Name: Kyle Kennedy
School: Cape Elizabeth High School
What was your most memorable race?
My most memorable race has to be the 1600m at outdoor States last year. It was really my breakout race, I placed third (behind Curts and Shafer) and pr'd by 9 seconds. This was the first and only race I've ever been "in the zone" and I will remember that feeling forever.
Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?
Over my four years, I think my biggest completion has to be with Matt Malcom. We were always competitive with each other in races, and it was a toss up who would win the race. Matt is one of the nicest guys I've raced against, and it's been a pleasure getting to know and racing him.
What was your greatest accomplishment?
My greatest accomplishment is helping my team win the Class B Cross Country State Championship two years in a row. This meant so much more to me than any individual race or medal. Coming in freshman year, no one even thought of Cape as a contender. To come in sophomore year to beat the powerhouses of Ellsworth and Falmouth was incredible, and then to do it again the next year was just icing on the cake.
If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?
If I could do it all over again, I think the only thing I would change would be trying to pass on some of my experience and knowledge to the younger kids on the team. To the incoming seniors, the younger kids look up to you. Show them how you do certain things and why, because even though it only takes you a few minutes, it may be important that they learn it.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
The most difficult obstacle for me has definitely been my injury this past year. I screwed up both of my knees and was out for 6 months trying to recover. After missing the entire indoor season, it was really tough trying to come back at the end of outdoor. Having my team and family behind me really helped.
What will you miss the most?
I will miss the atmosphere at meets and the community that is Maine high school distance running. My favorite part about running is high school is not the running itself, but the people I have had the opportunity to meet and the friends I have made. I will miss more of my running friends than I will people in my own high school. And to have random kids come up to you at meets and talk to you because they've heard about you from others is one of the greatest things in the world. That's what I will miss the most, the tight-knit family that is Maine distance running.
What advice you would give to younger athletes?
Don't run if you don't love to do it. I've heard so many kids say how much they hate running and don't want to be doing it. You will never become successful if you do not enjoy the process, so if you don't like to run, then there is really no point in doing track or cross country. Have fun with it
What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?
I have had a unique opportunity to have different coaches for track and cross country all four years of high school. Through this, I have seen different coaching techniques and different personalities in coaches. Both Andrew Lupien and Derek Veilleux have been huge parts of my life, and it is going to incredibly hard to leave them behind.
What are your college plans?
I will be attending the University of Maine at Orono and will be attempting to walk on to the track and cross country teams.
Who would you like to say thank you to?
First, I would like to thank my parents. Over the years, you have gone from being supporters of me to avid fans of the sport in general. You have grown with me in learning about running, helped me look up people's times before big races, and learned what it means to be a runner. Also, you're not freaked out by short shorts... Anymore.
Next, my coaches and teammates. You guys are the reason I kept coming back all winter, even though I was hurt. You are the reason I kept trying to improve from injury, and without your support, I wouldn't have been able to do it.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
I would just like to give a shoutout to my 4x800 team from this spring: Alex Depke, Jacob Allen, and Mac Huffard. After winning the slow heat at states, watching the fast heat, and seeing we placed 7th overall (good enough for a medal), we leaned we were disqualified. We were all devastated, but we pick ourselves up and moved on. I told the boys how proud I was of them, how much they meant to me, and what an incredible last season they made it for me. Well the next day at graduation, they come up to me, congratulate me, hand me one of the matching headbands we wore in the relay, and say "read it". It reads "BOYS 4x800M RELAY 7TH PLACE." I'm going to be honest, I teared up a little bit when I read it. You guys have no idea how much this meant to me. It is worth so much more than any medal, award, or accolade I have EVER received. Thank you so much
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Do you know a class of 2015 track and field or cross country athlete? We'd like to salute them! Have them answer the following questions plus send 2-3 photos (can not be from another website or publication) to dveilleux@milesplit.us
