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- Davis DeGroot set new all-around state records in the 400- and 200-meter races.
- He clocked 45.46 seconds in the 400-meter and 20.68 seconds in the 200 meters.
- DeGroot has committed to running track at University of Kentucky.
ST. GEORGE — When Bonneville High School assistant track coach John Keeffer looked at his watch at the 200-meter mark, he knew Davis DeGroot had a strong chance of reaching an all-around state record in the 400-meter race last week.
"I always clock his 200-meter split to see if he's on pace to hit his goal, and he crossed the 200-meter mark in 21 seconds," Keeffer told KSL. "I was like, 'Oh, my gosh!' I mean, that's as fast as he runs an open 200 meters. I was like, 'He might do it!' So, I sprinted to the other side to try and catch him at the finish line."
The all-around state track record, including all classes 1-A to 6-A in the 400 meters, was 46.05. Keeffer said he knew when he saw DeGroot cross the finish line with the clock still running at 45 seconds, the record had been broken.
The final time was 45.46, which bested the old record by 0.59 seconds — and is the fastest time in the country so far in the track season. Not only that, but it was done during his first outdoor meet of the season at the Pine View Invitational in St. George this past weekend.
"Usually when a record gets broken in sprinting events, it's barely (broken)," Keeffer said. "To break a record by half a second in a sprinting event is amazing. Right now, Davis has the fastest time in the U.S. as a high school athlete so far this year."
State records aren't new to the 18-year-old senior. In fact, last May, he broke the all-around state record in the long jump, jumping 24 feet, 1½ inches at the Region 5 meet.
DeGroot told KSL that, even though it was the season opener, he knew breaking the 400-meter record was within reach, but he wasn't sure it would happen as soon as it did.
"I was so excited to finally be able to run," DeGroot said. "The last time I ran a 400 was at nationals (last track season). I was beyond ready to run, and I was so pumped up and excited to get out and do what's natural. I made a goal with my dad to go 46 low, and I wanted to break into the 45's as an overall season goal."
Prior to the track season, DeGroot played on his high school basketball team. He also trained with his club team, Gold Medal Athletics, led by former BYU runner and World Championships gold medalist Sean Maye. According to Maye, athletes like DeGroot don't come along too often, and the race this past weekend is an indicator of better things to come.
"I haven't seen an athlete yet come out of Utah like this," Maye told KSL. "Jane (Hedengren) is at that level in the distance, but Davis is a sprinter. When he started warming up before the 400, we talked about the race plan like we do every meet, and he nailed it. Not only did he nail it, but he went far in front of it. I didn't realize he'd be that fast.
"The goal was not to run fast in March, but he did, and that's OK because he hasn't done peak workouts yet. We're really excited about how he will progress as the season goes on."
Keeffer also spoke to DeGroot's athletic prowess and work ethic.
"I've coached him all three years, and he's 100% been the hardest worker on the team," Keeffer said. "He's just one of those that he has these natural gifts, but he puts in the work to make sure he's maximizing his potential. He has the long jump state record. Now he has the 400 record, and he's closing in on the 200 record. It really is amazing to see."
Speaking to KSL earlier this week, DeGroot confirmed that his next goal was to break the all-around record in the 200-meter race. On Wednesday, he followed through with his goal at the Burchell-Armstrong City-County track meet in Roy by running a blazing 20.68. That time bested the old record by 0.16 seconds.
When asked what the key to his success is, DeGroot said that there are many.
"I put my full trust into my coaches, my training and my race plans," DeGroot said. "When I'm running the 400, I'm thinking about making it strong through the finish line. That's the biggest goal on my mind.
"And although I work really hard in everything to be able to run the times I've been able to run, my biggest power and strength is from my family and God and the opportunities and body he's given me to be able to run so fast and do so well."
While DeGroot still has an entire outdoor season ahead of him, he said that he is excited to run track at the University of Kentucky next year.
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Arianne Brown
