State Track Feature: Kaylee Hurley has higher aspirations this year

Last year, in her first trip to the state tournament in four wheelchair track and field events, McClain's Kaylee Hurley soaked everything in, enjoyed the moment and even was a state runner-up in the 800-meter race.

This year is a different story. Now a sophomore with a year of state competition on her resumé, she has even higher aspirations this year, and that is to leave Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, located on the campus of The Ohio State University, as a state champion.

Hurley will race in four wheelchair events, those being the 100m, 200m and 800m races, along with competing in the shot put event as well.

"Having a year under my belt really helps because now I am more experienced, I know what to expect and I'm pushing harder," Hurley told The Highland County Press. "I'm trying to get first this year rather than second.

"The new chair has really helped this year. My times are going down, and knowing that I was so close last year motivates me this year. Last year I liked the sprinting, but now I like the distance events more. I've put in a lot more miles."

Four years ago, Hurley had a spinal cord stroke, leaving her an incomplete T9 paraplegic. An "incomplete paraplegic" means that "some function below the level of injury is retained," according to brainandspinalcord.org.   

Entering the state championships this year, Hurley performed her way to the event from her times this season, kept at events with automatic timing.
In the 800m race on May 7, Hurley had a time of 3:04.67 at the Miami Trace Invitational. In the 100m race, Hurley raced her way into the state event with her time on April 23 at the Chillicothe Cavalier Invitational, finishing with a time of 25.18.

"Last year, my endurance wasn't as good, and I didn't start working on it until the end of the season," Hurley said. "This year, I began working on it at the start of the season, and now I can be a better competitor because I can keep up with others and I push myself more."


[[In-content Ad]]One of the ways Hurley has improved her strength was by joining the McClain swimming team this past winter.

"Swimming built up my arm muscles a lot and helped me with my breathing and endurance," the sophomore said. "Swimming helps a lot."

Hurley's 400m qualifying time also came at the Chillicothe Cavalier Invitational with a time of 1:53.00. In the shot put event, she qualified with a distance of 13-08.00.

Last year as a freshman at the state level, Hurley was a state runner-up in the 400m race with a time of 1:17.20. At the shot put event last year, her best throw at state was 14-07.50.

In the 800m event, she was 2:56.02, and in the 100m race, Hurley placed third with a 23.78 time.

"Kaylee has had a great season, improving her strength, and has some really high goals," MHS girls track co-head coach Lori Jones said. "Last year it was just to get to state, be competitive and get the experience.

"This year, she came in and is like ‘I want to win,’ and I really believe she's going to do well. She's competed in all but two meets this year, and unfortunately she didn't get to compete against any other wheelers this year, but she's had some good times.

"She's in a good place headed into the state meet. Her qualifying times aren't her best times. We know she's better than the times that she's recorded on automatic timing. At practice, her times are two seconds faster in the 100 than the time we turned in."

Hurley's goal is to pass two-time all-state champion, friend and fellow competitor Jenna Fesemyer of Ravenna.

"I want to break that cycle," Hurley said with a laugh. "I keep in contact with Jenna and a lot of the racers. We are a close-knit group, and it helps, but once we are on the track it is all about competition. After the race is over, we can still all talk, have fun and get along.

"I'm looking forward to racing against more girls, because the more popular it gets, that means the more competition we'll have, and that's exciting."

Having more competition hasn't stopped the McClain sophomore this season. In fact, she welcomes it, and has some of the better times, putting her in contention for a state championship.

"I know I can do better than what my times are," Hurley said. "It motivates me to be better, and I want to push harder. Having the new chair this year, it is smaller, and it fits me, unlike the chair I had last year.

"This year, my chair is measured to me, and it is brand-new, so it does help more."

Coach Jones has been amazed by the improvement over the course of one year by Hurley.

“Having the new chair has been a tremendous help, and it has been neat to see her progress throughout the season," Jones said. "You are like 'wow' with her improvement in a year, and it makes you wonder what's she going to do not only this year, but in the next two years.

"The expectations are higher for her, but this year she has the potential to win multiple events."

Last year, there was a sense of nervousness for Hurley, being a freshman on the big stage of the state championships at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. This time around, there is more excitement than being nervous, according to Hurley.

"After doing this last year, I know more of what to expect heading into it,” Hurley said. “I’m sure I'll be nervous before the race, but I'm excited for it.

"I'm excited to meet the new girls racing, but I just want that first-place finish."

Hurley will compete in her three racing events on Saturday and will take part in the shot put event on Friday.