter and the mile so that she’s fully prepared for running in college.

Meyer feels that committing is a reason to work extra hard this season and push herself as an athlete more than she has previously. She wants to improve her pace and further bonds with her teammates in the process. 

“Having everyone know that you are committed as a D1, that is a lot to live up to,” Meyer said. “[Being committed] is a motivator for me.”

So, she runs her route down Mission Rd. day or night, rain or shine, to prepare herself to leave East Track and Field with a lasting impact. 

“She [runs] every day and it’s just amazing that she’s stuck with it [because] a lot of times she’ll miss out on parties because she’ll have a track or a cross country meet early in the morning,” Senior and best friend Kasey Nelson said. “I think that says a lot about the type of person she is because she’s super dedicated to something when she chooses to be.”

Wyatt Haughton

Junior Wyatt Haughton felt he had a huge cross country season last year — placing second in the state for the 5k, first in the Sunflower League and earning the 5K school record. For him, this is a big season, as it’ll be a determining factor of his future at the collegiate level.

Haughton finds great importance in off-season training. During his distance running, “Hands on the Wheel” by ASAP Rocky blasts in his ears to keep him going all winter, knowing his season recruitment begins in March.

“The turnaround definitely was the winter,” Haughton’s East running coach Rikki Hacker said. “We started training harder and things started to happen for him. We built our way through, we didn’t do anything crazy, but we just kept knocking out miles.”

According to Haughton, his goal to run at the collegiate level is what keeps him going when he feels breathless in his training, reminding him what he’s working for. 

It’ll get me into college, so it’s all worth it.

Haughton hopes to shatter two more records this season  — the one and two mile — and to take first at state with the rest of his team.

“Having a good relationship with your teammates definitely helps you run faster and be more dedicated,” Haughton said. “[When they are struggling], I’m always making sure I’m telling them to think of the end goal of state.”