There will be no rest for the sidewalks and streets of Lawrence.
That much was learned Thursday afternoon at Free State High, when senior Kyra Kilwein signed a national letter of intent to run cross country at Kansas University next season.
In front of a handful of friends, family members and teammates in the FSHS library, Kilwein, wearing a red and white “Rock Chalk Jayhawk” T-Shirt, made her commitment official amid crimson and blue balloons.
“I’m a Jayhawk fan and have a lot of pride in being a Jayhawk,” Kilwein said. “I had to work hard all four years to get an opportunity like this, and I’m very excited it came.”
Kilwein, who pounds the pavement in all four corners of the city year-around, likely will have more specialized training quarters than the city’s trafficways, but don’t be surprised if you see her out on the streets until she officially joins the Jayhawks.
“They sent me a summer workout schedule that I’ll follow,” Kilwein said. “And I plan to train with (Free State) some over the summer, as well.”
Throughout her time at FSHS, Kilwein established herself as one of the school’s all-time best distance runners in both cross country and track.
Asked which achievement was most important to her, Kilwein pointed to her school-record time of 14:32 at a 2008 cross country meet in Manhattan.
Kilwein chose KU over Kansas State. She plans to major in education or something in the medical field.
