A Mile a Day

It all started 3 years ago, with a nervous young Kimble Haskett preparing for a summer morning run that the upperclassmen only described as “hell.” The workout seemed like it would never end, and once it did, there was only agony and pain to take its place. Since then he’s spent countless hours tackling the paved streets, dusty roads, and muddy hills of Eudora. There have been many cross country meets spent huddled under the dry warmth of the tent and just as many track meets spent under the sweltering heat of the near summer sun. But none of this seems to hinder Senior Kimble Haskett.

Haskett has been running track and cross country since 7th grade. During his junior year, Kimble earned an All-League title in cross country and a sixth place state 4×800 finish in track; and he’s not about to stop after his senior year.

“It’s something I do for a living, there’s no reason to stop running,” said Kimble.

Kimble recently received a full-ride scholarship to compete in indoor and outdoor track at Highland Community College.

“I didn’t even think I’d be getting scholarship. I wasn’t looking for one and one day my parents walked up and told me that I had an offer,” said Kimble, showing some excitement and awe at the offer that stood before him. Kimble hopes to continue to run mid-distance events at Highland, like the 800. On top of that, he will be getting his certification within the computer support technology field.

“I’ve been around computers a lot, since I was very little. My parents use them, my uncles, my whole family uses them,” said Kimble, explaining how he is connected to the computer support field.

“It feels right for me, I can’t explain it,” continued Kimble. Kimble plans on continuing the family computing legacy.

“It’s exciting that he has chosen to follow in the computer sciences field as I have done,” said Kimble’s dad. “But I would be proud of anything he does as long as it’s what he wants to do. I just hope whatever he does it’s something he ultimately enjoys and is rewarding.”

Whatever Kimble decides to do, he will not be alone. That goes for Kimble’s time at Highland as well, as he will be with Eudora alumnus Jon Miller who also received a scholarship to run at HCC. Kimble and Jon both ran on the state placing 4×800 team, and have been running teammates since 8th grade cross country. They have a long history and many fond memories together, and will be able to further that at HCC.

“Kimble’s a great kid and a great runner who deserves the chance to run at a higher level. It was really reassuring to know that I had Kimble waiting for my hand off [of the baton] because I know how tough of a runner he is,” said Miller talking about their sixth place 4×800 finish.

“He’ll fit in with the guys just fine. He will set some big PRs in the next two years. It will be nice to see another face from Eudora next year,” continued Miller about Kimble’s upcoming transition from EHS to HCC.

But before Kimble can kick off his journey at Highland, he has some personal items to tackle back home at Eudora. Haskett wants to return to state in the 4×800 this year, as well as make an individual appearance in the open 800. There have been a whole slew of people who have pushed and encouraged him to bring him to the point where he is today.

“Coach Katzenmeier really helped me with my speed and what I should do and why. He taught me how to race. Coach Boone really strived for fundamentals. My dad did cross country and track. He was always telling me his PRs and I wanted to beat them,” said Kimble.

His teammates have also been with him every gleeful, painful step of the way, always pushing him to be better. Kimble even remembers the specific moment when he started running with a passionate aggressiveness.

“One of the fellow runners said he was going to make Varsity and I didn’t believe him. I didn’t want him to run Varsity,” Haskett said, explaining how he didn’t want a fellow teammate beating him for a Varsity spot and how that sparked his fierce running career.

Since then he hasn’t looked back, but looks forward towards brighter days and longer strides at Highland.