Senior Kole Sommer has come up just short of his final goal a couple times in his highschool track career. With the Drake relays quickly approaching, Sommer is determined to reach his personal goal of bringing home gold at the Blue Oval. With a legacy left behind from his older brothers, Karson and Konnor who both run at the University of Iowa, Kole is determined to leave Pleasant Valley as an all time legend.
Being a top 10 mile runner in PV history, Sommer has had much success throughout his career, but there have been plenty of roadblocks keeping him from his goals and achievements. Sommer’s junior season was taken away by COVID-19 after training for months on end just preparing for his first season as an upperclassmen.
Unfortunately, Sommer never got an opportunity to show what he had in his 2020 season, but he is back and in the best shape of his life. “I have a lot more speed than years past because I have spent lots of time in the weightroom,” Sommer said. Colleges have taken notice of Sommer’s hard work such as the University of Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University and many other schools.
Although he is not sure whether he will run in college or not, this year is his last chance to show what he’s got. Already, Sommer said, “I have qualified for Drake in the 1600 and 3200 meter races and am trying to qualify for the 4×800 relay, and the 800,” proving that he is no joke when it comes to running.
Not only is he a great runner, but cross country coach Nicholas Sacco could not love Sommer’s team first attitude any more. He said that Sommer is a huge help to younger runners, and he is a great leader for underclassmen to look up to. “Sommer led our team this whole past summer while we were not able to be with them. He is a big reason for our success,” he said.
Sommer qualified in some of these same races as a freshman and sophomore but didn’t compete as much as he would like to have. That is why this year he has a big chip on his shoulder going into the relays coming up in two weeks.
Sommer will continue his normal routine and will be training the hardest he has ever gone before to prepare for the biggest races of his life. His season and highschool track career is coming to an end soon, and he is going to make the most out of every opportunity he gets.
