How low can Jim Thorpe’s Kayden Spence go?

That’s the question many — including Spence — are asking after a banner season for the Olympians.

The junior sprinter established school records and copped gold medals at both leagues and districts.

But those accomplishments could be just the tip of the iceberg for the talented runner.

Spence is setting his goals extremely high for his senior year — and odds are no one is betting against him, especially his head coach.

“Right now, hands down, he’s the most versatile of any of the kids that I’ve been fortunate to coach over 20 years now as our sprint coach at Jim Thorpe,” said Olympian mentor Frank Miller. “He holds the school record in the 200, the 400 and is not very far off of our 100 meter record ... The versatility is unmatched by any kid that I’ve ever coached, and I’m excited to have him back for his senior year.”

While the future looks bright, the recent past is worth admiring, too.

Spence won the 400 at the league meet and helped the 400 relay team place first. He duplicated that at districts — in the Class 3A field — thus earning a trip to states.

His district time of 48.63 rewrote the Olympian record book, and he also set a new school mark in the 200 during the season.

All that resulted in him being named the Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Boys Track Athlete of the Year.

“I was very pleased (with the season),” said Spence. “I came into the season with a low 50 (in the 400) and wanted to break 50. And with the training I did over the summer, I wanted to get a 48.5. I was very close to that, but I still got into states.

“Going into (next) year, I definitely want to have some crazy times ... I want to go sub-48 (in the 400) and maybe even sub-47.5. I want to put that time low, I want to put those records low, make them unbreakable, make them something that people remember. In the 100, I want to go sub 11, and the 200 looking to go low 21, maybe sub-21. I’m setting some high goals.”

Reflecting on the times he’s posted — and the ones he hopes to achieve in the future — it’s hard to believe track wasn’t his favorite sports just a few years ago.

That distinction went to soccer.

“I was in eighth grade when I started track,” said Spence, whose other goal is run track at a Division 1 program. “I didn’t even do it my seventh grade year. Before that, it was soccer for a lot of years. Soccer was my main sport for as long as I can remember. I was good in soccer because I was fast, and then I figured out there’s a sport for that. I like it, being an individual sport, because the pressure is on you. It’s what you do, the work you put in is what you get out of it. And I just fell in love with track after that.”

And work at it, he does.

During the offseason, Spence worked with a private coach. And throughout the regular season he wasn’t satisfied with just winning races, often lifting after meets.

“He had a fantastic season from the get-go,” said Miller. “Kayden entered the season in excellent, physical condition. You’ve got to give him so much credit for the amount of work he put in from the end of last season through the fall and through the winter to be prepared to be able to go out and compete the way he did from the first day to the second to last day of the season at the state meet.

“His determination for success allows him to be successful. The 400 may be his primary goal, but we’ve seen his ability to flat out sprint ... And realistically, if he wanted to he could be a phenomenal 800-meter runner because he’s got that special blend of great endurance, and I think that comes from playing a lot of soccer throughout his entire life, but he also has that burst that very good sprinters have.”

That special something that few runners have helped Spence make a return trip to Shippensburg for the PIAA meet.

And despite being disqualified in the 400 for crossing into the neighboring lane, the experience at states isn’t something lost on the Thorpe standout.

“The disqualification was unfortunate,” said Spence. “But going into track season, everyone wants to go to states. It’s an honor to go to states. There’s no other meet like it. Everyone around you is just as good as you, if not better than you. And you’re competing for a medal to be one of the best in the state.

“There’s no other meet like it. It’s just great being there. It’s an experience that a lot of people miss out on.”

While his athletic skills are what people notice most, his head coach is quick to point out there’s more to this talented runner than just the times that people admire.

“He’s a fantastic kid. He’s polite, respectful, does everything that he needs to do from a student-athlete perspective to be successful and reap the benefits of that success that he showed this year,” said Miller.

“He’s a quiet kid. Shows up, does what he needs to do on a daily basis. Is great with our other younger athletes. He took a major leadership role this year for the team, just showing them the preparation that needs to be put in to be successful on meet day.”