Godfrey-Lee — Recent graduate Chloe Sullivan plans to take on her future the same way she does while running hurdles during a track meet — one step at a time.
A difficult field event, requiring a runner to focus on both speed and agility, hurdles became Chloe’s preferred event during her sophomore year at Lee High School.
“I started my freshman year running the 200-meter and 400 -races, but I wasn’t very quick,” she said.
Thanks to daily after-school practices and her coaches, Chloe said her confidence began to build and the event taught her to be patient with herself.
“In track and field, you have to show up for yourself,” she said. “You have to have a really good mindset and know how to control your emotions because it’s a very mental sport.”
This year, Chloe placed first in the region for the 100m and 300m hurdles and ran season bests in both events. This Saturday, May 30, she will compete against athletes from all over the state at the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 track and field final competition.
Chloe is the only female track and field athlete from Lee High School to qualify, an accomplishment she was most proud of during her senior year.
“Making it to states means the work you’ve put in has paid off,” she said. “It’s really rewarding.”
In addition to running hurdles, Chloe has played volleyball since eighth grade.
“I’m tall, so the coach encouraged me to play and I really got into it,” she said.
She also joined the Seekers Volleyball Club team in Grand Rapids her sophomore year to play during the off-season. Similar to track, Chloe said volleyball teaches you mental and physical endurance.
“I really like the communication aspect of volleyball and getting to know my teammates,” she said. “It makes you a better player because (volleyball) is all about trust and communication.”
The Starting Line of Her Future
As a student-athlete, Chloe said she made it a priority to stay on top of her high school classes, including those in the nursing program at Kent Career Tech Center.
“It was a lot to handle,” she said. “It was tough at some points to balance everything, but I stayed grounded, focused on what I needed to work on, and it was manageable.”
In the fall, Chloe will attend Aquinas College to further her nursing studies.
“I’m a patient person and I like to work in a high-speed environment and with other people,” she said.
Chloe credited her mom, who is a licensed practical nurse, for helping her with homework and encouraging her to succeed.
Some other influential people in Chloe’s life: her volleyball and track coaches and her community.
“Growing up in Godfrey-Lee has taught me that everyone has their own cultural backgrounds and struggles,” she said. “Never give up on yourself or others. You need to show up for yourself before anyone else and make time for what really matters.”
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