Salute To Seniors: Kyle Goodman (East Mecklenburg)

 High School

What was your greatest moment while competing in high school? 

Oh man, where do I begin...? One of my greatest moments while competing was at the 2019 NCHSAA 4A State Championships and I had one of the best performance I had ever accomplished in my HS career. I split 1:51.52 in the 4x800m to take 2nd, I won the state title in the 800m with a 1:51.97 and I had a huge comeback from 5th to 1st to win the state title in the 4x400m with a 47.70 anchor split, and that was enough to secure a tied Team 4A State-Runner up finish. And to top it all of, I had the love and support of my amazing teammates, friends and family through this journey, I couldn't have done it without them.

What is your biggest regret or what would you have done differently and why?

I don't believe I have many big regret in my high school T&F career seeing as any setbacks I have had is part of the process to make me become the athlete that I am now. But, if I could say something that I wish I did differently as far as training went, I wished I had ran XC more, it would have improved my endurance a little bit more. Oh, and probably switched to the 800m a little bit sooner then I did.

What will you miss the most about HS T&F/XC?

What I will miss most about HS T&F/XC is the amazing people that I have competed with and against, come to know and love on the track team and watching them grow up to the athletes they are now. The people in particular is Ashleigh Fields, the girls and boys relay team, Lee Campbell and Jordan Grant that I will miss the most. And lastly, I will miss my HS coach, Coach Hunter, he has stayed with me all these years and always treated me like his own son and I see him like another father and he has built me up into the athlete I am now. I wish them all nothing but the best.

What is some advice from incoming frosh and rising seniors on your high school team that you would like to share with them?

If I have any advice for aspiring track athletes Rising Freshman to Senior, I just say just always remain humble and trust your training, and be sure to always want to have the will and the desire to succeed and thrive in the face of any adversity you may have in your season. You don't have to PR every single meet, sometime it just takes the right amount of hard work, patience and dedication and everything will take care of itself. Oh, and don't get shin splints, haha.

What was the hardest workout you did your entire high school career? Did you like it or did you dread it?

The hardest workout that I remember doing was during summer track of my sophomore year heading into junior year and the workout was 4 400m @ 1:00 or better with only 1 min worth or rest, It was extremely grueling and I wanted to burst out in tears during the run, but in the end, it paid off so I guess it a win in my books.

How did you make track/XC a very individual sport into more of a team sport?

I made it from a individual sport to more of a team sports by bonding very well with my teammates and going thru moment and lesson with my teammates is one of the best way we got to become closer as a team and the fact that they helped me become a better person is one of the many things I appreciate the most.

Finally, what are your college plans? Will you be competing in college, where? What do you plan on studying? What do you have as career plans? 

I plan on attending The University of Alabama to pursue athletic and Academic career and I plan on studying majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Physics. And far as a career plan, I have a desire to work in the private sector and so we will see where it take me.

Anything else you'd like to add or shoutouts you'd like to give?

Oh man... do I have a list of shoutout. Shoutout to Ashleigh Fields, Coach Hunter, Coach Bryant, Ms. Degent, Coach Mike, Coach Collins, Coach Will, Coach Davis, Lee Campbell, Fulton Shober (Distance brother), Jordan Grant, Jaylin Pate, Azaria Stewart and lastly, my AAU and HS track team. Oh boy... did I say to much???  *cue sarcasm*.