In almost any other year, Los Gatos High School sophomore Madison Kohli would be the odds-on favorite to win the 400 meter race in the Central Coast Section Track and Field Championships.
This isn’t any other year.
Two of the top 10 sprinters in the state—North Salinas’s Clara Adams and Mountain View’s Hannah Rutherford—are in the CCS this season, which means Kohli has her work cut out for her in her quest to win a CCS title.
Adams has the fourth fastest time in the state at 55.07 seconds, Rutherford checks in with the seventh best mark at 54.34 seconds and Kohli has the 15th fastest time in 55.54 seconds. However, Kohli plans on closing the gap on Adams and Rutherford as the season hits the stretch run.
Whatever transpires, one thing is for certain: Kohli has the right mindset for optimum success.
“I look at this as an incredible opportunity and use it to push myself because I have these two fabulous runners who are fast and strong close by,” Kohli said. “I try to tell myself I’m as fast as them and can keep up with them. I love the competition because we all push each other to break records and set PRs (personal records). I like having two (potential) state finalists in CCS because it shows me where I need to be and it will prepare me that much more for state.”
After an outstanding freshman season that culminated in a third-place finish in the CCS Finals and CIF State semifinal berth in the 400 meters, Kohli has lowered her marks in the 200 and 400 this year while also running the anchor leg for the Wildcats’ 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams.
Kohli had a spectacular performance in the April 12 Arcadia Invitational, one of the most prestigious events in the Western US. Kohli broke her own school record in the 400 in 55.54 seconds, set another school record by running a 53.9 second split in the 4×400 relay and was a member of the 4×800 meter sprint medley relay team that set a new school record in 1:46.29.
The previous week in the Stanford Invitational—another premier event—Kohli won the 400 meters in 55.92 seconds.
“I feel like both meets were impactful for different reasons,” Kohli said. “I was runner-up at Stanford last year, so coming into this year’s meet I had the mindset that I could win—to be able to do that was very exciting. And Arcadia was also amazing. I got a nice PR, and to do it on a big stage—with great competition that pushed me—was an amazing experience.”
Kohli has a PR of 24.80 seconds in the 200 meters, the second fastest mark in school history. Kohli’s goals include breaking the school record in the 200, going sub 55 seconds in the 400 and helping the (No. 1-ranked in CCS) 4×400 relay team to victory in the CCS Championships and a top 10 finish in the CIF State Championships.
The 4×400 squad of Kohli, Isabella Cain, Elise Greenstreet and Shea Elmore have the 10th fastest time in the state in 3:52.37. In the open 400 meters, Kohli has been focusing on cranking things up a notch in the first 100 meters. She pointed to race strategy along with a strong mental approach as keys to her season.
“Mentally, I envision my race a lot before I run it,” she said. “I envision something different for every 100. The first 100 I envision getting out faster—going hard but comfortable. The second 100, I’m focusing on kind of coasting. Then, at 300 meters, I’m working on holding my form and staying with people. And the last 100 meters, that’s when I’m talking to myself saying, ‘Now is your time to go.’ I just give everything I have in that last 100.”
Kohli doesn’t just excel on the oval—she’s also a standout on the pitch. A two-year starting forward for the Los Gatos girls soccer team, Kohli helped lead the Wildcats to a CCS championship during her freshman year. She followed that up with a SCVAL De Anza Division title this past season.
Most athletes use track to keep them in shape for a ball sport. Kohli happens to be the unique talent who uses a ball sport—in this case, soccer—to keep her in shape for the oval.
“Even though I love soccer and have been doing it longer, I’m more inclined to go the track and field route (for college),” she said. “I like it better and I could see myself going further—and overall being more happy.”
Kohli credited the LGHS coaches for helping her thrive in practice and in the races.
“I love showing up to practice everyday knowing I probably have some of the best coaches in the area,” she said. “They are outstanding and I don’t know how anyone could have better coaches than what we have here at Los Gatos. They’ve helped me improve so much.”
Kohli first realized she had a gift for speed as a third grader during a club soccer game.
“I had always played defense up until that point, but after that game the coach pulled me aside and said, ‘Why didn’t you tell me you were this fast?’” Kohli said. “I got moved to forward and have been playing there ever since. But that was the first time I figured out I was really fast, and (it) led me to take up track later on.”
