Wow: Wellington’s Dru Zeka has record-setting, 3-gold meet at Kansas state track
As just a sophomore at Wellington, it is hard for Dru Zeka to fully comprehend what she is doing on the track and in the field at such a young age.
But if she ever wants to reflect back later, all she has to do is look at the gold medals and her name in the Kansas high school state track and field record book.
Zeka completed a golden trifecta at University Stadium this weekend, winning the Class 4A titles in the long jump and high jump on Friday and then winning the 400-meter dash on Saturday.
After just two years, Zeka has already compiled five individual gold medals — she won the 400 and high jump last year as a freshman — and etched her name in the record book by breaking the 48-year-old 4A state meet record with her personal-best mark of 19 feet, 0¾ inches. She also recorded a personal best in the high jump (5-8) and the 400 (57.44).
“I was just trying to be confident in myself and not be too nervous,” Zeka said. “Because I know my nerves would throw me off.”
It’s been a golden 2025 for Zeka, who was also an all-state player on the Wellington girls basketball team that won the Class 4A state championship for the first time in program history.
The same athleticism and work ethic that has made her a standout basketball player translates to track and field season in the spring.
“What makes her special is her desire to be perfect,” Wellington track and field coach Tim Lira said. “She just has an incredible work ethic. The success that she is having is a testament to how hard she works.”
While she recorded a PR in all three of her individual events at the state meet, the long jump was clearly the most special.
The record-setting leap was her final in the preliminaries, as she hit her top speed and exploded through the air — farther than she has ever gone before. It was more than a 7-inch improvement on her previous best, which topped the 4A field by nearly two whole feet and edged the record previously set by Ottawa’s Julie Wilson in 1977 by five inches.
“I could tell because my landing was different,” Zeka said. “When I heard them call out 19, I was like, ‘Are you joking? Did they read it wrong?’ That felt really good.”
More work was required in defending her high jump title, as McPherson freshman Ellie Herrera applied pressure on Zeka when she cleared 5-6 on her first attempt.
But not only did Zeka match, but she then sailed over 5-8 on her second attempt to improve her PR by an inch. It currently stands tied for the best clearance in Kansas this season.
“Dru just has such a great mindset at all times,” Wellington jumps coach Taylor Ferguson-Lira said. “Every time I correct her on something, she seems to pick it up immediately and correct herself and her technique. Usually it only takes once and she just is able to figure it out from there.”
After running a leg on Wellington’s 400-meter relay, which placed seventh, Zeka had around a 30-minute break to prepare for the 400 finals.
She had enough in the tank to complete the 3-gold performance, as she edged the field by more than a full second and won her second straight title in the event.
“It’s really exciting right now,” Zeka said. “I didn’t really expect this coming here.”
This story was originally published May 31, 2025 at 5:38 PM.
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