High School Standouts: University High’s Kittrell chases down dreams on the track

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) – University High junior Dalencia Kittrell started running track in the eighth grade.

But, her story truly begins years earlier – almost 1,400 miles south of Johnson City.

“I lived in Haiti until I was nine years-old,” she said.

By the time she was three, Hunter and Jillian Kittrell had become Dalencia’s legal guardians. The Kittrell’s pent seven years as missionaries inside the country. They completed the adoption process for her and her older brother when she was nine.

“I danced and I was homeschooled – but there weren’t many opportunities for sports,” Dalencia recalled of her early childhood.

So, when the family moved back to the state – to Tennessee – she took advantage of every opportunity.

“I played soccer, basketball, cross-country – I even did gymnastics,” she said.

It wasn’t until that eighth-grade year that she found her niche with the longer sprint event of track.

“I just loved the feeling after you ran,” she explained. “Then everybody’s, like, cheering for you.”

There was plenty to cheer about, almost right away, as she excelled rapidly in the 400-meter event.

“The 400 just feels complete,” she said. “It’s one of those harder races, so I like the competition.”

And compete, she did.

She made her debut in the TSSAA Class 1A state meet, all before reaching the ninth grade.

“Honestly, I was really nervous,” she said. “I was also excited, but mostly nervous.”

She placed fifth in the 400 meter race that day, her outlook suddenly changed.

“I was like, “Oh, that wasn’t too bad,'” she recalled.

She qualified for the state meet each of the next two seasons – most recently placing second in the 400 meters and third in the 200 meters this past May.

“It really made me happy to see that all the work is paying off.”

The success doesn’t stop there, either. Kittrell is just two weeks away from competing in her second AAU Junior Olympic Games, after qualifying Top 5 in the region in both events.

“I hope I do better this year, too,” she said.

Her summer preparation with Copperheads Track Club has her feeling strong headed to Greensboro.

“Running with people and competing with them,” she said, “that’s really nice and helpful.”

She has two more years left in high school, but she and those around her are dreaming Division I dreams.

“The ceiling is much higher than she, herself, has understood and she’s got the work ethic to back it up,” Copperheads assistant coach Chris Ricketts said.

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