Lockport’s Lane Kadlec a triple threat for state

Lane Kadlec is a conference and sectional champion in the discus whose track talent isn’t limited to the circle.

A junior at Lockport, Kadlec is racing down the runway and scoring points in the long jump this season, too.

“I think it’s focus and determination, I just keep pushing myself,’’ she said. “Whatever they need me to do, I’ll do. I don’t mind doing all the events because I’m part of a team.’’

From a coach’s standpoint, Kadlec, also a varsity volleyball player, is the ideal athlete who’s eager to accomplish more regardless of the obstacles.

“You get a lot of kids who want to try hard, but they turn it on and off,’’ Lockport coach Joe Kravitz said. “When she turns it on, it’s on. It doesn’t change. She gets into that zone.

“If I was another athlete, I’d be intimidated by the focus she has on the runway.’’

Kadlec is aiming to qualify for the Class 3A state meet in three events: discus, shot put and long jump.

Kadlec made it downstate last season for the first time, winning the discus at the Lockport Sectional with a throw of 118 feet.

“It was really big for me, since it was my first year there,’’ she said. “It was more for the experience.’’

A knack for the discus was clear since Kadlec started on the Homer Junior High track team in seventh grade.

“I tried sprinting. I tried jumping, but something about discus,’’ she said. “My first meet I hit 75 feet, no idea

what I was doing. They showed me what to do, I did it.’’

As for the long jump talent, Kadlec believes her vertical leap in volleyball was a factor. She has gone 16-8, which could be good enough for top two at the Downers South Sectional and qualify for state. Her best in the shot put is 38-9, already better than the 37-8 qualifying mark.

Kate Reposh and Carolyn Dietz in the horizontal jumps, the 3,200 relay of Haley Beaumont, Emmie Hahn, Aubrey Elwood and Morgan Bollinger and sprinter Jacki Greci also have state aspirations for the Porters.

Kadlec is eager to get back after just missing the 2013 finals in the discus. The top 12 individuals in the prelims advanced and Kadlec was 13th.

“This year I started working out a lot more,’’ she said. “I started using my technique and really focusing on that instead of just powering it out.

“I’m just so excited to get downstate and try and make top eight for everything.’’