Nyla King, who recently graduated with the Class of 2025 from Central Catholic High School, won THREE state titles at the Division II Track & Field State Championship in Columbus on June 7! She took first place in the 100-meter (11.60), 200-meter (23.76), and 400-meter (54.36) dashes. Her time in the 100-meter was the fastest recorded in Ohio this year, and her time in the 200-meter is a new Division II state record. Nyla previously won two state championships as a freshman, three as a sophomore, and two in her junior year, meaning she wrapped up her high school career with an unprecedented 10 state titles!
“Nyla’s freshman year was my first year as a coach at Central Catholic,” said Eddie Washington ’16, assistant coach for the CCHS track team. “I have seen Nyla grow over the years, and the way she prepares herself in practice is the same Nyla you get during competition. She has worked so hard for this, and it shows. She deserves everything she has won.”
Starting Blocks
Nyla began her running career in early elementary school when her parents signed her up with a private AAU track club, along with her brothers Jacob ’22 and Solomon ’23. According to her family, running is in her genes. Her grandfather was on the track team at Scott High School and still has a school record there, and her mom and dad were both runners as well. Solomon won the state championship in the 100-meter dash when he was a senior at Central Catholic, and he was part of the state championship 4×100-meter relay team that year as well. He earned a college scholarship in track, and he is now a member of the team at Eastern Michigan University.
“My parents told me as a kid that I had a special talent,” Nyla recalled. “I started winning right away when I competed in AAU. We had meets every Saturday all summer long and I actually hated it! But my parents kept encouraging me, so I stuck with it.”
She may not have liked running, but there is one thing Nyla has always liked even less that motivates her to do her best. “I don’t like losing,” she said. “I don’t like the feeling at all. When I lose, the feeling stays with me a lot longer than the feeling I get when I win.”
The King siblings have always been competitive, and that competition has helped push Nyla. But her relationship with her brothers has grown into one of support and encouragement. “Solomon has helped me get ready before big competitions,” she explained. “Since he runs in college, he has shared his college training regimen with me, which has been really helpful.”
Keeping the Pace
When Nyla was a freshman at Central Catholic, the team included several older girls that she had run with or against during her years on the AAU team. They all had great talent, so the coach put them together on relay teams and they won two state championships that year. The team of Tianna Davis ’22, Taylor Scribner ’24, Jara Johnson ’24, and Nyla won the 4×100-meter relay, and the team of Tianna Davis, Taylor Scribner, Mary Ellis ’23, and Nyla won the 4×200-meter relay.
The next year, the two relay teams repeated their state championships, with Jayla Watson ’23 taking the place of Tianna Davis, who had graduated. Nyla also began competing in individual events her sophomore year, and she won her first state championship in the 100-meter dash.
By her junior year, Nyla began concentrating solely on individual events. She defended her championship in the 100-meter dash and added a championship in the 200-meter dash to her growing list of accomplishments.
That led to her senior year when she defended both her previous state championships in the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash, and she added her 10th state championship by winning the 400-meter dash.
Of all her state titles, Nyla feels most proud of her first championship in the 100-meter dash her sophomore year. “I felt like I was immature and not ready for it, that I didn’t work hard enough for it,” she said. “I didn’t think I’d win it. And that was also the year that Solomon won his 100-meter state championship, so that made it really special.”
The fact that Nyla is a 10-time state champion, which is something that has never been accomplished in any sport at Central Catholic High School, hasn’t really sunk in yet. “It doesn’t feel that different,” she said. “It kind of feels like getting older on your birthday. You expect to feel different, but the world keeps spinning as usual.” She acknowledges that she will most likely feel the gravity of her accomplishment as she looks back on it later in life.
Sprinting Toward the Future
Nyla greatly appreciates the support she has received from her parents and family, as well as from her Central Catholic family. “Central Catholic has a great atmosphere, and we have amazing teachers, staff members, and coaches who can help you reach your goals,” she said. “I especially want to thank Mrs. Tyburski, Mrs. McVicker, Ms. Andre, Ms. Shanahan, Mr. Huntebrinker, and Ms. Green for all their patience and support.”
“Nyla is incredibly humble and one of the most deserving student-athletes of her accomplishments,” said Simone Green ’19, Central Catholic’s college and career advisor and an assistant track coach. “Seeing her in the classroom, practicing, and performing on the track – she has definitely grown in these four years. It’s been very rewarding watching her hard work pay off. I don’t think she really understands how fast she is and what she can still accomplish.”
For now, she plans to rest up over the summer before moving on to her next challenge – competing in the SEC. Nyla has received a full track scholarship to attend Mississippi State University. She plans to major in criminal justice because she has always had an interest in solving mysteries, and she wants to be able to help people by solving crimes. “My goal is to be known in the SEC. I want to graduate and get a good job so I can be financially stable. I also look forward to being a mom someday.”
Her parents and her coaches believe Nyla has the potential to be an All-American and even to compete in the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. “If that’s what God has planned for me, then that’s what will happen and I welcome it,” Nyla said. In the meantime, she wants to continue to compete to inspire others and show what can be done if you work hard and put your mind to it.
NYLA KING’S 10 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2022
4×100-Meter Relay – Tianna Davis, Taylor Scribner, Jara Johnson, Nyla King
4×200-Meter Relay – Tianna Davis, Taylor Scribner, Mary Ellis, Nyla King
2023
100-Meter Dash
4×100-Meter Relay – Jayla Watson, Taylor Scribner, Jara Johnson, Nyla King
4×200-Meter Relay – Jara Johnson, Taylor Scribner, Mary Ellis, Nyla King
2024
100-Meter Dash
200-Meter Dash
2025
100-Meter Dash
200-Meter Dash
400-Meter Dash