HO_062019

homerhorizon.com sports
the homer horizon | June 20, 2019 | 35
Athlete of the Week
10 Questions
with Kyle Langellier
Kyle Langellier will be a
senior at Lockport Township
this fall and is on the
boys track and field team.
Can you describe
what finishing in fifth
in the 400-meter
dash and helping the
1,600-meter relay to a
second-place finish at
state was like?
It was actually the second-straight
year that I was
All-State in two events.
The previous season, I was
on both of our Top 10 relay
teams (800 and 1,600).
But this one was better
because I never thought
that I’d get All-State in an
individual event. I thought
those events would be too
fast, too competitive. But
this was a really great confidence
builder going into
next season.
Were you more
excited to place fifth
in the 400?
No. Actually, I was more
excited to finish strong and
get second in the 1,600.
That’s because one of my
best friends is Ray Holland.
He was a senior and
the third man in the relay,
and it was his last-ever
race. Being the anchorman,
I wanted to finish the race
strong for him, and I did.
Down the stretch, did
you hear the crowd
cheering?
No, especially for that
race. I wasn’t hearing a
sound. I just tune everything
out during a race. I
was thinking to just drive
my legs and go as fast as
I can.
How did you get
involved in running?
I remember that in fifth
or sixth grade, I would be
faster than everyone else. At
Homer Jr. High, you can’t
do track until seventh grade.
So I first started doing cross
country in sixth grade. But
the first time I ever ran the
100 in seventh grade, I ran
11.5 seconds and broke the
school record.
What is your favorite
event to run?
Starting my sophomore
year, it became the 400,
without a doubt. The 100 is
too quick to enjoy. The last
100 of the 400 is the worst.
Your legs are screaming,
but you go on adrenaline,
and it’s the best feeling
when you keep going and
finish strong.
What are you doing
training-wise this
summer break?
I do sprint work two
days a week, and I will
start running cross county
[this] week. I will be running
cross country again in
the fall.
What do you do to get
fired up before a race?
Actually, I normally
have to calm myself down,
especially in the 400. I
have to listen to mellow
music like Frank Sinatra to
calm myself down. Then
in the 1,600 relay, Michael
Walkosz goes first in the
event. When I’m about to
get the baton passed on to
22nd Century Media File
Photo
me as the final runner, he’s
now on the side. He looks
at me, and that’s all I need
to see for the final stretch.
What have you
learned from Lockport
track sprint coach
Robert Beach?
He taught me the proper
running form. He’s the
one who taught me about
the 400-meter technique.
Physical-wise, I owe it all
to coach Beach.
You still have another
year in high school,
but are you planning
to run in college?
Yes, that’s my plan. I
got a few more emails and
calls after this season’s
state tournament. I’m going
to go into writing and
journalism. The distance
doesn’t matter.
What is the best thing
about being at LTHS?
I love the family feel.
Now that I’ve completed
my junior season in high
school, there’s even more
of a relationship between
the athletes and coaches.
I’m so happy to have
these guys as coaches, and
there’s a real brotherhood
between the athletes out
there.
Interview by Freelance Reporter
Randy Whalen
22ND CENTURY MEDIA is looking
for local FREELANCE REPORTERS
and PHOTOGRAPHERS to cover events,
meetings and sports in the area.
Interested individuals should send
an email with a resume and any clips to
jobs@22ndcenturymedia.com
www.22ndcenturymedia.com
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