The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Track stand out to attend Columbia
By Dave Merchant, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 1, 2008
Track has been a very good outlet for Ypsilanti High senior Kyra Caldwell.
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After winning the Division 2 state track titles for the 100 and 300-meter hurdles as a junior, she is on her way to a possible repeat this season.
Recently the high school track superstar announced her plans to attend Columbia University in New York City in the fall and run against other Ivy League schools.
"When I went out there I thought it was really exciting," Caldwell said of her visit to the prestigious university. "I got offers from Michigan State, the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan."
She said the competition level for track is higher in the Big 10 but she expects to do well in the Ivy League.
For her it is a lot of hard work to stay ahead in track. Caldwell trains about two and half hours each day which includes weightlifting and running with AAU teams.
"I have confidence in my ability and faith in God," she said. "With a lot of work I have been able to succeed."
She said last year at the state meet was her first experience with individual racing at that level.
"It was kind of overwhelming but it was exciting," she said. "I knew I had some of the top times."
Caldwell said that this summer she tried the 400-meter hurdles, which is what they run in college and she says she loved it.
"Right now I like the 300-meter hurdles because they are longer and spread apart," she commented. "There is more strategy involved in the 100-meter hurdles. But I am looking forward to running the 400-meter hurdles in college."
In college, she wants to study economics and maybe go into accounting. She would like one day to run her own business.
One athlete she has looked up to for advice and guidance has been former Ypsilanti High star and current University of Michigan runner Tiffany Ofili.
"She has helped me out and she has given me advice," she said. "Whenever I have called her she has been there to talk to me."
Caldwell's father Willie Caldwell and stepmother Rebecca Caldwell have been very supportive and her dad is a big fan of hers. Her mother Kerri Smith and stepfather Walter Smith have also been a great help and inspiration to her.
Caldwell has been improving at every meet this season. Last Saturday at the Shumake Relays in Detroit she won both hurdle events and set two meet records.
Retired Ypsilanti High girls' track Coach Tom Micallef could not have been happier having a girl like Caldwell on his team.
"Kyra is an outstanding young woman," Micallef explained. "She is what every parent hopes their child will grow up to be. She has great morals, terrific work ethic, and is determined to succeed.
"She is like 'Tiffany Ofili junior' and I was pleased to coach both of them in my final years at Ypsi. She will be a success at the next level."
Micallef said he is sure that the girl will succeed at the next level.
"Some tried to discourage her from going to Columbia saying this and that about why she would struggle going out East," he said. "She is prepared for the challenge and I believe she will succeed."
He said that when she first came to him as a freshman she was a rookie at track but since then she has grown up.
"Thanks to Coach Chris Jonik who mentored her in the hurdles and in many aspects of life, she is gaining self esteem and growing in confidence every day. She is very critical of herself after a poor showing at a meet and very humble in victory. She is a champion in every since of the word."
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