Record breaking, state title chasing

Maize High junior Bryce Cohoon recently broke the 17-year-old 200-meter dash record

Cohoon+crosses+the+finish+line+to+win+first+place+in+the+200+meter+at+the+Campus+meet.

Photo by Kadence Shook

Cohoon crosses the finish line to win first place in the 200 meter at the Campus meet.

Ainsley Cramer, Reporter

Bryce Cohoon has ran track since first grade.

Now, as a junior at Maize High, he holds the school record for the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.85 seconds. 

Cohoon recently broke the previous record of 21.93 seconds, which was held for 17 years prier, on April 29, 2022, at the Hutchinson Invitational track meet. 

He still hopes to break his own 200 record, and the school’s 100-meter dash record of 10.52 seconds. 

“It’s a cool achievement, but I have a lot of season left to focus on,” Cohoon said. 

Cohoon said he was first inspired to run track as a kid because his older brother, who he looked up to, did it.

“I just wanted to be like him, and I always looked up to him,” Cohoon said.

Cohoon also plays football for Maize High. For Cohoon track is one of the ways he stays in shape during the football off-season along with weight lifting. He said he hopes to play football in college someday.

“I think it [track] just keeps my work ethic up and keeps me working in the off-season”

Sophomore Jaeden Martin is a close friend and teammate of Cohoon’s. Martin enjoys hanging out with Cohoon during practices and meets and describes him as a hard worker. 

“Bryce is a chill nice guy to be around,” Martin said. “He’s a hard worker and he’s pushed me to work harder at practice.”

Graphic by Nathan Wituk

Boys head track coach Jerrod Handy also describes Cohoon as a hard worker in practice.

“His speed stands out; he’s really fast,” Handy said. “He’s got the body and the athleticism to be able to run fast, so he’s fun to watch.”

Handy said he thinks if Cohoon continues to show dedication and stays focused, he can accomplish his goal of being a state champion in the 200-meter dash. 

“My goal for our athletes is just to accomplish the best that they possibly can,” Handy said. “There are some really fast guys in the state and I think it’s gonna be tough for him, but if he keeps working hard and stays focused then he’s gonna be able to do that.”