ShaLyn Edmondson is an exemplary high school athlete.
The Bristow High School senior plays four — and-a-half — sports: softball, basketball, soccer, track & field and cross country.
“Well, I didn’t do cross country the whole season, but they needed me for regionals and state,” Edmondson said. “The only sports I’ve had to alternate is right now between soccer and track, which works because they work with each others’ schedules.”
She is also a member of NHS, LEO club and JOM leadership.
“I definitely [prioritize] now because I am starting to experience my back hurting because I overdo it in practice with high jump,” Edmondson said, “so I am trying to take it easy and do more stretches and warmups. That helps with it.”
The spring, Edmondson is competing in the high jump, the long jump, the 1600m relay and, for the first time, the 300m hurdles. Last year, she placed second in the 1600m relay at the state meet, fourth in the high jump and fifth in the long jump. She also ran the 3200m relay at regionals to help the Pirates qualify for state. Overall, Bristow placed second as a team, and Edmondson was a significant contributor to that. She plans to take her game to new heights this year.
“My goals for this year in high jump is to get 5’4-5’6. For long jump, I want to win state,” Edmondson said, “and 300m hurdles, I know it’s new, but my coach thinks I have the potential to place at state. . . I have to put in work and have the confidence God gives me to do my thing.”
Her faith is a central aspect of her life, especially recently. Edmondson knows what it’s like to feel overwhelmed.
“A time I have been challenged the most is right now, my senior year. I had no pressure last year, because it was my first time trying different events out, but now that I’ve fallen in love with my events, I am determined to be much better than my potential is set out to be,” Edmondson said. “I think it affected me mentally the most. I got in my head too much, which led to not being able to perform as well as I can. It also pushed me to try my absolute best as well.
“I still get in my head, but I’m trying to do better with staying confident and trusting God through it,” Edmondson said.
Edmondson often recalls one of her favorite verses when she struggles with that pressure.
“I put God first in everything I do. I trust His outcome and keep my faith in whatever He has planned for my life. Esther 4:14 is a great verse to remind me that God put me where I am for a reason. All I have to do is trust Him that He will get me through,” Edmondson said. “I try to keep a positive outlook when things go wrong, because I know everything happens for a reason. My faith stays strong knowing I have a God who never fails.”
After high school, Edmondson aspires to become an ultrasound technician.
