Kizarr sisters sign to Cowley track program

The Kizarr sisters, Kendall and Kennedy, are like night and day. Kendall said as much. But they do have quite a few things in common. They are both are active in sports and will soon head to the same college. Kendall enjoys the hurdles, and Kennedy excels at pole vaulting.

Going to the same college wasn’t planned, but the Marlow High School graduates both signed letters of intent on Wednesday, June 14, to attend Cowley County Community College in Kansas.

Kendall said the offer to participate in the Cowley Athletics program was out of the blue. She was on the basketball and track teams, and emphasized that her senior season was extremely good for many reasons.

“Bonding with teammates and having leadership opportunities, it created a new atmosphere for our basketball team,” she said. She wasn’t as happy with her ending results in track. “I came up short. I’ve been in track since 7th grade. All three years (of high school) I’ve been in 7th place at state. Seventh place haunts me,” she said. Freshman year was the year of COVID-19.

When the coaches at MHS told her Cowley had made an offer, she was shocked. “I just never thought of myself at being good enough to run at the next level.” That offer has boosted her confidence. “Being an athlete, you have to get used to being uncomfortable and the only way to grow is to work hard.”

Kennedy said she originally had plans to attend Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC), but after her last meet, two days before graduation, she realized she still wanted to compete, earning a 4th place at Meet of Champions.

At the state level, she earned state championship honors, during her junior and senior years. Both young women are undecided for their majors and they will have their own living quarters apart from one another at CCCC-KS. Meanwhile, they are working this summer, and Kennedy is playing summer golf.

“I started pole vaulting because my cousin was doing it. You don’t have to be the best athlete, just put hard work in and outwork everyone else,” she said. Working hard seems to be one thing the sisters agree on. Their parents are Crystal and Bruce Kizarr.