Kyle Houston
Sometimes in life, you have to pivot to find your way.
Such was the case for Forrest City graduate Kyle Houston as a Forrest City Junior Mustang basketball player.
Realizing that his football and basketball skill sets were not up to par with his peers, nor was his basketball IQ, Houston decided to pivot and see how far running, preferably with the track team, could get him.
Turns out, that decision went far in helping pave the way for deciding his eventual future.
Houston, a 2007 Forrest City graduate, now residing in Los Angeles, Calif., will be inducted into the Forrest City Athletic Hall of Fame tonight, representing the Forrest City After 1970 Era.
Houston's list of track accolades at Forrest City and UALR runs deep.
Houston was part of the Forrest City Junior High Cross Country and track teams during the school year and during the summer months when school was out, he ran with the AAU-based Midsouth Heat track team.
It didn't take long for his worth as a middle-distance runner began to shine and by his sophomore season, Houston had won the Class 5A State Boys 800meter run.
Houston's success in both track and cross country at Forrest City continued to grow and he went on to help the Mustangs win indoor and outdoor state titles during the 2006-07 season. Before that, Houston had won state outdoor track titles and indoor state track titles. He would win the Arkansas All-Star track meet (Meet of Champs) during his junior year, finally culminating with conference track titles as a senior and being selected numerous times for the All-Star Cross Country team and the All-Conference Track team.
Houston followed his prep track achievements by earning a full ride D1 scholarship to UALR, where he ran both cross country and track, eventually posting the fastest 800-meter time (1:53) and running as part of the 2007 Sun Belt Cross Country championship team.
Off the track, Houston excelled in academics receiving the Sun Belt Conference Commissioner's List for academic excellence and would graduate with a degree in Management Information Systems.
Houston's list of achievements at Forrest City under track coach Donnie Willis, is long and varied. He helped the Mustangs win both the indoor and outdoor titles in 2006 and 07, after winning outdoor titles in the 800, mile run and mile relay. Houston won indoor state titles in the same three events and won the All-Star track meet (Meet of Champs) running the 800-meter and mile relay.
As a sophomore, Houston placed 25th out of 174 runners at the Class 5A State Cross Country event. As a junior Houston ran 14th out of 183 runners at the 5A State Cross Country Meet. He was third in the 800-meter run at the Germantown, Tenn. meet; third in the two-mile relay at the Cabot Panther Relays; third in the 800meter run and the mile run and second in the two-mile relay at the Paul Hoffman Relays and won the 800-meter run and the mile run at the Class 5A state meet. Houston won the Orange Crush 5K hosted by Hendrix College as a senior and was third out of 66 runners at the Class 6A state Cross Country race.
As proof of his accolades Houston's letterman jacket is covered with patches reflecting his numerous track victories, which is surrounded by conference and state trophies as well as individual medals.
While Houston calls California his home for now, his family continues to reside in Arkansas.