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There is a new record-setter at Callaway High. First-year track and field star Kinley Hester is tearing up the mile. Hester has already broken the school record twice and currently has the new record with a time of 6:19.

“The first few meets I was able to shave like 10 seconds off and then I was able to set the record by one second with a 6:20 and then I was able to shave another second off of that at my last meet,” she said. 

When Hester hits the track for a competition, she feels free. The junior is used to performing under pressure on the mats for the Callaway competitive cheerleading team and has translated that cool under pressure to her time with the track and field team.

“I love to compete,” Hester said. “I love the atmosphere of competition. It’s always super exciting to go to a meet whether it’s cheer or track.”

While this is her first year with the Callaway track and field team, Hester is an experienced runner. The Callaway High junior found running back during the COVID-19 pandemic and has not slowed down since.

“We have a trail around the lake on our property and I just started walking and running that during COVID and that’s really where the hobby of running came from,” Hester said. 

“It was actually easier to run on a track and not have to deal with driveways, hills and everything else,” she added, laughing. 

A cheerleader by trade, Hester has been using running to stay in shape for her time on the mats. Now, she runs with a different purpose.

“I used to do running just to keep in shape for cheer and really didn’t know how I would feel about the competitive part of it,” she said. “It was really good to get out of my comfort zone at first and now I love it.”

Hester was convinced to come out for the track and field team this season and had no clue what to expect. She knew she wanted to do long-distance running, but that was about it. 

“I knew I wanted to do longer distances over the short races, so I kind of just figured the mile would be for me,” Hester. 

When Hester discovered what the record for the mile was by a female runner at Callaway High School, she set a goal. Now, she is finding new goals to strive for in her first season on the track.

“I had been eyeing that record ever since I found it, but now I’ll have to set another goal,” she said. “I didn’t want to make everything about a number at first and I didn’t really have a goal when I first started but I found it helpful to have a goal to strive for.

“I’m currently third in the region and the girl who is second is running a 6:03 mile. I really want to get under that and run about a 6:00 at the region meet,” she added.

As the season goes on and the team heads to more meets, the plan is for Hester to add even more events to her arsenal. Right now, she is only doing the mile, but she has been working on being part of a relay team as well as running the 800-m (half a mile).

When Hester is not on the track (or the mats for the Callaway cheerleading team), you can probably find her running. Whether it’s at Planet Fitness, the track in Granger Park or around her parents’ property, there is now slowing Hester down.