LebCo Athlete of the Week: Kiersten Powell

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Kiersten Powell

During the week of April 13th, Kiersten Powell turned in the kind of performance that highlighted both her growth and her importance to ELCO’s Unified Track & Field team.

In the Raiders’ home meet win over Lebanon on April 15th, Powell posted personal bests in all 3 of her events while helping ELCO remain in the hunt near the top of the Lancaster-Lebanon League Unified Track standings. The senior ran the 100m in 32.74 seconds, threw the mini javelin 5.1 meters, and helped the Raiders’ 4x100m relay team post a personal-best time of 1:45.58. Those efforts earned Powell recognition as a LebCo Athlete of the Week.

“I got personal records in all 3 of my track events, which are the mini javelin, 100 meter race, and 4×100 relay race,” said Powell.

Powell’s strong day was another example of the season ELCO is building in Unified Track & Field. The Raiders sit 3rd in the division, and Powell has continued to serve as one of the team’s leaders while competing in the 100m dash, mini javelin, and relay events.

For Powell, her goals this season are both simple and meaningful. She said, “My personal goals for this season are to keep getting better in my events and make friends.”

She also said she has tried to fit into the overall goals of the team by always striving to do her best and score points for the Raiders.

“I always strive to be my best, so that I get more points for our team,” said Powell.

Powell has been a member of ELCO’s Unified Track & Field team for two years, and during that time she has shown tremendous growth as both an athlete and a leader. According to ELCO’s coaching staff, she consistently arrives at practices and meets determined to do her best, while also bringing a positive and supportive attitude that helps lift up her teammates. The coaches added that Powell has become both a role model and an advocate for other members of the team who are able to participate in athletics because of Unified Sports.

For those who aren’t aware, Unified Track & Field is a partnership between a PIAA sport and a Special Olympics sport that allows student-athletes with and without intellectual disabilities to compete together as equal members of one team. For many athletes, it provides the opportunity to be part of a team, discover strengths they may not have known they had, and experience the pride that comes with personal improvement and competition. This year, ELCO’s team features 16 student-athletes who, according to the coaching staff, strive for excellence at every practice and meet while showing what it means to compete with courage and purpose.

Beyond her own accomplishments, Powell is also known as a major supporter of her fellow student-athletes at ELCO. She is a familiar face at other Raider sporting events and has become a mainstay at ELCO wrestling matches, where she regularly shows support for the program.

Powell with ELCO wrestler Klint Miller

Powell also made sure to recognize the people who have supported her throughout her journey, giving special thanks to her friends and family.

One of the challenges Powell said she had to overcome came last season, when she had to learn how to use a racing bike and become faster. That willingness to learn and improve has continued to show up this spring as she keeps finding new personal bests.

Even outside of Unified Track & Field, Powell stays very active and does not let her disability get in the way of what she wants to accomplish. Looking ahead, she said one of her long-term goals is to find employment in the workforce.

On a personal note, Powell said that when she has time to relax she enjoys hanging out and watching her chickens to make sure they are taken care of. One fun fact she shared is that she did adaptive dance for 9 years. She also said she enjoys country music.

Congratulations to Kiersten on earning LebCo Athlete of the Week honors, and best of luck to her and the Raiders as they continue their season.

Photos provided by ELCO Athletics

LebCo Male Athlete of the Week: Thadeous Gilbert

Past Winners

Avery Lechleitner (Week of 4/6)

Addison Hollenbach (Week of 3/30)

Chloe Shirk (Week of 3/23)

Ryleigh Hopkins (Week of 3/9, 3/16)