King signs with ISU to continue track & field

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by Mark Cheffey

PHS track and field standout, Kandra King will continue her throwing at Iowa State University next year.

The defending Class 3 state championships in both the discus and shot put chose ISU for track and field and academics over other choices that included University of Central Missouri and Missouri Southern.

King said she was impressed with just about everything at Ames, including the practice schedule, facilities, coaches and academics.

She also chose track and field over basketball, which she might have been able to do both at Columbia College in Columbia, Mo.

“In the end, I thought it was the best for me,” she said. “And I really fell in love with track this past year.

Candra was guided by her coaches, as well as her brother, Weston, who was also a track and field standout at PHS before going to UCM to play football.

She said it was inevitable she became a thrower in track and that Weston would help her along the way, despite the early arguments typical for siblings.

“We argued quite a lot, but I figured out that he was ultimately there for me,” Candra said. “He wanted me to succeed, and I owe him a lot of gratitude.”

The guidance showed as Candra went to state her first three years in high school, reaching the top step in both discus and shot as a junior.

Candra said she is excited for the challenge of defending her titles, but will continue to focus on her own personal goals rather than worrying about her competition.

She’s just happy to have her college future ironed out at this point.

“I’m glad I made my choice, because now I can relax and enjoy the rest of my senior year,” she said.

And actually that starts with basketball as the starting center for the Lady Panthers who return many players from last year’s 21-7 team.

Candra said she plans to major in biology at ISU with hopes of becoming a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant.