Before competing with one another, track & field athletes must first battle another adversary. Nerves.
“I get nerves, it’s not like I don’t get nervous or anything,” said Camdenton senior Gabe Kurtz.
So that makes Kurtz just like everyone else right? Not really.
“Some people psych themselves out and I just try stay calm as I can and that seems to be working for me so far,” Kurtz said.
He’s got that right and he doesn’t just excel in one specialty.
“It’s kind of unfortunate that he can only be in four events, because he’s the kind of kid that can do a lot of different things for us,” said Camdenton Head Coach Nick Bruck.
The Camdenton senior holds the Class 4 state javelin record with a throw of 181-feet.
He’s also had a 23-foot long jump and 14-foot pole vault, which are both top-four marks in the area.
“You see his times and his distances but he’s a fierce competitor in whatever you put him,” Bruck said.
That proved to be true at the SBU Invite on April 23rd, when Kurtz stepped onto the track for the 100-meter dash.
“I hadn’t run the 100 since like eighth grade I think,” Kurtz said. “And even then I didn’t use blocks so getting in those blocks was completely new for me.”
You couldn’t tell by the time, as Kurtz posted an 11.44, good enough for 5th place at the meet.
He says trying new events is part of what he enjoys.
That willingness and ability makes him invaluable to the Lakers.
“I have no regard for putting him in any event and knowing he’s going to compete,” Bruck said. “He’s a good enough athlete where he can usually get in the finals and compete with the very best.”
Kurtz also competes on Camdenton’s 4 x 100 meter relay.
If all goes well, he might have the chance to medal in four events at the state meet.
“My teammates give me a bunch of crap for it because coach just throws me in something and says go do this, go do that and I end up being somewhat successful at it. They say ‘why can’t I do that?’,” Kurtz said.
It’s success with those teammates that Kurtz enjoys the most.
“Most of my events are individual events so I spend most of my practice time by myself. When I get back with the 4 x 100, it’s like a team again so it’s a lot more fun when I get back over there and practice with them again. It’s more of a team aspect.”
Whether it’s with his teammates or by himself, Gabe Kurtz does a whole lot for the Lakers, making him this week’s Athlete of the Week.
