Rogers’ Khalil Winfrey overcomes untimely injury, sets sights on state meet

If sprinter Khalil Winfrey has his way, he’ll leave his footprints all over the Rogers High track record book.

For that matter, he wants to leave a mark in the Greater Spokane League.

The senior has already made a name for himself. He was ranked No. 1 in the 3A classification in the 100 and 200 meters going into the regional meet last spring.

That’s when his season came to a screeching, heartbreaking end. He had cruised to the finals in the 100 and had just taken the baton on the anchor leg of the 400 relay.

Two teams – Mt. Spokane and Hanford – were seeded ahead of the Pirates, and Winfrey was determined to help the foursome earn a state berth. He was about three strides or a little more than 10 meters into the final leg when he felt it.

“It was like my leg had been shocked,” Winfrey said.

Winfrey pulled a hamstring. Just like that his season and dream of winning individual state titles and helping a pair of relays challenge for state titles had vanished.

Emotion took over.

“I wasn’t crying because I was in pain, I was crying because I knew my season was ending,” Winfrey said. “It was devastating – just the timing of the injury. If it had happened early in the season I would have had time to recover.”

His career bests had come three weeks earlier at the Strandberg Relays when he timed 10.74 in the 100 and 21.85 in the 200. The winning times at state were 11.02 and 22.24 respectively.

Winfrey had tied or beaten the winning 100 time on eight occasions last season and eclipsed the winning 200 time four times.

It’s no wonder winning a pair of state titles was more than a realistic goal.

Winfrey asked his coach, Chris Dunn, if he could walk the 100 final at regionals the following day. Dunn asked meet officials if it would be allowable and Winfrey stood behind the start line. For obvious reasons he couldn’t get down in the blocks.

He hobbled down the track at Spokane Falls Community College, finishing in 25.23 seconds.

“That was a pretty incredible sign of class and guts,” Dunn said.

The crowd applauded appreciatively. It was of small consolation, though.

It took a month for Winfrey to heal. He missed the summer Junior Olympics season.

This spring is one of redemption for Winfrey. At his first meet, West Valley’s Howard Dolphin Invite, he ran for him pedestrian times of 11.19 and 22.69.

Dunn reminded Winfrey that he can’t get back down to his late-season times of a year ago right out of the blocks.

“It was cold and there was a good headwind,” Dunn said. “He ran just fine. I told him we know how fast he is. My biggest concern was getting him in the blocks for the first time and making sure he was confident and ready to go.”

Winfrey has two numbers posted on his bathroom mirror at home. One is 10.3 and the other is 21.4. Those are his goals this year.

It just so happens those are the all-time league records in both events, set by Anthony Buchanan of University in 2000.

Winfrey will continue to anchor the 400 and team with JJ Curry and two spots to be determined and team with Curry, Roberto Lopez and another leg to be determined in the 1,600 relay. The school record is 3:19.2, set in 1969.

“I think we can get that record, too,” Winfrey said.

Winfrey will also run an open 400 on occasion.

“I think that’s going to be his event in college and in the future,” Dunn said.

Much like a year ago, Winfrey comes into his final season in the best shape of his career. He’ll have about 10 meets, including league, to lower his personal bests and break records.

“What makes Khalil a special person is he’s a student of the game,” Dunn said. “You hear that term more often in basketball and football, but he’s eager to learn. He seeks out ways to get better.”

Winfrey takes care of business in the classroom, too. He carries a 3.3 grade-point average and had his first semester of straight A’s last fall.

It was difficult for Dunn to come to grips with Winfrey’s injury last year.

“He kept saying how he let everyone down,” Dunn said. “He didn’t let anybody down. It meant so much to him.”

Dunn took Winfrey to state as a spectator.

“He kind of took on the role of a coach and tried to help JJ focus for his events,” Dunn said. “He asked me if I had the schedule for this year’s state meet. He set a countdown timer on his phone so he knows how much time he has left before he gets a chance to redeem himself.”

Winfrey had the opportunity to meet Ryan Bailey, one of the top sprinters for the U.S. track team, at a clinic two years ago at Eastern Washington University. Then during an indoor meet at Washington, Winfrey lined up to run in his first 60 meters race and Bailey lined up next to him.

After finishing a distant second to Bailey, Winfrey asked if Bailey if he’d pose for a picture. The photo is on his Facebook profile and has been a screen saver on his cell phone.

Winfrey wants to attend and run at Washington. He received news that he cleared the NCAA clearinghouse for immediate eligibility. He hopes to earn some scholarship money this spring to go with an academic scholarship. Together it should pay for most of his education.

A two-time all-league wide receiver, Winfrey also wants to walk on in football at Washington.

“I want to be an NCAA champion and in the Olympics,” Winfrey said.

Like his goals for records this spring, Winfrey knows he’s setting the bar high. But he’s willing to put in the work even if he doesn’t reach those goals.

“Right now all I want to do is be a state champion,” Winfrey said.