- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,269,648
- Reaction score
- 59
INDIAN RIVER — Under her team's tent, in a lawn chair, there sat Kaylee Taglauer.
Almost appearing like she might be falling asleep, you honestly couldn’t blame the Inland Lakes senior track and field star, who just finished a grueling 400-meter run while running a leg in regional champion and state-qualifying 4x100 and 4x200 relay events before that.
Simply put, Taglauer needed a little break.
IL GIRLS WIN REGIONAL TITLE: I-L girls win regional title; several area athletes qualify for state
CHLOE MAKES BASKETBALL CHOICE: Inland Lakes' Robinson to continue basketball career at Bay College
But by the end of a long and what turned out to be a warmer day than usual during this strange season of track weather, Taglauer found herself on the winning end for a third time on the day, helping I-L's 4x400 relay take first at Shanley Field in Indian River on Friday, May 15.
About 10 minutes later, Taglauer was celebrating an MHSAA Division 4 regional championship with the teammates she’s built a strong bond with since the beginning.
It was another thrilling day for Taglauer, a superb all-around sprinter who’s been a mainstay in the I-L program since being a part of a relay team that earned all-state honors while she was a freshman. Back then, she was teaming with Natalie Wandrie, Lauren Fenstermaker and Larissa Huffman, all stars.
Heck, she even admitted she still thinks about some of them while she runs.
“Sometimes when I’m out there running, I’ll be thinking, ‘What would Larissa be doing right now?’” Taglauer said. “They were good role models, and they were honestly the best to work with."
But once those standouts graduated, it was almost like Taglauer had to start over, especially when it came to having to form chemistry with new relay teammates while also trying to have success in her open events. While her freshman year was a learning experience, it wasn’t until her sophomore campaign where she really took off, having success in open events and lifting I-L to a regional title repeat.
“She would step up in the opens to run a 100 and a 200 and a 400 the same day,” Inland Lakes coach Sarah Furman said. “With all those prelim races, it just speaks to her work ethic and her passion and the fact that she’s willing to do anything for her team.”
By qualifying for states in three different events this year, Taglauer became one of those rare Bulldogs to earn a trip to Division 4 track and field’s biggest meet every year she's competed. Sure, she fell just short of qualifying in the open 400, but it didn’t seem to matter to Taglauer, who played a major role in I-L's 4x400 team dominating the rest of the field in her last competitive race on her home track.
From those nervy early days as a freshman to becoming a leader and one of the most decorated athletes in the program, it’s been a blast for Taglauer. But you’d better believe she’s going to miss it all.
“I think we have a great atmosphere, and we’ve built such a great bond with everyone," Taglauer said. "Even the underclassmen, you can talk to them whenever, and everyone is just so close to everyone.”
Whether it’s warm, hot, cold, rainy or snowy, Taglauer is one of those Bulldogs who’s all in no matter what. With that sort of fearless and confident approach, it’s paid dividends for the Inland Lakes girls, now regional winners in three of the last four years.
For Furman, who understands how difficult it will be to replace a dedicated athlete with a gritty approach, she’s always noticed Taglauer’s ability to do the little things that make a program better.
"She’s on time every day. She shows up every single day. She supports her teammates,” Furman said. “If you were to watch one of my practices, she’s just blue-collar and just grinds it out every day. There's nothing flashy. She doesn’t talk about herself. She talks about team. You can feel her love for this sport.”
In less than two weeks, Taglauer will have one more chance to showcase her talented, hard-working and team-oriented personality in the biggest meet there is at the D4 level in Michigan.
“I just want to get up there (on the podium),” Taglauer said. “I would love to place in our relays, and I think we’ll be able to do that.”
Inland Lakes travels to Mancelona for the Ski Valley championship meet on Wednesday, May 20.
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Kayylee Taglauer a mainstay for Inland Lakes girls track
Continue reading...
Almost appearing like she might be falling asleep, you honestly couldn’t blame the Inland Lakes senior track and field star, who just finished a grueling 400-meter run while running a leg in regional champion and state-qualifying 4x100 and 4x200 relay events before that.
Simply put, Taglauer needed a little break.
IL GIRLS WIN REGIONAL TITLE: I-L girls win regional title; several area athletes qualify for state
CHLOE MAKES BASKETBALL CHOICE: Inland Lakes' Robinson to continue basketball career at Bay College
But by the end of a long and what turned out to be a warmer day than usual during this strange season of track weather, Taglauer found herself on the winning end for a third time on the day, helping I-L's 4x400 relay take first at Shanley Field in Indian River on Friday, May 15.
About 10 minutes later, Taglauer was celebrating an MHSAA Division 4 regional championship with the teammates she’s built a strong bond with since the beginning.
It was another thrilling day for Taglauer, a superb all-around sprinter who’s been a mainstay in the I-L program since being a part of a relay team that earned all-state honors while she was a freshman. Back then, she was teaming with Natalie Wandrie, Lauren Fenstermaker and Larissa Huffman, all stars.
Heck, she even admitted she still thinks about some of them while she runs.
You must be registered for see images
“Sometimes when I’m out there running, I’ll be thinking, ‘What would Larissa be doing right now?’” Taglauer said. “They were good role models, and they were honestly the best to work with."
But once those standouts graduated, it was almost like Taglauer had to start over, especially when it came to having to form chemistry with new relay teammates while also trying to have success in her open events. While her freshman year was a learning experience, it wasn’t until her sophomore campaign where she really took off, having success in open events and lifting I-L to a regional title repeat.
“She would step up in the opens to run a 100 and a 200 and a 400 the same day,” Inland Lakes coach Sarah Furman said. “With all those prelim races, it just speaks to her work ethic and her passion and the fact that she’s willing to do anything for her team.”
By qualifying for states in three different events this year, Taglauer became one of those rare Bulldogs to earn a trip to Division 4 track and field’s biggest meet every year she's competed. Sure, she fell just short of qualifying in the open 400, but it didn’t seem to matter to Taglauer, who played a major role in I-L's 4x400 team dominating the rest of the field in her last competitive race on her home track.
From those nervy early days as a freshman to becoming a leader and one of the most decorated athletes in the program, it’s been a blast for Taglauer. But you’d better believe she’s going to miss it all.
“I think we have a great atmosphere, and we’ve built such a great bond with everyone," Taglauer said. "Even the underclassmen, you can talk to them whenever, and everyone is just so close to everyone.”
Whether it’s warm, hot, cold, rainy or snowy, Taglauer is one of those Bulldogs who’s all in no matter what. With that sort of fearless and confident approach, it’s paid dividends for the Inland Lakes girls, now regional winners in three of the last four years.
For Furman, who understands how difficult it will be to replace a dedicated athlete with a gritty approach, she’s always noticed Taglauer’s ability to do the little things that make a program better.
"She’s on time every day. She shows up every single day. She supports her teammates,” Furman said. “If you were to watch one of my practices, she’s just blue-collar and just grinds it out every day. There's nothing flashy. She doesn’t talk about herself. She talks about team. You can feel her love for this sport.”
You must be registered for see images attach
In less than two weeks, Taglauer will have one more chance to showcase her talented, hard-working and team-oriented personality in the biggest meet there is at the D4 level in Michigan.
“I just want to get up there (on the podium),” Taglauer said. “I would love to place in our relays, and I think we’ll be able to do that.”
Inland Lakes travels to Mancelona for the Ski Valley championship meet on Wednesday, May 20.
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Kayylee Taglauer a mainstay for Inland Lakes girls track
Continue reading...
