Feb. 5, 2004
BY SCOTT MacDONALD
SPORTS INFORMATION ASSISTANT
The New Kids on the Block exploded onto the music industry and went straight to the top with hit songs Hangin’ Tough and The Right Stuff. The ‘Boy Band’ lasted for a couple of years and split up. Although Georgia Tech freshman Ashlee Kidd has not gone right to the top of the track national scene, she’s darn close. Kidd has already made an immediate impact for the 21st-ranked Yellow Jackets. She currently holds the top time in the 400 meters and ranks second on the team in the 200 meters. ‘The New Kidd’ has made Tech a serious contender for a second indoor Atlantic Coast Conference Championship in three years.
Kidd began running track in the fourth grade. She was running on the playground and one of her physical education teachers said that since nobody could catch her, maybe she should try and run track. It sounded like a good idea and Kidd began competing on a regular basis.
“It was a lot of fun,” said Kidd. “I was winning a lot and that made me continue to run as much as I could.”
The early success never dwindled for Kidd who went on to become a high school track star at St. Petersburg High School in St. Petersburg, Fla. Kidd was a three-time conference and region champion in the 200 and 400 meters. She finished her senior season with a state ranking of fifth in the 400 and ninth in the 200.
Kidd decided to attend Georgia Tech to further her track career. “I came here on a visit and really liked the campus and the coaching staff,” said Kidd.
“We feel like we found a diamond in the rough,” said head women’s coach Alan Drosky. “We knew that she was talented and could help us immediately in the long sprint events, but we had no idea that she could be as successful as she has been. I mean to run a 54.01 in the 400 in her first indoor track meet of her life, is pretty amazing.”
Amazing might be a word that Georgia Tech track fans will become accustom to. Kidd’s time in the 400 was a personal-record in the very first indoor track meet of her young career and also the 10th best time in the country.
“I had never competed indoors before so I did not know what to expect,” said Kidd. “The coaching staff did a great job getting me ready and letting me know what to expect.”
With the indoor ACC Championships around the corner on Feb. 20-21, Kidd has set some goals that most freshman might not dream about. Leading the conference in the 400 meters and ranking fourth in the 200 meters, maybe it’s not so far off for Kidd.
“I want to be All-ACC,” said Kidd. “I want to contribute to the team and help us maybe win an ACC Championship.”
This week she will get to show off her talents in the Midwest as Georgia Tech travels to South Bend, Ind., for the Meyo Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 6-7. The track is an oversized track (330 meters) and should work to Kidd’s advantage.
“I think the oversized track will help Ashlee run a very fast time,” said Drosky. “It favors her because of the long straight aways.”
Head coach Alan Drosky knows that this is just the beginning of what could be a bright career for Tech. “We’re thrilled and excited on how she has exploded onto the collegiate scene,” said Drosky. “Most of the time it takes a freshman a while to compete at this level, especially indoors where a lot of races you have to pick and choose where you are going to position yourself. She has done a nice job adapting to this and she is only going to get better.”
Kidd will compete in the Distance Medley Relay this Friday with teammates Jennifer Lentz, Jennifer Sims and Kirby Cross. Then Kidd will run the 400 meters on Saturday.
“I just hope to continue to get better and help the team do well,” said Kidd. Maybe the ‘Boy Band’ group should have taken that philosophy. Who knows, maybe if they stuck together they would have stayed on top. Something that Kidd hopes to do.
