What's Next - Guilderland's Kendall Barnhart

Each week this summer, NEWS10 Sports is featuring one of the Capital Region's best student athletes who just graduated high school on our segment, "What's Next?". We're going to dive into both what lies ahead, while looking back on their storied careers. When we created this segment, it was with athletes such as Guilderland Track and Field's Kendall Barnhart in mind.

GUILDERLAND, NY (NEWS10) -- Each week this summer, NEWS10 Sports is featuring one of the Capital Region's best student athletes who just graduated high school on our segment, "What's Next?". We're going to dive into both what lies ahead, while looking back on their storied careers. When we created this segment, it was with athletes such as Guilderland Track and Field's Kendall Barnhart in mind.

"When I was in sixth grade and I was looking at the record board," said Barnhart "I was like, 'I hope to get one individual school record one day. That would be really cool.'"

By the time Kendall Barnhart graduated from Guilderland, she didn't just own one school record. She owned 18 of them. "It's amazing," said Barnhart. "I'm hoping that some of the younger girls look and see the same thing and accomplish the same thing too."

If you know Kendall, for her, it's never been about individual accomplishments. "She has always been about the team," said head coach Chris Scanlan. "It's always been team goals first, relays, she'll do anything for this team. It's amazing as a coach to see an athlete who's risen to this level individually, that still puts the team first."

That team first attitude has helped take the Guilderland track and field program to new heights, including a sectional title in 2023. "I have never experienced so much excitement at a track meet before," said Barnhart. "You would see people running back and forth and back and forth that don't even do track, but just came to watch and support us. I think that stands out the most."

Later that year, Barnhart and her teammates went from sectional champs to national champs, winning the gold medal in the 1600 meter medley relay at the New Balance National Championships. "Oh, my gosh, it was such a pinch me moment," said Barnhart. "We kept saying to ourselves, we're national champions. We couldn't believe it. So to just hear that and see that and see that support, especially from the Guilderland community after our success there, it was just a really surreal moment. Honestly, it was it was like a fever dream."

How do you follow that up in your senior year? The five-time All-American led the track and field team to their second straight section title. Before she graduated, the section and national champion added state champ to her resume, guiding Guilderland to the four by 100 meter relay title, as well as a Federation Championship. "Our state is super competitive, so there's so many great athletes, a lot of competition," said Barnhart. "So for us to go out there and win a state championship was just the perfect way to end it all. My family was there, which was also really nice, so they could all witness that too."

A lot of athletes and coaches have had a hand in the success of the Guilderland girls track and field team. But on the track there's been a constant. "All of those huge things that we have accomplished over the last six years, Kendall has been a part of," said Scanlan. "She was a huge part of scoring points for our team in the sectional titles. She was a part of our state championship relay, national championship relay. She's been in the center of everything that we've done over the past, you know, five or six years, and it's really amazing."

Next year, Barnhart will take her talents to Boston University to compete at the Division-I level in sprints and hurdles. "It has one of the fastest indoor tracks in the world, so I know I'll get great opportunities there," said Barnhart. "The team environment, and it just made me feel like home. So that was one of the biggest draws, and also the location. I love Boston. I have a lot of family in Boston, so it was just a perfect pick for me."

Kendall hasn't just made an impact on the track. She served as the Vice President of the Class of 2024 for all four years and was an Honor Society member. For Boston University associate head coach Jordan Carpenter, Kendall the runner was an intriguing prospect, but it was even more so about Kendall the person. "She lights up a room," said Carpenter. "She connects with those around her. That's a really important piece to us here at Boston University. I always say it's not just finding the fastest person, it's finding the right fast person."

Kendall Barnhart certainly left a mark on the Guilderland track team and the community. She doesn't want to just be remembered for her accomplishments, but also how she went about achieving them. "I hope they remember that hard work and being kind is the biggest part about track," said Barnhart. "This sport is so amazing because everybody is so kind to the community and that's why I really love the sport and I hope that they carry the kindness throughout their competing and meet all their competitors and become friends with them. That's what I really would like them to remember from me."