Story by- Tim Rogers, Correspodent

This much people know about Kenadee Wayt, the University of Mount Union’s versatile and talented track athlete who recently was named Ohio Athletic Conference Scholar Athlete of the Month:

• By placing in the top eight in the 60-meters, the 200-meters, the 400-meters and the 1,600-meter relay during the Division III national indoor meet in early March she became the first 4-time All-American in one meet in the history of the illustrious Mount Union program.
• She was the lone 4-time All-American in Division III championship and was one of three in all divisions of college athletics this season.
• By doing so she increased her career All-American designations to six -- four during indoors and two in the outdoor season – tying her with someone very close to her.
• She was the OAC champion in all four of the above-mentioned events during the recently completed indoor season and was named the Most Outstanding Sprinter of the OAC Indoor Championships.
• She now has won six OAC championships in the last two indoor/outdoor seasons.
• She owns school record times of 7.62 in the 60-meters and 24.97 in the 200-meters.
• She twice has earned Academic All-OAC honors, carrying a 4.00 grade-point average – never earning a grade lower than an “A” as a biology major – with hopes of pursuing a career in the medical field.

Things people might not know about the native of Wheeling, W.V.:

• She is an identical twin. Her sister, Ireland, attends High Point University in North Carolina. Both were high school state champions in track.
• She also is a distinguished soccer player and owns the Wheeling Central High record of scoring 111 goals in four seasons.
• She inherited her scientific interests from her parents, Michael and Heather. Both are physicians.
• In addition to her athletic and academic achievements she finds time to volunteer at Alliance Hospital.
• She inherited her running interests from her mother, who was Heather O’Shea when she competed for Mount Union and earned six All-American distinctions – sharing the Mount record with her daughter – while winning two national championships. She still owns the university 800-meter records of 2:10.38 (outdoors) and 2:12.99 (indoors).

Kendee’s accomplishments are not lost on coach Kevin Lucas, who has led the track and field programs to three national championships and 35 OAC championships in 10 years.

   “Athletes like Kenadee don’t come along too often,” he said. “Her success is no surprise. She gets it. She understands what it takes as far as work ethic, training properly, eating right and taking care of your body. She is very balanced in her life.” 

It would be facetious to say Kenadee and her sister learned to run before they learned to walk. But it isn’t far off.

“I think we started running as soon as we could walk," Wayt said jokingly, “No, I think we were like 8-years-old when we started. I have pictures of me and my sister on a track with my mom. She had us running at a very early age. She would drop us off about a mile from home and we would run the rest of the way. We were in middle school.”

While proficient in all four events the 200-meters remains her favorite.

“It’s kind of in-between the 60 and the 400,” she said. “Not too short and not too long.”

She also prefers the indoor season for logical reasons.

“No wind or rain indoors,” she said with a sly grin. “The weather is the same every time.”

 While identical and sharing many of the same traits as twins often do, Kenadee and her sister went their separate ways when choosing a college.

“Ireland wanted to go to a bigger school and that’s why she chose High Point,” Kenadee said. “I wanted to go to smaller school. My high school graduating class had 54 kids. I love it here. I love the small atmosphere, the small classes and the small campus. You can get everywhere in 10 minutes.”

Small may be her comfort zone but that hasn’t stopped her from accomplishing big things. Back home it is known as the Wheeling Feeling.