There have been many big-name track and field athletes that have come through the Kirkwood Track and Field program over the years with Alvin Miller being the biggest name to make his mark on the program. Ga’Darr Burks is looking to add his name to that list in only his first year of participating in track and field.
Burks is having an outstanding season thus far as he is currently 10th in the area in the High Jump with a leap of 1.80 meters and he is also 11th in the area in the Triple Jump with a jump of 13.05 meters while also participating in the 110-meter Hurdles. A few weeks ago, he aided the Pioneers boys’ team to a second-place finish in the Corey Siebert Invitational at Rockwood Summit by winning the Triple Jump and placing second in the High Jump.
This is the first year that the senior has been a part of the Pioneer track and field team after also playing basketball for Kirkwood. It has been a long road to get here, but he is making the most of it.
“My freshman year, I was scared because there were a lot of seniors and I was just a freshman, so I was not sure if I wanted to run track,” stated Burks. “So, I decided to not run and wait until my sophomore year. I was ready to go in my sophomore season, but COVID hit and shut down all the spring sports. During my junior year, I decided to concentrate on my academics, so I did not run. This year, I decided to come back out and do what I need to do, and it has turned out to be good.”
He was had an outstanding season thus far and has used his jumping ability that he used in playing basketball to his advantage to be successful on the track.
“I have always been a jumper because of my love for basketball,” said Burks. “When I had the opportunity to jump, I said that is what I want to do. I was always a speedy basketball player, and I was always fast on the court. When it came to track, it was like second nature because I like to run. It is a bit different because we have spikes on, so you must get used to that. It is the same, but it is different.”
Being new to the sport, it takes more practice than some of the other sports because of the technique that is needed to be successful in doing the high jump and the triple jump. Burks has been able to put things together in a short amount of time to be one of the top jumpers in the area.
“I had to put a lot of time doing it during our practices,” stated Burks. “I did not get my mark until my third meet, so I told myself to just go for it. It was kind of tough, but I put in a lot of work to get things right.”
Being a jumper in the field events is much more than just jumping, you need to have speed as well. Burks also used practices to work on his sprinting abilities to be able to succeed in the events.
“We do a lot of running workouts during practices,” said Burks. “So, that was a big help in getting me right and going in the right direction.”
As we all know, the balance between being an athlete and a student takes time, energy, and dedication. Burks has found that balance and knows how important it will be once he graduates and goes to the next level.
“My grades are good, and I have worked very hard on my academics,” said Burks. “I do a lot of my homework at night after practice, so there are many late nights, but I am doing it.”
Kirkwood Head Track and Field coach Roberta McWoods knows how hard Burks has worked over the past year and is extremely proud of what he has been able to accomplish in such a short amount of time.
“I am proud of how Ga’Darr has been able to compete at the very highest level in high school varsity sports,” stated McWoods. “He has done this with any experience, and this shows the type of athlete that he truly is.”
Congratulations to Ga’Darr Burks on being named our HSSC/Scoops with Danny Mac Student-Athlete of the Week.
Jim Powers has been covering prep sports in the St. Louis area for 15+ years and a part of the Missouri State High School Activities Association Championship Broadcasts for the past 11 years. Powers is also a part of the Fox 2 Verlo Mattress Prep Zone Friday nights at 10:10 during the football and basketball seasons. If you have a prep sports story, please contact Jim at japowers2421@yahoo.com. Follow Jim at @hssportscaravan
