Two of Zachary’s finest have an opportunity to take their athletic talents to a global level with their invitation to the USA Track and Field Olympic Trials June 21 through June 30 in Eugene, Oregon.
Kenson Tate and Sean “Squirrel” Burrell have qualified for the Olympic Trials and will head back to Hayward Field, where they competed at the NCAA Championships two weeks ago with dreams of Olympic glory.
ZHS coach Chris Carrier is not surprised noting “their determination has gotten them on the world stage and what an honor it will be if they get to represent the USA and Zachary at the Olympics in Paris.”
I caught up with Tate as he was making arrangements to return to Eugene on June 18 to prepare for the long jump preliminaries on June 22. That competition will take the 24 contenders to 12 for the June 24 finals and a chance for Olympic glory.
Tate on making the Trials commented that “the job is not over and the job is not done. When we make it past the trials and compete in Paris the goal will be achieved.”
Burrell’s will have to wait until June 27 for round 1 of the 400-meter hurdles, semifinals on June 28 and the finals on June 29.
This will be Burrell’s second Olympic trials. “Going into the Olympic trials this time I will be more excited than when I was as a freshman and my confidence level and focus will be zoned in better than last time,” Burrell noted.
“No race should be taken for granted and I need to compete to the best of my ability each and every race," Burrell said.
The Olympic trials will be televised by NBC and the USA Network. Times are subject to change but many of the events may be accessed by livestream.
In addition to qualifying for the Paris Olympics that run from July 26 to Aug. 24, the top three finishers at the Olympic qualifiers receive gold, silver and bronze medals emblematic of the Championships of the United States of America, and USA Track and Field pays prize money to the first through eighth place finishers in each event.
To make the trip to Paris, Burrell and Tate will need to be in the top three in their event.
“Sean and Kenson are a perfect example that talent alone is not going to bring you success in track and field. They both are relentless when it comes to practice and training to get better every day,” Carrier said.
On June 11, Tate was named to the 2024 Outdoor Track and Field All Southland Conference team and to top that was named the Southland Conference male athlete of the year.
Tate was also Lamar’s Student Athlete of the Year as a mechanical engineering major when he is not flying through the air or blazing on the track.
Burrell, a two-time NCAA Champion in the 400-meter hurdles, noted that “I was blessed with this talent and can’t stop thanking God for this opportunity once more. I want to thank my mom, dad, brothers and Zachary community for supporting my career.”
Tate commented that “as a kid I always wanted to go to the Olympics. After getting hurt last year I wanted to come back with a bang.”
Tate indicated that his parents, who plan on traveling to the trials, along with his brother have “been keeping me humble and are extremely excited about traveling to Oregon and the comeback from last year’s injury.”
The journey for both started at a young age and Carrier noted that “they have been trained by some of the best summer track coaches, high school coaches and college coaches.”
Tate recognized his Lamar coaches, Tyler Sunwall and head coach Trey Clark, and coach Carrier who “has always supported us,” Tate said.
Burrell also thanked summer track club coach Roderick Newton, Carrier and Kelvin Kelly and his LSU coaches Dennis Shaver and Benie Brazzel.
So mark your calendar and save the dates to watch a couple of Zachary boys make us proud. As Carrier commented when relaying that he wishes them good luck, they are “Broncos for life.”