By Matt Browning

Shaylee Leiker of Ellsworth is poised to be one of the top track athletes in Class 3A this season, she figures to place high in the 100 meter, the 400 meter and the 4×4 relay races.

In 2019, Leiker took third in the 400, fifth in the 100 and was a part of the 4×4 relay team that took seventh.

“To prepare for this upcoming season, I’ve been doing off season conditioning two to three days a week for the past few weeks and lifting,” Leiker said. “I’m very excited to see how this year goes. It’s been such a long time since my last school meet, so I’m definitely ready to get started competing this season.”

Ellsworth track coach Nick Rodriguez said there is one particular attribute about Leiker that stands out over the rest.

“I have found Shaylee to be one of the hardest working, dedicated athletes ever,” said Ellsworth coach Nick Rodriguez. “She is very goal driven and if she feels like something is a weakness is committed to working on it to make it a strength.  I have found her to be very supportive of her teammates and has a willingness to soak up whatever she can to be a better athlete in whatever sport.”

While Leiker wants to improve every event she enters, there is one event she is specifically focusing on.

“My goals for this season are to improve my times, especially in the 400-meter, and place higher at state than I did my freshman and sophomore year,” Leiker said.

Next year, Leiker is going to attend Kansas State, where she is going to major in communication studies and disorders to become a speech and language pathologist.