Mason McKenzie is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover AZ College Prep for AZPreps365.com

Kaeden Wellman’s passion for track and field has changed him from a seventh grade football player to a standout hurdler and team leader at AZ College Prep.

Wellman’s track career began when he just wanted to improve in football.

“Track was originally for me to train for football,” Wellman said. “I was training, trying to get faster for football, and then it was eighth grade where I really took off and found my love.”

It was his mother who encouraged him to take track more seriously.

"She was a hurdler in high school, and she told me to give it a shot, and I fell in love,” Wellman said.

Wellman’s love for hurdling led him to leave football behind after his sophomore season and commit fully to track. 

After a few seasons, it was clear that his future would be on the track.

“I decided to hang up the cleats and put on the spikes,” Wellman said. 

He has since focused entirely on track, with big goals ahead, including joining a college track team. 

“I want to open opportunities to go run and continue my academic and athletic career at a higher level,” Wellman said.

Wellman said he continues to put in the work by practicing hurdles and sprints daily, always striving to reach his goals, which include breaking the school records in the 300-meter hurdles, 400 meters, and 110-meter hurdles.

“I've been focusing more and more every year, putting in more effort,” Wellman said. “I joined the track club, working offseason, really just giving everything I’ve got because I came out here and I found a passion.”

Wellman’s dedication to the sport made him captain this season.

“I think the one thing that stands out the most with Kaeden Wellman is his work ethic,” Arizona College Prep track and field coach Robert Ortiz said.

But it's not just his hard work on the field that makes him standout.

“He's a guy that helps set things up, whether it's a team tent or he helps pick up trash, so I think it's more than just his role on the track,”  Ortiz said. “I think it's also something that you can point out to some of the younger kids and say how this is somebody who really fully bought in and trusted his coaches.”

One teammate who has known Wellman since the seventh grade said Wellman has become a team leader as captain.

“In the weight room every morning, he's typically the guy that will break it down, and he'll give some words of encouragement after every lift and make sure that we're all on top of it,” senior sprinter Jaden Lines said. “Anyone who feels uncomfortable can ask him a question about how to lift properly or what to do for track, and he'll always be there to help out.”

“He's one of the kids that leads by example but is also very encouraging,” said Liam Hadley, Wellman’s sprinting coach. “He makes sure he's picking everybody up and leading the team.”

Wellman made it to state as a freshman in the 300-meter hurdles and has since improved his performances, including a time of 41.19 in the 300-meter hurdles at the 85th Chandler Rotary Invitational, where he finished 13th. 

Wellman also posted a time of 16.36 in the 110-meter hurdles at the same meet.

“Even last week after coming off spring break and dealing with a bit of illness, he came back to the Rotary and set both his PRs in the 110 and 300 hurdles,” Hadley said. “I think he's currently top four in the state for the 300 hurdles, which means he’s secured his spot for state.”