Respondek’s Dream Track Season Ends in Austin

• Wildcat senior Tyler Respondek and Yorktown Hurdles Coach Danny Threadgill celebrate a first place finish in the 300m Hurdles at the Region Meet. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
• Wildcat senior Tyler Respondek and Yorktown Hurdles Coach Danny Threadgill share a moment during track season. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
• Wildcat senior Tyler Respondek cruises to victory in the 300m Hurdles at the Area Track Meet. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
• A large contingent of family, friends and coaches went to the State Track Meet to support Wildcat senior Tyler Respondek. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Yorktown Wildcat senior Tyler Respondek placed 7th in the 300m Hurdles on May 3, 2024, at the UIL Class 2A State Track Meet at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. It brought to an end to what can only be described as a “dream” season for Respondek.

Coming into this season, Respondek had one simple goal for himself. He said, “My goal was to make it to the State Track Meet.”

Respondek started the track season by winning both the 110m and 300m Hurdles at the Runge Relays. At the Aaron Houston Relays in Woodsboro, Texas, he placed 1st in the 300m Hurdles, 2nd in the 110m Hurdles and ran a leg of the 4x400m Relay that placed 2nd. At the Bloomington Relays, Respondek placed 1st in both the 110m Hurdles and 300m Hurdles, and was in the 4x400m Relay that finished 2nd. At the Skidmore-Tynan Relays, he placed 1st in the 110m Hurdles, 300m Hurdles and 4x400m Relay. Respondek repeated the same feat the next week at the Yorktown Relays, winning gold in the 110m Hurdles, 300m Hurdles and the 4x400m Relay.

At the District 31-2A Track Meet, Respondek finished 1st in both hurdle races and 2nd in the 4x400m Relay to advance to the area track meet. At the District 31-2A/32-2A Area Track Meet, he was the Area Champion in the 110m Hurdles and 300m Hurdles and placed 2nd in the 4x400m Relay to advance to the Region Meet in all three events. At the Region IV, Class 2A Meet, Respondek won the 300m Hurdles to achieve his goal and advance to the State Track Meet in Austin.

Respondek credits much of his success to Yorktown Hurdles Coach Danny Threadgill, who has coached him for six years. Respondek said, “Coach Threadgill has pushed me to be the best I can be, and he has also coached me to be the best I could be. There is always room for improvement but as soon as we fixed something he was correcting something else to make me even better. I couldn’t have done it without him and I will never be able to thank him enough.” Looking back on the season, Respondek said, “It’s always rewarding when you set a goal and then achieve it. I am most proud of my accomplishments and times.” Overall, this track season, Respondek won 16 gold medals and five silver medals. Definitely, quite a dream track season.