CHARLESTON — Kyla Motley will leave Shepard girls track and field as the most decorated athlete in program history, knowing the Astros are in good hands going forward.
The senior won two more IHSA state medals at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Field on May 24, taking second in the Class 3A long jump at 18 feet, 9 inches, and finishing sixth in the 100-meter hurdles at 14.57 seconds.
She was one of three Southwest Regional medalists. Sandburg senior Nkeoma Nwachukwu took second in the 3A 100 hurdles with a PR of 14.13 and Evergreen Park’s 4×200 relay team of Chloe Thompson, Chloe Plunkett, Amiya Lane and Brianna Uwajeh finished seventh in 2A at 1:45.47.
Motley, who will continue her career at Northern Illinois, finished with a program-record eight state medals in her career.
“My jumps (in the prelims), they weren’t too good,” Motley said. “But today I got that one jump that got me to … second place. So it was pretty good. …
“It feels amazing to have this all these four years to be able to come and experience all this, and then my senior year I get to finish it strong.”
While Motley’s prep career is ending, the other 11 athletes on Shepard’s state roster — including freshman Makynzee Harris, who won two individual conference titles and ran on two first-place relays — all are coming back.
“Makynzee is doing great,” Motley said. “She’s going to be definitely one of our top people. I hope she qualifies for the rest of her three (high school) years.”
Motley is proud of the Astros’ growth during her four seasons.
“It’s definitely been a challenge because for my freshman year … it wasn’t that much compettion,” she said. “But now … everyone is just getting so good. And it’s like, wow, being able to be with them and compete with the highest people in our state — I feel grateful that I’m here.”
The thought of on to compete in Division I does bring some mixed emotions.
“It’s nerve-racking, I’m scared,” Motley said. “But I think it will be OK for me because I have been out here with the big people. so I think I would be fine stepping into a new area.”
Winning a medal was a goal for Nwachukwu, but finishing runner-up? That was a happy surprise.
“I felt really good — that was the best race I’ve run all year,” she said. “I felt really fast. …
“I knew all-state was a possibility for me,” she said. “But getting second is like, wow. I really shocked myself.”
And it was a nice way for Nwachukwu to end her competitive track career. She’ll attend Illinois as a student, majoring in engineering.
During the season, she said, “I just wanted to keep improving. I wanted to be the best version (of myself) that I could be … (because) it is my last year.”