Rising Star: Collegiate’s Jaden Mitchell backing state title with early success

WICHITA, Kan. (Catch it Kansas) -

Wichita Collegiate senior Jaden Mitchell ended last track season on top, tying Riley County Falcon turned Green Bay Packer Jordy Nelson’s 3A State Track Meet record with a 10.63 finish. But Mitchell almost didn’t get the chance to tie the record as he was sidelined with a back injury for much of his junior season. After the diagnosis that he would have to miss some meets, Mitchell put his mind to his recovery.

“That was only my third meet running the 100,” he said. “I was told by the doctors I shouldn’t be running at all. But I knew that I wanted to run in college and knew that I needed to get out there.”

Fast forward to this season, at Collegiate’s first meet of the year at Andale last Friday, Mitchell showed that he is more than healthy, winning the 100 meter dash with a time of 10.8 - now the fastest time in all classes across Kansas. But even with the early success, he and his coaches know titles aren’t given in March.

“He wants to win state,” said Mitchell’s coach Nancy Rusanowsky. “He wants to take any titles that he can get. He’s hungry for it. He wants to finish strong.”

“There’s a lot of goals that I have for myself and I want to try to get out and compete every single meet I can,” he said.

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