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Small town, big dreams: Elgin soccer, track standout Kailyn Cook is ready to run

Rick Cantu, Austin American-Statesman
·2 min read

All about Kailyn: small town, big dreams

Tell us something you're looking forward to doing after you graduate.

Something I am looking forward to after I graduate is getting out of Elgin and exploring bigger cities to meet new crowds of people since I've lived in the same town since I was little.

Elgin junior Kailyn Cook stays busy in the spring, competing in both soccer and track and field. She thinks soccer, with all its running up and down the field, helps get her ready for track.
Elgin junior Kailyn Cook stays busy in the spring, competing in both soccer and track and field. She thinks soccer, with all its running up and down the field, helps get her ready for track.

What has been your favorite vacation?

My favorite vacation was during the summer of 2022. I went to Puerto Vallarta, a small town in Mexico, with my family. The best memory I have from this trip is when we went zip lining and hiking on a mountain with amazing views and jumped in the middle of the Pacific Ocean on our boat ride.

Tell us something about you that most people don't know.

Most people don’t know that my ethnicity includes half Asian, and that I have two older siblings.

If you had visitors from another state, what would you do with them in Elgin?

I would take someone from another state to the downtown area in Elgin, because that's really the only place where entertainment is in a small town.

More: Meet the All-Central Texas swimming team

Running, jumping and making friends along the way

What has been your favorite track memory in high school?

My favorite track memory is when I made it to regionals in my sophomore year for long jump and the open 100-meter dash while having my grandparents, parents and big sister there to support me.

From running to jumping, you've competed in several different events. What has been your favorite?

Out of all the events I've performed in for track and field, I would say I enjoy the adrenaline rush I get when doing the 4x100 (meter relay), but I also enjoy long jump because I feel most comfortable doing that event.

You compete in soccer and track. Does one help the other?

While doing both soccer and track, running up and down the soccer field helps my endurance during track season. Track and soccer have both helped and showed me how to have good sportsmanship and meet new people. I don’t think there has been one soccer game or track meet that I’ve been to without having a small convo with the girl next to me on the line or playing on my side of the field.

Playing soccer and competing in track and field have taught Elgin junior Kailyn Cook about sportsmanship, she said. She strikes up conversations with opponents in nearly every competition she takes part in.
Playing soccer and competing in track and field have taught Elgin junior Kailyn Cook about sportsmanship, she said. She strikes up conversations with opponents in nearly every competition she takes part in.

Dream dinner: four powerful guests

If you could have dinner with any four people in the history of the world, who would they be?

I'm going to choose Zendaya, Michelle Obama, Rihanna and (beauty/fashion influencer) Monet McMichael.

Why Zendaya?

I chose Zendaya because she has always been a woman that I've looked up to since I was little watching her on the Disney Channel.

Faces off the field interviews

Other Austin-area track and field athletes we've interviewed: Dripping Springs' Lucy Fredenburg

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Faces off the field: Kailyn Cook, Elgin sprinter and jumper