Prairie State Profile: Eagles’ Sunde allows passion for sprinting to carry him to fast times

LIBERTY, Ill. — Spend any amount of time chatting with Keegan Sunde about his track career and you come away with one overriding realization.

His passion for the sport is all encompassing.

The Liberty senior sprinter enjoyed a solid indoor season, running the 60-meter dash in 7.25 seconds at the Illinois Top Times Meet at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington. He also posted a time of 23.64 in the 200 dash.

Sunde set personal records in both events earlier in the indoor season, giving himself a boost as the outdoor season reaches full swing to chase the Liberty school records in both the 100 and 200 dashes. His focused on his times more than he is his place finishes, knowing if he reaches his goals, the rest takes care of itself.

Running track has given Sunde drive, focus and purpose.

“It’s about the best thing that has ever happened in my life,” Sunde said.

Recently, Sunde sat down with Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman to discuss transitioning to the outdoor season, where his passion for running came from and what it is like to be part of the Liberty running tradition for this “Prairie State Profile,” brought to you by Sleep Tight.

Q: When you’re making the transition from indoor to outdoor season and you’re battling the cold weather, how difficult is it to get out there and run?

A: It’s not that difficult, but it is a mental thing. I’ve been indoors for most of the year running track, and then you switch to outdoors and it’s cold and it just sucks doing that. It’s a mental thing. You just have to get out there and start to run and get past it.

Q: What did you enjoy about the indoor season?

A: One, the warmth of running indoors. That was probably the best part. The second part was going up against teams we don’t normally compete against in this area. I got to get some exposure against people I haven’t run against and I learned I have to work harder for the things that I want like medals and eventually placing at state. It was great exposure for me.

Q: If there is something you learned from the indoor season that you can carry over to the outdoor season, what would it be?

A: The importance of warming up. During indoor season, the way I warmed up was super important to me running a fast time. It’s definitely going to contribute to the way I run outdoors because it’s going to be cold at times and I’ll have to be warming up even more so I can stay loose and get ready to run a better time each race. Warming up is the one thing I’d take with me.

Q: What was your highlight of the indoor season?

A: Honestly, it was running a PR in the 60 (meter dash). I may have run a better PR in the 200, but I’m not sure. I was focused on the 60.

Q: What are your goals for the outdoor season?

A: To get a school record and just place in state. Those are the only two accomplishments I really want to work toward.

Q: I know (Liberty track coach Jared) Schmidt loves when you chase the records.

A: He’s usually more excited than we are ourselves. He comes over and gives us a hug and pats us on the back and he’s super excited about it.

Q: What’s it like running for a coach that gets so excited about your accomplishments?

A: It feels great. Our team is not that big, but each time someone PRs even a little bit we talk about it in our team meeting after meets and he makes it feel like everyone had an accomplishment that day. We all get our spotlight for the day, even if we didn’t fare too well. He accepts us and congratulates us every single meet. It’s just amazing.

Q: What’s it like to be a part of the Liberty running history?

A: Honestly, it feels really good. It feels good to have your name etched in that history. It’s special to be a part of that history.

Q: When did you know you were fast?

A: Probably kindergarten. Running out at recess in kindergarten and I could feel the wind on my face and what it was like beating other kids. It made me happy. It sounds mean saying that, but beating other people in races brought a smile to my face. It was so fun.

Q: Was there a point then where you knew you had to go run track?

A: When I was in fifth grade, my mom was like, “Hey, you’re able to do track this year.” I didn’t know what track was at that time. She told me you just run against people. I go, “Heck, yeah, I’ll do it.” I’ve been running track every year since then.

Q: Did you play other sports before that?

A: I played basketball for a couple of years and baseball for a couple of years. That was it.

Q: When track became more serious, what did you like about it?

A: I liked how much training I had to do. People see training as nitty gritty and they don’t want to do it because it’s hard work. But every practice, I just love having my body tired. After every sprint workout that we have, I run so hard that I throw up. Some people think it’s gross. Some people don’t get why I keep running. But that’s just what I like.

Q: What’s it feel like when you push yourself to such an extreme limit?

A: During meets, when my coach has me run a 400, it’s not the most fun race to run. When I feel that my legs can’t move enough, it gives me the ability to want more and to work harder. I take that to practice and I’m working my body until I can’t move. In that moment, it doesn’t feel good, but push back to an hour or two later and it feels like I accomplished so much that day.

Q: What’s more important when you hit the finish line — being first or having a great time?

A: Definitely my time. I obviously care about placing, but I care way more about my time. I want to get the school record and just show people what I can run compared to what other people run.

Q: How much thought have you given to wanting to be at the state tournament come late May?

A: I haven’t thought about it all. With each practice, I work hard that day and focus on the next meet. I focus on practices as a hard-working time to build up my strength and my speed to get me to state. The week before state, I will think about it so much.

Q: You’re very centered on running and focused on the track season, but when you want to get away from it, what do you do?

A: If I’m being honest with you, I still work out and run for fun. Those are the things that bring me joy. The fun of running and lifting gets me filled with happiness. It’s amazing.

Q: Have you thought about what you want to study in college?

A: My freshman through junior year, I was dead set on child psychology. I looked into it and I can help people talk through their emotions, so I was determined that was the field for me. Recently, I kind of dropped the idea for it. Right now, I’m undecided on a major.

Q: Is there a class at Liberty that has helped you determine which avenue you might take?

A: My favorite class is more math than anything. It’s about finding a math problem and solving the problem. The feeling of getting it right just feels good. I like the problem solving aspect of it.