Abron's record runs sparking Olympic dreams
Kimyenna Abron's indoor track season is the stuff that dreams are made of -- Olympic dreams.
The Benedictine University senior, who lettered as a varsity soccer player for three years, joined the track team for the first time this year and set school records in both the 55-meters and the 200 meters during her first meet on Jan. 19.
Since those feats, Abron broke her own 55 record five times, the 200 four times and the 400 meter record once.
That means she's been setting better than a record a week, which has given her the confidence to plan to begin training for the Olympics after her graduation later this spring.
"I feel great," Abron said. "Being able to compete and break records in my first meet at the collegiate level and then to keep breaking records. I'm stunned. I'm at a loss for words."
At last week's Northern Athletic Conference Indoor Championships, Abron posted a 7.27 in the 55 and a 25.40 (besting her record) in the 200, She also anchored the 4x400 relay team that placed second
Benedictine track coach Jon Wolcott, recognized Abron's track potential years ago while watching her play soccer and has tried to recruit her for his sport.
"She played club soccer over the holidays and came to us in January in excellent condition, but not running condition." Wolcott said. "As she gets experience, she's becoming more and more of a runner. She works hard and responds well to coaching. It's exciting to see what she's doing. I knew she would be a good runner, but I had no idea how good."
Abron, who plans to start work toward on a master's degree at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology this fall to prepare for a career in forensic psychology, will decide for sure about her Olympic training future after Benedictine's spring outdoor track season.
"It will take a lot of work and dedication," said Abron. "But I'm willing to take the next steps. Talia (Benedictine assistant coach Williams) will help me out with speed training."
"Kimyenna's dream is the Olympics," Wolcott said. "She has the dream and the desire. She's just begun to tap her potential. We don't even know what her best event will be. Over the course of the outdoor season, she'll hone in on what she might be best at."
During the indoor season, Abron has been named Northern Athletics Conference student-athlete of the week three times.
As a soccer player, she was all-city and all conference at Hyde Park High School in Chicago, and she was voted second team All-NAC in soccer as a college junior.
However, athletics is far from the entire Kenyanna Abron story.
She is both a fine student and campus leader who has played an important role in a number of organizations.
For two years, Abron has been the president of the African-American Student Union, which works to encourage minority students to get involved in campus activities and runs special events such as the African-American Heritage Dinner and Fashion Show to raise money for worthwhile charities.
Abron has also been an officer in the Benedictine Gospel Choir, which performs for senior citizen groups and raises money for worthy causes through the sales of its CD recording. And, she's a member of the Funding Review Board, which supports other campus groups in their fund-raising and social activities.
Leadership has always come naturally to Abron, who is the oldest of four children.
"I've always been a leader, the person in the family who's always planning things," Abron said. "I guess I'm a strong-willed and determined young woman who wants to strive for the best and do well in life."
She's found her years at Benedictine to be a rewarding experience.
"It's a diverse campus, and I've met great people in the classes, in the athletic department and in the organizations I've joined," she said.
For Wolcott, who's been coaching for over 40 years, Abron's immediate impact as a track star has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
"This has been wonderful for all of us involved," Wolcott said. "It's great for our program and for Kimyenna's teammates. They're in awe of everything she's doing. In all my years of coaching I've never had this happen. Sometimes you catch lightning in a bottle."
Wheaton
The Wheaton men's basketball team has been selected as an at-large participant in the NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament. Wheaton (19-7) meets Lawrence University (22-2) on Friday in a first-round game at Wisconsin- Whitewater.
"I'm surprised and pleased that we were selected," said Wheaton coach Bill Harris. "We played a tough schedule and have some wins over teams that are in the tournament like the University of Chicago, Loras and Augustana. I'm sure those victories helped us."
North Central
Rachel Secrest (Wheaton North) of North Central, took home the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) field athlete of the meet award Saturday after winning the long jump (18-25), placing second in the pole vault (11-10) and fourth in the 55 meter hurdles (8.75) at the CCIW Indoor Track and Field Championships in Carthage.
The Cardinals' women racked up 160 points and finished second to champion Illinois Wesleyan (187.50).
Other North Central winners were Michelle Criscione in the high jump, Carol Kalafut (Westmont) in the pole vault.
The North Central men's team captured its eighth straight conference title with 200 points to outscore second-place Augustana with 141.50.
The Cardinals winners included John Lancaster (5000), Michael Bina (Waubonsie Valley, pole vault), Justin McQuality (triple jump), Marc Holt (shot put) and Andrew Foote (weight throw).
It was Bina's third straight title in the pole vault.