The UW-Whitewater men’s track and field team has been performing particularly well at meets, thanks to athletes like junior Kobe Chandler stepping up their game. The long sprinter has been excelling lately, placing third in the 400-meter in the Midwest Elite.
Chandler, who grew up in Beloit, began his track and field career in sixth grade at Aldrich Middle School, where he discovered his passion for the sport.
“The sixth grade is when I really found the love and passion for it,” Chandler said. “I grew a lot of relationships there.”
Beginning his track and field career at a younger age, Chandler began to see real development as a runner when he attended Beloit Memorial High School.
“Ninth grade is when I really started making strides in the 400,” Chandler said. “I feel like I was at a point in time where I knew I could separate myself if I worked hard enough, and I was starting to see real improvements.”
When asked about his inspirations on and off the track, Chandler had nothing but positive things to say about his teammates, who help push him to become better every day he practices and competes.
“One of my teammates, Marlon Cystrunk, just broke the 60-meter hurdles record,” Chandler said. “I feel like working with someone like that every day is inspiring. He’s one of my best friends on the team. Christian Patzka and Gunner Schlender are two others who have been consistent All-Americans in cross country and track for as long as they’ve been here, so it’s cool to look up to them and the hard work they put in every day.”
Having been involved in the sport since middle school, Chandler has been a part of numerous meets throughout his track career, facing athletes from all around. When competing against various opponents, Chandler thrives with the pressure, believing it helps him perform better.
“I really like the pressure, honestly,” Chandler said. “I think it helps me perform a little better when I embrace it.”
If Chandler were to do anything to help him before he competes though, he will listen to music.
“It’ll range from gospel to rap, whatever is working for me at the moment,” Chandler said.
Student-athletes will typically run into adversity in their journey, and the same remains true for Chandler. After a successful freshman year running as a Warhawk, Chandler had high expectations going into his sophomore year. But things didn’t go completely as planned for him. Looking to improve from his freshman year, even if he was unable to do so, Chandler was able to come away from his sophomore year with a new outlook that ultimately helped him become a better runner.
“My first year I was really successful, and I think I kind of just expected that next year I would be able to build off of that and just improve,” Chandler said. “But last year, I had to learn that’s not how it really works. You just have to keep your head down, keep putting in consistent work and execution every day then I’ll be able to see the results come. I feel like last year was a good year for me because it kept me grounded and humble.”
Keeping this mindset in his junior year, Chandler was able to achieve his best time as a Warhawk at his most recent competition, posting a time of 50.31 seconds in the 400-meter.
Chandler still has many goals for his track career, one of which is qualifying for nationals.
“I definitely want to bring our 4×4 squad to nationals in indoor and outdoor, hopefully we can break the school record too,” Chandler said. “I think we have the pieces to do it. We have a lot of good, young guys who are motivated and just as eager as me to do the same thing.”
Looking ahead, Chandler and the Warhawks are set to compete in the WIAC Indoor Championships, starting Feb. 28 in Stevens Point.
“Watch out for Warhawk track,” Chandler said. “I think we have a lot to look forward to and this is just the beginning.”
