From YMCA Track Program to State Champion: Adelaide Makes School History
Adelaide recently won the UIL 5A State Championship in the 800M Run for Highland Park High School…as a freshman! Not only did she set a personal record of 2:11.25, but she is the first female in the school’s history to win at the state level in this event.
A Track Journey That Began at the YMCA
We’re incredibly proud of Adelaide’s achievement, and she start her track journey in our Moody Family YMCA’s girls track program in 2017, when she was in the first grade. Her coach, Heather Deuillet, was a volunteer coach for the Moody Family Y and coached Adelaide from first through sixth grade.
She shares how Adelaide has always been special not only as an incredible athlete, but she’s always displayed the ability to listen and apply what you taught her. Heather describes Adelaide as hard working and shared that Adelaide achieved the state championship coming off an injury, showcasing tremendous drive!
Adelaide time was 2.11.25, and the school record is 2:10.60. Heather is confident that Adelaide will meet or exceed their record next year. During Adelaide’s time in the girls track program at the Moody Family YMCA, she consistently ranked in the top three in all the track meets she participated in.
Coaching Lessons That Lasted
Heather’s coaching includes using animal names to teach the children about pacing, especially when it comes to long-distance running. During her time coaching Adelaide, she taught them to use, “Cheetah, Horse, Cheetah” to help the girls understand the pacing for the 400M run. Heather fondly remembers being at a middle school track meet and one of the girls asking how to run the 400M, and Adelaide said, “Cheetah, Horse, Cheetah!” This funny outburst also shows how instilled Heather’s coaching is inside of Adelaide. Adelaide used something specific from Heather’s YMCA coaching from her elementary years during her middle school meet.
About Adelaide’s Y Coach
Heather is a former YMCA volunteer coach and has coached the boys and girls track program, and volleyball. She is a runner herself and is a certified running coach, RRCA (Road Runner Club of America) Certified, and is a Cooper Certified Personal Trainer. Her favorite thing about coaching at the Y was being able to teach her kids and the community’s children something she’s passionate about, getting to see them thrive, and the opportunity to pass something to the next generation.
Join the Track Program
To learn more about the track program at the Moody Family YMCA, please visit us online.