By Cooper Chadwick
Last year she finished on the podium in all four of her events at state, but Ark City’s senior Kinzie Perdue is back and ready to work even harder.
Perdue was a state champion in high jump with a PR of 5’4, placed third in the 400m dash with a time of 59.24, was a part of Ark City’s third place 4×100 team with a time of 48.63, and finished third with the 4×400 team with a PR of 4:04.
Perdue is obviously a stellar athlete, but this season she has taken a big step to be something great for Ark City.
“Kinzie is an extremely hard worker and determined athlete. She has always been a good athlete but these last two seasons I have really seen her increase her focus and dedication to her craft,” head coach Matt Koehn said.
Placing third in state in the 4×100 is an achievement in its own, but it’s not enough in the eyes of Perdue.
“We’ve worked so hard these past four years and fallen short the past two years, being runner up our sophomore year and second runner up last year, but this year we are ready to go all the way and do whatever it takes for that state title this year,” Perdue said.
The legacy of winning is not the only thing that Perdue is going to leave behind when she graduates, her motivation and hard work makes her who she is.
“I think the biggest compliment I can give her is that when she is gone, her work ethic and leadership will have rubbed off on the athletes she worked with, and that culture of work will continue to grow,” Koehn said.
