Hardin Valley sprinter Dominique Romain handles the first leg of the 4×100 relay during the he KIL championships at Hardin Valley Academy on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Parker)
BY MIKE BLACKERBY
The obstacles were many and challenging, but Dominique Romain persevered through it all like the champion that she is.
The 5Star Preps Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year will go down as one of the greatest performers in Hardin Valley’s short but illustrious history.
But there were many hurdles to clear.
Romain was a 10-time all state honoree despite enduring two ACL surgeries and a missed season due to COVID.
This spring she set a single season HVA record by scoring 215 points (individual and relays).
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Despite missing significant track time, Romain ended her career with 407 career points to finish fifth on the all-time Lady Hawks points list.
In front of her are HVA legends Lizzie Davis (667), Tamia Crockett (574), Rebekah Hampton (567) and Emily Yarnell (549).
“There’s a whole year that was lost and doesn’t count in her total or she would probably have ended up at least second on the points list behind Lizzie Davis,” said HVA coach Bryan Brown.
“It all goes back to what a great athlete she is and what a great kid she is. She was never slowed by having to rehab those injuries.”
As a senior, you’d have never suspected the trials and tribulations she endured.
Romain won the 100 meters and long jump at sectionals.
She finished second in the 200 and was a member of HVA’s winning 4×100 relay team as the Lady Hawks won another sectional title.
At the state meet in late May in Murfreesboro, Romain was second in the long jump (18-04.5) and she ran a leg on the Lady Hawks’ runner-up 4×100 (48.12) relay team.
Romain was also third (12.19) in the 100 and seventh (25.44) in the 200 as HVA finished second in the team race.
It was a great cap to a career highlighted by great successes, lots of rehab and dealing with a historic COVID pandemic.
Romain, a star student, said she never considered giving up track to concentrate on academics.
“I’m proud of myself for being able to come back from injuries and 2020 was a difficult year for everybody,” she said.
“I was focused on getting back. I love running track and (quitting) wasn’t an option.”
As good as Romain is on the track, she might be even better in the classroom.
She finished with a 4.54 GPA and will attend Yale where she’ll run track.
Romain made all A’s on her report cards for her entire academic career.
Yep, that’s right.
She never got anything below an A in elementary, middle or high school.
“From a very young age I thought ‘I have to get all A’s,’” said Romain, whose sister Madison is also a standout on the HVA track and field team.
“My parents, from a very young age, instilled that (the importance of academics) in me and my sister.”
Romain was also recently named winner of the prestigious Hawk Award, given to a top all-around student by the school faculty.
The award is given to the top graduating senior who excels in the arts, academics and athletics.
Brown said Romain is the fifth HVA cross country or track and field athlete to win the Hawk Award.
“I’m just as proud of that as my kids that win state titles,” said Brown.
“That’s a big part of why we’ve been successful. We’ve got good kids that work hard to succeed.”
Speaking of success, Brown predicted big things from Romain down the road at Yale – both athletically and academically.
Romain said she’s mulling over a variety of future careers, most likely in the medical field.
“She’s going to be successful in whatever she chooses to do,” offered Brown.
“She is just one of the best kids that has come through here. She is set up for whatever success she wants to have in life.”