Kaysha Love is a force to be reckoned with in Utah track - and she has three more seasons left to set more state records.
Photo by John Coon
– Running started out as a summer hobby for Kaysha Love. Now it has turned into a vehicle for setting records and winning championships.
Love wasted no time making a name for herself as a freshman at
Herriman (West Herriman). She helped the Mustangs win the 2013 Class 4A girls track title with a pair of memorable performances. In her first state track meet, Love claimed Class 4A titles in both the 100 meters and 200.
She edged Timpview sprinter Lauren Baxter in the 200 – finishing in 12.13 seconds while Baxter crossed the line in 12.17. Love also topped Baxter in the 100, winning the race in 11.94 seconds while Baxter finished second with a time of 12.14 seconds.
These titles came just a week after Love set a Class 4A record time of 11.9 seconds in the 100 at the Region 7 meet.
"Words can't really explain how it feels," Love said, when asked to put what she has accomplished in perspective.
Love's accomplishments seem more extraordinary when you consider the fact that track and field is not even her first sport. Since she was 8, Love has competed in gymnastics. She has been part of a team fielded by the Olympus School of Gymnastics in neighboring Sandy for the past two years.
Gymnastics has been a big part of her life for several years now and that's the way Love likes it.
"There's a ton I love about it," Love said. "I love the fact it is a team sport and an individual sport. And I love the fact that you're training year round. You're training so hard for what you want. You're always learning new skills. I love the feeling of competing in front of people."
Her involvement in track came about almost by accident. Love tried out a summer track program when she was in seventh grade and had fun being a sprinter, but did not give much thought to doing it regularly until her mother suggested that Love try out for Herriman's track team.
Love followed her mother's advice. It didn't take the Mustangs coaching staff to realize they had a special athlete on their hands.
"Her first race was a 12.01," Herriman coach Jacob Garlick said. "The state record was 12.00. It was just a matter of time before she was going to break records."
Garlick is no stranger to what it takes to set state records. In his high school days at West Jordan, he set state records in the 110 hurdles, the 200, 300 intermediate hurdles and anchor leg of the 1,600 sprint relay. Three of those records remain unbroken a decade later.
Love has a similar capacity, Garlick believes, to rewrite the state record books over the course of her high school career because she has the traits needed to be the best.
"Gymnastics has given her an extremely competitive edge," Garlick said. "She is an extremely competitive girl. She thrives off it. But, at the same time, she knows how to compete and not do stuff that's going to make her go overboard."
Love had the potential for a remarkable season from day one. Still, her aspirations remained simple. Breaking records and winning titles were not the driving force in the beginning.
"My goal at the start of the season was just to have fun and do my best," Love said.
Excitement began to build beyond just having fun once Love realized how close she was to setting a state record in the 100. She worked on breaking the record as the season progressed – coming close many times.
When Love finally reached her goal at the region meet, the accomplishment left her speechless and thrilled beyond belief.
"Words can't explain how excited I was when I heard I actually broke it," Love said.
There's no need for Love to say anything. Her performance as a freshman sprinter has said all it needs to say about her abilities as a runner.
John Coon has covered prep sports in Utah since 2004. He previously worked as a prep sports reporter at the Salt Lake Tribune for 2 1/2 years and then spent 3 1/2 years as a prep sports reporter with the Deseret News. He can be contacted at john_coon@hotmail.com.
