Freeport’s Kemp displays multiple talents for lacrosse, track teams

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, April 24, 2018 | 11:45 PM

As a thrower for the Freeport boys track and field team, Austin Kemp doesn't compete in running events during meets.

But when a spot opened up for the boys 1,600-meter relay against Burrell on Monday, Kemp, at 5-foot-11 and 225 pounds, volunteered his services.

He admitted when he was done with his sprint 400 leg, he felt like he was going to throw up.

“It was awful,” Kemp said with a laugh. “I just dropped straight to the ground. It was one of the worst feelings of my life, but also one of the best, for sure.”

Despite the adverse feeling, Kemp said he was pleased he ran his 400 split in 1 minute, 1 second and helped the relay win.

“Coach Bobby Woods gave Austin a crash course in running the 400,” Freeport track coach John Gaillot said. “That was a pretty good time for a big guy who has never trained in running the 400.”

Kemp also captured the shot put (45 feet, 11½ inches) and the discus (128-2) as the Yellowjackets topped Burrell, 109-37, to improve to 8-1.

“I will take any chance or do anything I can to help my team,” said Kemp, a three-sport athlete who will join the St. Vincent College football team next fall as a linebacker.

This spring, Kemp again is a two-sport standout.

He is ranked as one of the top throwers in both the Class AA shot and discus. He also is a defensive stalwart on the boys lacrosse team, which opened Section 1-AA play Tuesday with a 9-5 victory over Gateway and is 8-3 overall.

Kemp continued his roll toward next month's WPIAL championships with two medals at the 72-team Butler Invitational on Friday.

He finished fifth in the shot put (45-5½) and added an eighth in the discus (127-11). Among WPIAL Class AA competitors, he was second in the shot and fourth in the discus.

“Austin hasn't peaked yet,” Gaillot said. “He is increasing his distances with every meet. It's been one of the worse springs for everyone getting reps with the weather. There haven't been that many solid days to compete and practice. We hope for a stretch of good weather so Austin can fine-tune his throws.”

Gaillot said Kemp has been more focused this year on being a leader.

“Austin has a real attention to detail,” Gaillot said. “He's been so focused on his goals. It's great to see how much he's matured.”

Kemp already has surpassed his WPIAL distances from last year where he placed third in the shot and 13th in the discus.

“I trained really hard in the offseason to do better in meets and at WPIALs,” Kemp said. “I got outside as much as I could before the preseason practices started. I am feeling good right now.”

Kemp will be a part of Wednesday's Section 7-AA championship meet at Freeport.

Competition begins at 3 p.m. between athletes from the host Yellowjackets, as well as Apollo-Ridge, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Leechburg, Riverview, Shady Side Academy, Springdale and Valley.

“There's a little pressure because I've seen all of my competitors before, and they're all really good,” Kemp said. “It's always a great meet overall, and it's a lot of fun. I'm happy we are hosting it.”

After the Butler Invite on Friday, it was off to West Virginia to meet his lacrosse teammates for a pair of Saturday nonsection matches. The Yellowjackets defeated Fairview (Erie), 17-12, and Fairmont (W.Va.), 16-4.

Kemp is a four-year varsity starter for Freeport lacrosse.

“He's very physical with great speed,” lacrosse coach Jarvis Lindsay said. “He's a very positive kid. There are times where you have to reel him in a little bit because he gets a little too excited. But he's very respectful and a great athlete.”

As one of a number of area athletes who compete in multiple sports during a single season, Kemp said that while it can be stressful at times, he welcomes the challenge of balancing track and field, lacrosse and academics.

While competition conflicts have been few the past couple of seasons, Kemp said he makes sure to do whatever he can to be there for everything.

“If he has a lacrosse match on a certain day, he will do whatever he can to go up after and get a couple of throws in,” Gaillot said. “His work ethic is unbelievable. He wants to be the best. He's a true competitor.”

Kemp started his senior year on the football field, and he earned the Valley News Dispatch's Defensive Player of the Year award after collecting more than 100 tackles, including three sacks. His efforts helped the Yellowjackets finish the 2017 campaign 7-3, take second in the Allegheny Conference and qualify the WPIAL 3A playoffs.

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Mlove_Trib.

Tags: Freeport