CHOCOWINITY — The good ones always make it look easy. For anyone who watched Cole Kellum compete at last week’s Four Rivers Conference meet it looked as if the Southside senior was born to run.
Competing against the top athletes in the area, Kellum pushed aside the pain stemming from a lower back injury and placed second in the triple jump and the 400-meter dash, while earning third in the 4×200-meter relay and a conference championship in the 4×400.
The gutsy performance enabled Kellum to be named the Four Rivers Conference Co-Most Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year.
As spectators watched Kellum effortlessly glide, sprint and jump past the competition, the truth is that it took a lot of hard to make it look that easy.
“He’s worked on it a lot in the offseason. He got out and worked hard in the weight room and didn’t wait till the track and field season started to begin,” said Cole’s father and Southside track and field coach DeWayne Kellum. “He’s done a lot of running on his own to get his wind up and a lot of step lunges.”
The Seahawks’ star had plenty of motivation. Last season Kellum was strong in the triple jump, 4×400 and the 400-meter dash, and while he was able to advance to state in the triple jump and 4×400, he missed qualifying for the state in the 400-meter dash by the slimmest of margins.
At regionals, the top four finishers move on, and while Kellum placed third in the 4×400 and fourth in the triple jump, he came in fifth in the 400-meter run, which meant he would not be able to compete at state in his favorite event.
As a senior, Kellum is determined to advance in all three events in his final season.
“I really want to get to state in all those events,” Kellum said. “It would mean a lot. … I’ve been working hard to get my times better.”
After his strong showing at the Four Rivers Conference meet, Kellum appears to be on the fast track to state.
The impressive senior season drew praise from his father, who is not one to dish out compliments lightly.
“I’m proud as a coach, just like I was with Tony Grice and Josh Garris last year,” Kellum said. “Being that he’s one of our few seniors I’m really pleased with the way he’s progressed and the way he wants to win. He’s not a vocal leader, he’s more silent but he works hard and pushes the guys that are in his area. He’s stepped up when we needed him.”
While Cole has put in the time and extra work to get better, he credited his father for providing inspiration.
“He helps because I probably wouldn’t be doing as good without him pushing me,” Kellum said.
When asked what the key for Cole was to have a good performance at Saturday’s East Regional meet DeWayne was quick to answer “heart.” If that holds true than Cole should be in store for a stellar performance.