Young Hubbard shows promise in track

The Amherst girls’ indoor track team that won the Region III title may be losing one elite jumper named Hubbard –– that is, Lacear Hubbard –– but her younger sister, Kayla Hubbard, is showing promise at Monelison Middle School.

Kayla Hubbard, a rising eighth-grader competed on the Lancers junior varsity team despite the fact that her efforts could not count toward the JV team’s score.

Kayla routinely participated in the 110 hurdles, the long jump, the triple jump and the 4x400 meter relay for the Lions, but she excelled at the high jump, having already cleared the bar at 4 feet, 8 inches.

To put that height into perspective, Brentsville senior Danyelle Kent Robinson cleared 5 feet, 4 inches to claim the Group AA state outdoor meet this spring in Radford.

“I just like jumping,” Kayla said. “It’s what I like best about track.”

A highlight for Kayla this season was an opportunity to run at the same meet as Lacear, though in different divisions. Kayla also admits to seeking help from Lacear since their events overlap.

Lacear certainly has proved to be a credible source of help for her after dominating the Lancers’ effort at the Region III indoor meet.

She won the long jump (17 feet, 7.25 inches), finished second in the triple jump (36 feet, 2.5 inches), was third in the high jump (5 feet, 2 inches) and fifth in the 60 meter hurdles (9.25 seconds).

Kayla comes from an athletic family. Her father, Thomas West, her mother, Lora, and both older sisters, Shatina as well as Lacear, all have been heavily involved in athletics and Kayla is no different. Besides track, she plays basketball and volleyball.

“I just like to stay in shape and compete,” Kayla said. “I want to thank my dad. He’s been at everything I’ve done and has been really supportive.”