#SDSportsAwards, boys track: Paul Paul leads through composure

Paul Paul seems to have an extra gear. Speed is the game for the Harrisburg senior sprinter, who holds the top marks in the 400-meter dash (and is among the best in the 100 and 200) this season.

On the gridiron, Paul flashed his unique ability and was often counted on for game-changing plays. On the track, Paul is a bonafide rising star.

“Where he’s really tough is his top-end speed and his strength,” said Coach Kevin Kroger. “As a sophomore he really started to show the kind of ability that we see now. When he ran a sub-51 second 400, we knew that we had something special.”

It’s not easy to maintain a sprint for an entire lap, and Paul excels at staying fast down the home stretch. There may even be untapped potential there.

MORE: See other winners of the S.D. Sports Awards

“I’ve talked to him numerous times — those world-class times people put up in the 400, when they get to the last 20-30 meters, they look bad,” Kroger said. “And he never does. I’m trying to convince him that he can go even harder at the end.”

Paul’s talent and focus were on display at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays, where he won the 400 with a time of 48.74 seconds. Earlier that week, Kroger drove the Mount Marty College recruit out to Sturgis to compete in a 400-meter special event.

“We get out there, get out of the Suburban, and not 40 minutes later he runs his first time under 49 seconds,” Kroger said. “To just get out, warm up and go compete like that was impressive. Twenty minutes later we were on our way back.”

Paul went on to win the 400 at the state meet.

Kroger added that his senior sprinter, who will run track for Mount Marty College next year, is also a team leader.