Collinsville High School’s Kaydence Kelley
Collinsville High School senior Kaydence Kelley has built her track career on big-stage performances and quiet leadership, and she’s closing it out with some of her best moments yet.
The Cardinals standout, who competes in track and specializes in the long jump, said she is especially proud of qualifying for the state meet the past two seasons, earning a spot on the podium as a sophomore and capping her senior year with a new personal record in the event. “I am most proud of going to state these past two years and making it onto the podium my sophomore year and getting a new PR my senior year in long jump,” Kelley said.
Along the way, the sport has shaped how she approaches both competition and life. Kelley said track has taught her that mistakes are part of the process, especially when surrounded by coaches and teammates willing to help her improve. “It’s okay to make mistakes because you’ll have a coach or a teammate right next to you telling you how to improve and do better, and I’ve brought that into my life outside of track,” she said.
Kelley credits Collinsville coach and teacher Coach Kirby for making a major impact on her high school experience, both in the classroom and on the track. Kirby’s best advice, Kelley said, came during her junior year: “She had told me after practice one day to just breathe, have fun, relax. This is just high school, a small part of your future. Yeah, this is important but still have fun.
She also finds inspiration in athletes around her. Kelley points to Cayden Cupps, who battled back from a serious injury to return to play his senior year, as a model of perseverance. She looks up to professional long jumper Tara Davis-Woodall, noting that they share the same event and that Davis-Woodall is known for helping others in the sport.
Now a veteran on the team, Kelley embraces her role as a leader for younger athletes, especially those new to track. “I want to help them out as much as I can and show them what I know,” she said. For Kelley, the best part of representing Collinsville is hearing other schools praise the Cardinals for their strong, tight-knit program at meets.
