Name: Kara Lucyk
School: Mountain Vista
What was your most memorable race/throw/jump/vault/moment?
My most memorable race moment was my sophomore year at league championships 4x400 race. My relay team had been trying to qualify for state, but we just weren't hitting our times, and were losing hope. One of the girls on our relay, a senior and one of my best friends, had been dreaming of competing at state in the 4x400 all four years, but we only had one more meet to qualify, and our chance was very slim.
Our coach hadn't even put us on the 4x400 lineup when we got to the week of leagues. However, my team and I knew if we just had one more chance, we could pull off a time that could maybe qualify us for the eighteenth and final spot, and our coach reluctantly gave in. The day of leagues came, and each of us were on edge for the race.
Then, magic happened.
Not only did we break the school record, we ran the number-three qualifying time in the state! I will always remember crossing the finish line and knowing that we just accomplished something amazing, and the entire team was going nuts; it was the most amazing feeling in the world.
Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?
My biggest competition over the years has changed a lot, but for the most part, I would say Sammie Gordon and Elise Gillett ( Sko Buffs! ;) ). These girls are insanely talented, and I am so grateful to not only call them my competitors but to call them some of my best friends, not to mention Elise and I get to run together on the same team (finally!) at CU next year!
What was your greatest accomplishment?
I would say my greatest accomplishment was being able to anchor our state 3rd place 4x200 relay team last year. We had only run together as a relay team for two other races for the whole season, so being able to go out and compete against some of the best teams in the state and in the nation and place in the top-three was really special to me. My split time dropped dramatically from the first time we ran the relay to state, and I was also very proud of that.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
Physically, the 33" 100H hurdles. Mentally, probably having to do tons and tons of workouts by myself on the off-season; I have found it really hard to train by myself because workouts are much more high quality when you have teammates with you, and most of my teammates have a different fall/winter sport already, so I was kind of on my own for the past few years during the off-season. Learning how to do quality workouts on my own and keeping myself accountable was something I definitely struggled with, but have learned to improve on over the years.
If you could do it all over again what would you change about your career in high school?
I wouldn't change anything; my experience has been amazing and I can't imagine going through it any other way!
What will you miss the most?
I will miss my teammates the most. This past year in particular has given me some of the strongest bonds I have ever created throughout my team. Being a role model to the younger girls on my team has given me little sisters that I wouldn't trade for the world, and I will miss them so much, along with everyone else, including Coach Kunz and Coach McRae, who have given me so many amazing opportunities and have supported me throughout my high school career.
What advice would you give to younger athletes?
I would tell them, no matter what your times look like, no matter where you sit in rankings, be your own biggest fan. Keep your confidence up always; even if you are intimidated by competitors (take this from a hurdler in both the Sloan and Hall era), your confidence is going to be the biggest determinant of your improvement.
So lace up your flashy spikes with pride, rock your race day braids, and race with all the confidence in the world, and that combined with hard work will pay off and give you moments you will cherish and will be proud of forever.
What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?
Everyone will say it, but my coach is the best coach in the world. Coach Kunz has not only made me a better athlete, but has made me into the person I am today.
She is a coach that doesn't yell, or get upset, very easily, so I have had the honor to learn how to handle tough workouts and races with an unprecedented amount of positivity, which influences my performance significantly.
There is not one day that I have showed up to practice where I am not greeted by Coach Kunz's smile, and that has rubbed off on me and has been a very important part of my ability to control my nerves and handle tough situations with grace.
The most important thing I have learned from Coach Kunz is to face a challenge with a smile, and that is something I will take with me forever.
What are your college plans?
I am attending CU Boulder in the fall to with emphasis on Information Science and a minor in Sports Media, and am pursuing my athletic dreams as a heptathlete for Coach Malone.
Who would you like to say 'thank you' to?
There is an indefinite list of people I would like to thank, but first and foremost I would like to thank my coaches at Mountain Vista and Coach Malone at CU for seeing potential in me and helping me become the athlete I am today.
I would also like to thank my teammates, past and present, for creating a team atmosphere that I am so grateful to be a part of.
I would like to thank my 4x200 relay team from last year for becoming some of my best friends and for being some of the most talented and dedicated people I know.
I definitely want to thank Jump Nation (you know who you are ;)) for being so much fun even though I only get to practice with them a few times a season. Finally, I'd like to thank every single girl I have ever raced with; their competitive spirit and kind hearts are the reason I have learned to love this sport.
