GREENFIELD — The first time Kayana Maroska ran the 400-meter dash in a competition she won a sectional championship.
That says a lot about the confidence Greenfield-Central High School girls’ track and field coach Reuben McCracken has in his junior standout, the 2021 Daily Reporter Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year.
Maroska, who missed a handful of events earlier in the season, was still the team’s top point-scorer. Her scoring came mostly in the 100-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles, 200-meter dash and as part of one of the Cougars relay teams.
To get the standout to the IHSAA state meet, McCracken thought Maroska’s best chance would be in the 400.
“One of our goals was to qualify for state in something, and I switched her to the 400,” McCracken said. “When it came down to it, I thought she had a better chance in the 400 than the 300 hurdles. I think she liked the idea of going to state, and she got on board with that idea of that being her best shot. She committed to it and we went for it.”
Maroska admitted she prefers the shorter races. Plus, she hadn’t ran the 400 in two years.
“(Coach McCracken) gave me this idea that I could perform really well all season for the 400, but he didn’t put me in the event to run it,” Maroska said. “He installed faith in me that I could make it to state in the 400.”
Maroska went into the sectional with quite a strong résumé, just not in the 400-meter dash.
She was one of only three girls to win multiple individual events at the Hoosier Heritage Conference Championships. Maroska won both hurdle races (100 — 15.96 seconds, 300 — 47.82 seconds).
Delta’s Nicki Southerland won the 1,600 and 3,200 runs and New Castle’s Anyssa Hall won the 100- and 200-meter dashes along with the long jump.
The Greenfield-Central standout was a double-winner at the Shelbyville Sectional, too. This time it was in the 100 hurdles (16.02 seconds) and the 400 (1:01.23). She was also runner-up in the 200 (27.13 seconds).
“I was nervous (before the 400) because it was going to be the first time running it in over two years,” Maroska said. “I just knew I needed to keep a cool head about it if I wanted to advance to the regional. I just tell myself, every time I race, to go out, do what I can. I know what I am capable of and I just need to go out, have fun and compete.”
It was the start of something big.
Maroska cut her time the following week at the Franklin Regional. She broke the 1-minute mark, finishing runner-up in 58.91 seconds. She just missed winning the race as Center Grove’s Kate Henselmeier won in 58.89 seconds.
It was a tough loss at the tape, but the second-place finish earned her a spot in the IHSAA girls track and field state finals held at Ben Davis High School earlier this month.
She was the only county runner to score at the meet, placing eighth with a time of 59.49 seconds.
“It’s kind of crazy,” Maroska said. “I knew the 400 was going to be something I would end up doing, because I’ve done it ever since I started running, but I never knew I could make it to state, especially in the 400.”
McCracken said it took a lot of hard work and dedication. Something he knew he could get out of his fast junior.
“It takes a special kind of kid to want to run the 400 and be willing to put in the work and suffer the way that race can cause you to suffer,” McCracken said. “It didn’t bother her, she was going to go for it.”
The coach called his standout unselfish, versatile and a runner that is willing to do things she’s asked to do, even if it’s things she doesn’t like to do. “When push comes to shove, she does whatever is asked of her,” the coach added.
Maroska is also fueled by doing well for others. She said she’s not just trying to do well for herself. When she runs, she’s doing it for her coach, teammates and parents, too.
She said they’ve all been a great support system for her.
“I have high expectations and I don’t want to disappoint anyone,” she said. “I’m kind of doing it for everyone else and me. I want to go out and do what I am expected to do or better than I’m expected to do. That’s what keeps me going and keeps me wanting to keep running.”
