Kane earns Amarillo Globe News distinction
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Special to The Sun—
AMARILLO — Wellington High School junior Kyla Kane was named the Amarillo Globe News Girls Player of the Week on Dec. 1 for her Wellington cross country and basketball efforts.
On the course/court: It’s hard to think of any area athlete in recent years who had the kind of day Kane had Tuesday, Nov. 24. She began the day by running in the Class 2A state cross country meet at Round Rock at 9 a.m. and won her second gold medal in three years with a time of 12 minutes, 08.49 seconds, winning by almost 14 seconds. It came a year after Kane won a silver medal at the same place.
As if that wasn’t enough, Kane hopped in a car late that morning and rode all the way back to the Randall High parking lot, where her team played Class 5A Randall in basketball. The Lady Skyrockets lost 49-46, but you could hardly blame Kane, as she finished a productive day by scoring a game-high 28 points.
Coach Chris Sumrall: “It was not unexpected at all. She finished second the year before so I knew the motivation to win the state cross country championship was higher. I also wasn’t surprised that she played the way she did when she played basketball. It speaks to her competitiveness. She ran a really smart race in the morning. To come back that evening knowing she had to be tired tells you how devoted she is to her teammates. We like her mentality, that’s for sure.”
Kane: “That was actually Coach Sumrall who asked me if I wanted to come back and play basketball. After getting second last year, you say I did not like the sound of that. I was just pleased with how I ran and my finish because it wasn’t perfect weather that day. Once I got to Randall, I was ready to play even though the drive made me more tired. I really didn’t know if I would play that good. After the game they told me how many points I had and I was shocked.”
Favorite musician: Morgan Wallen
Favorite athlete: Stephen Curry
What sort of habit did you develop during the COVID lockdown last spring which you’ve maintained?: “I was still running and trying to get back in shape for track. I was doing more with body weights. I live out in the country so I helped my dad a lot more out there.”
What do high school athletics mean to you?: “I love them. I’m just a sports person. I like school too, but my favorite part of the day is going to practice with my teammates. I get to be with my friends.”
Parents: Lance and Deidre Kane