Name: William Kallas

Sport: Track and Field

Year: Sophomore

Hometown: Riverside

High School: Riverside-Brookfield High School 

Lily Goodfellow: When did you start pole vaulting?

William Kallas: I started pole vaulting my junior year of high school, which is pretty late for pole vaulting. During my freshman year of high school, because it was 2020 and was COVID, all of the sports schedules were messed up. I ended up doing water polo because that’s what my brother did. So, I didn’t start track until my sophomore year and then I didn’t try pole vaulting until my junior year. From what I’ve heard from coaches, I’m doing pretty good for starting late.

LG: What other track and field events do you compete in?

WK: Right now, it’s mainly just the 400 and 4×4 [relay], because usually in a meet, I’m vaulting. I want to be doing the 200 [meter] and the 60 meter in indoor [track] to help my speed for pole vaulting, because you need a lot of speed, but right now I can’t really do that. So, I’m just sticking with whatever I can, which is the 400 and the 4×4.

LG: You just set a record-breaking season’s best in the pole vault when you cleared five meters. Were you surprised, or is that something you expected to accomplish?

WK: I was hoping I could this year. Going into off-season vaulting I am at a club called Rise Pole Vault and they have a few meets in the winter, like in November and December. I think it was about six months that I didn’t PR [personal record], and I ended up PR-ing in early December, which helped me believe that I would end up breaking the record this year. I broke it in the second meet of the season, so I hope to keep doing that.

LG: You qualified for the NJCAA Indoor Track Championship in March. How will your training routine change to prepare for that?

WK: It will be pretty much the same thing. I don’t get that nervous anymore going into meets. Last year I was nervous for the indoor [championship] meet, and I ended up placing 7th. It’s an All-American Honors, but I still thought I could have done better. So this year I hope to improve and jump higher and place better.

LG: What is your proudest achievement in track?

WK: Probably going to Indoor Nationals twice in a row now – two years in a row. In high school, I only went to State once for pole vault because I started so late. I didn’t really get to experience that whole thing and I never made finals. So, going to Nationals I think is a better experience and it’s a lot of fun.

LG: How important do you think attitude is in competing in pole vault?

WK: I think you need a great attitude in anything you do, because if you don’t, I don’t think you’re going to do good in it. So, going into whatever you’re going into, having a good attitude is probably the best thing you can do.  

LG: Who is your biggest supporter?

WK: I probably have to say my mom. She’s the one that got me doing this in the first place. When I started [pole vaulting], I didn’t want to do it, and she was the one that forced me to, pretty much. Obviously, it ended up being a smart decision because I’m jumping well, I’m having a lot of fun, I’ve made a lot of new friends, and going to NJCAA Nationals two years in a row is a big deal.

LG: What is your idea of a perfect weekend?

WK: Well, I think last weekend was pretty perfect. I ended up PR-ing, breaking the school record, and doing pretty good in the 4×4. The main thing I want to do every weekend is have fun. That’s the main thing. And this past weekend definitely had a lot of that, with all that happened. I just try to go into every weekend like that, having a good attitude, staying positive, and hopefully break another record.

LG: Where do you see yourself in five years?

WK: Five years… Well, I want to go to the Olympics, so hopefully I’ll be there at some point in the next five years. If not, I want to make the Team USA Olympic trials and then go for the Olympics four years after that. But that’s my main goal – to go to the Olympics.

LG: That’s great! And what one word best describes you?

WK: I’d say energetic. I feel like I’m always positive. I feel like I don’t show it very much when I vault, because I’m always focused on the vault. But afterwards I’m always pretty happy and always jumping around. So… That’s the word, energetic.

LG: Thank you very much, William.

WK: Thank you.