Teen: Track built his success

COVINGTON (AP) — Kijana Knights would probably like to find whoever was responsible for determining he wasn’t good enough to make the basketball team, and thank them.

What may have felt like failure and rejection for Knights, a sophomore on the Newton track and field and cross country teams, actually paved the way for greater success and accolades.

Knights was recently named the Positive Athletes Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year for South Metro Atlanta. The award, given by Positive Athletes Georgia, takes into account both academic and athletic prowess.

Knights submitted his resume, which highlights a 3.83 grade point average and an aspiration to attend Army West Point to run track and prepare for a career in military service, and it apparently caught the selection committee’s attention.

“They must’ve seen that I was good both on the track and in the classroom to give me the award,” Knights said. “It felt good. I feel like it’s validation of the work I’ve put in the past two years that I’ve been in high school.”

Knights launched his track career after a failed basketball tryout — something he now says was a positive in retrospect. He’s found a home on the track that he believes will prepare him for even more.

“I’m planning to do track for all four years I’m in high school,” he said. “And hopefully I’ll be able to attend Army West Point to run track there as well.”