Kyle Verdi finished his high school career at West Port High School breaking 2 minutes for the 800 meter run with a 1:58.79 PR at the Florida Relays and returning to the same track at season's end to help his squad earn All-State honors in the 4x800 meter relay and break 8 minutes in the 4A state race at 7:57.
Verdi will be headed next to the University of South Florida in Tampa.
Salute to Seniors: Kyle Verdi (West Port)
What was your most memorable race/throw/jump/vault/moment?
My most memorable race was Florida Relays. It was the first time I ran sub 2 in the 800 with a 1:58 and it was such a huge relief knowing I could do it.
Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?
My biggest competition over my 4 years has been myself. For most of my years training it's typically only been me. So being mentally strong and wanting to achieve more has been my drive.
What was your greatest accomplishment?
My greatest accomplishment was building the 4x800 squad, leading us to state and running a 7:57 getting 6th.
Who would you consider your biggest role model over your four years competing?
My biggest role model has been my Coach, Coach Davis.
When you see someone with such character who has achieved so much it's only natural to look up to them.
If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running or field career in high school?
I would focus more on running my first two years of high school. If my freshman year I had the same look on running as I do now I know for a fact I would've won a State Championship.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome? How did you overcome them?
The most difficult hurdles I had to face was the Covid year and a foot injury 3 weeks before states. The covid year was my tenth grade year which is a pretty crucial year for athletes so when everyone went into lockdown i could barely train on a track so i did a lot of long runs, weight training and biking. The foot injury before states was an even bigger challenge because I couldn't even run for a couple days because of the pain. I went to a bunch of doctors and they all told me to stop but they didn't understand how major it was to get to states. I started doing acupuncture which helped but I decided to run through the pain. Luckily, I didn't listen to the doctors because that medal is too nice.
What will you miss the most?
I'm going to miss all the car rides to meets and all the times we went out to eat. Those were some of the hardest laughs I've experienced and some of the biggest team bonding moments for me personally.
What advice would you give to younger athletes?
My advice to the younger athletes who want to take track to the next level is to dedicate everything to it. Don't wait till you're a junior to say you want to compete in college. Take in every moment with your teammates and coaches because it goes by quickly. Make sure you have a good diet and a strong core. Have fun while you compete and don't live with What If's.
What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?
I wouldn't be at the caliber I am if it wasn't for my coach. Coach Davis made me believe I was destined for great things on and off the track. In the two years I've been with him, not only have I become a better athlete but I've become a better man, more suited and ready for the world.
There isn't another person I'd want yelling at me on the track to push harder.
What are your post-high school or college plans?
After high school I'm planning on running at the University of South Florida where I believe I could take my athletics and academics to the next level. I'm working on getting my Doctorates in Veterinary medicine and running 1:45 in the 800.
Who would you like to say 'thank you' to?
I would like to thank WestPort high school for giving me the best experience during my time competing. I'd like to thank Coach Davis for giving me everything I need to face the challenges ahead of me. I want to thank all my 4x800 and 4x400 teammates for becoming my brothers and always being there for me. Lastly, my Mom for spending almost every Saturday for the past 4 years at a hot track meet.
