By Ken Hansard
All great athletes set goals. Those goals are usually determined by the athlete’s capabilities. Some set very general goals, like just making a team and competing or simply having fun and enjoying the social aspect. Others may set a general goal of competing at the highest level that their abilities allow. However, for some athletes, those goals can be very specific. The latter is certainly the case for Derby senior William Hopson. He knows exactly what he wants from his final year running for the Panthers.
Hopson has already been to the KSHSAA State meet at Cessna Stadium. He qualified for the 4 x 800 as a sophomore, a feat he pulled off without any distance training whatsoever. He finished sixth last year at state in the 6A 400-meter dash. He also won the League (AVCTL Division I) and additionally won his 6A Regional in the 400 last season as a junior. Those marks will be difficult to top, but Hopson already knows what he wants.
William competes for Derby in the 400, the 4 x 400, and the 200. While the 200 is something he is trying on new this season, the 400 and 4×4 are events that he specializes in. He ran a personal best time of 49.24 in the 400 as a junior. The Derby school record sits at 48.89, and that gives Hopson a very specific mark to shoot for, “While I am mainly looking forward to being a good role model for the younger athletes on our team, I am also looking at the possibility of breaking my school’s 400m record.”
Hopson spent a lot of time in the gym and on the track in the off-season, both to set an example for his younger teammates and to improve himself, “I see myself as someone who is flexible and looking to grow. I have worked on a stronger upper body in the gym. I’ve also been working on my running form recently, but after trying a new running style, I have discovered that it isn’t quite as efficient, so I’m having to re-tool that a bit.”
William understands that he is nearing the end of his journey with the Panthers, and he wants to leave his mark – both on his teammates and on the school record book – but he also wants to enjoy doing something that he has made a lifetime commitment, “I love track because it’s something that solely depends on your skill, athleticism, and work ethic. Consistently staying busy and active is just my life and something I would feel weird without.”
Hopson, who also participates in Derby’s Esports program, has an unweighted G.P.A. of 3.2. He plans to attend college next fall but is still undecided as to his career path after high school.
