For four years, Senior Colt Edmonds has worked hard during the long, hot hours and early mornings of track practice to improve his abilities as a sprinter. Each step on the track leaves a red stain on his shoes. All of the blood, sweat, and tears he’s poured into this sport have worked out for him. Securing a first-place win at the regional meet, Colt has moved on to the state meet and is hoping to make Hallettsville proud. Colt is a returner at the state meet this year and is in it to win it for the last time in his high school career.
For his final year of high school track, Colt was able to make it to state for the 200-meter dash. His Coaches are hopeful for Colt to run a promising race and place in the top three. The meet will be held on Thursday, May 14, in Austin at Mike Myers Stadium and Colt competes at 7:55 pm. He ran a 21.27 in the 200m to qualify for the state meet and won the regional meet. His qualifying time is the 3rd best going into the state meet. This is just off his personal best of 21.19. The school record is 20.3, set by Randall Goode in 2001. Head Coach of boys track, Dustin Keller, has been with Colt all four years and has seen him grow into the track star he is today.
“His freshman year, you could tell he was maybe feeling his way out, a little more timid, and now he’s a very confident athlete. He knows he’s gonna do a good job, he’s put in the work, and done a lot of training, and he trusts in that,” Keller said.
Colt is a very special athlete who works hard and puts everything he has into being better.
“He’s really just all about track. It’s his favorite sport, and it’s what he puts a lot of his free time into, and he asks me questions that a lot of other athletes don’t even think about. He’s really dedicated to it,” Keller said.
With it being his last year running for the Hallettsville Brahmas, Colt is leaving behind a great expectation for younger athletes.
“I think the legacy Colts leaving behind is one of work, and some of these other kids see him work, and it just lets them see what it takes to be an athlete at this eval that’s able to not just run with the big dogs but be one,” Keller said.
So far, Colt knows he wants to go to college to run. But to continue being a student athlete, Colt has to keep up his grades, attendance, and his ‘Big Dog’ mentality.
“He’s gonna go to college and has told me about walking on at Tarleton to run, and I think that will benefit his future in track. And if you’re going to run track, you have to make the grades, so that will be good all around for Colt,” Keller said.
Coach Keller has been coaching Colt in track for four years now, and describes him as something that should be seen in every athlete.
“Hardworking and dedicated are words that really come to mind when I think of him,” Keller said.
Coach Bagby has been with Colt for the past two years of his track and field career. And he sees the talent Colt possesses
“Colt has a lot of self-discipline. He’s one of the kids. You don’t have to remind to start warming up and he takes ownership of his races and events. He has a lot of self-discipline, but he’s also got some God-gifted talents that he maximizes in each race,” Bagby said.
At the beginning of the season, Colt hurt his hamstring, leaving him with only a few months to recover.
“He overcame some adversity early in the season. He had a hamstring injury that we were really concerned about. He’s overcome that and really I feel like his 200 that he ran at the regionals was probably the first time that he’s really been able to go 100% out of the blocks,” Bagby said.
Bagby is proud of the work Colt has been putting in and is confident that he can take home a big win for his 200-meter race.
“He’s going into the state meet sitting third and I think he’s got a really good chance to win it. Colt is a really good kid. He’s respectful and works hard. He’s just a joy to coach,” Bagby said.
The younger athletes have seen Colt succeed at practices and meets, and now know what’s possible for them also.
“He just shows the kids that if they work hard, and if they do have the gift, that the state meat is definitely attainable,” Bagby said.
With it being his senior year, Colt only had one thing in mind: to make it to state no matter what came his way.
“I pulled my hamstring, but I was able to recover from it and make it to state,” Edmonds said.
Edmonds has been running since his freshman year. And getting to watch the older kids run when he was a fish inspired him and gave him a lifetime of memories.
“I started running freshman year. I got to watch Layne Gerke and Damarion Austin make it to stare And last year when we won state, with the four by one, that was one of my favorite memories from track,” Edmonds said.
In order to get all the medals and trophies, Colt has had to work hard every day. And doesn’t plan on stopping after his last state meet.
“I do plan to pursue track in college. Because track teaches me to work hard,” Edmonds said.
With a work ethic and immense dedication, Edmonds has winning at state just within reach.
“It’s been a pretty big journey for me. I’ve made it to state two years in a row, and this year, I’ll hopefully win state,” Edmonds said.
