Every collegiate athlete takes on the challenge of balancing classes, training, and recovery. However, senior Keziah Boyce has taken on something even more demanding.
 
As a member of both the soccer and track teams, she spends most of her year moving between two very different sports, constantly pushing herself to improve. The commitment requires discipline, time management, and mental toughness, but for Keziah, competing in both has become a defining part of who she is as an athlete.
 
Boyce was originally recruited to York as a soccer player, but her path changed after track coach Stephen LoBianco noticed her potential at a high school track meet. Recognizing her talent, he offered her the opportunity to continue competing in track at the collegiate level while still playing soccer.
 
What began as merely an additional activity soon grew into something much larger. As time went on, Boyce realized she had the potential not only to compete in track at the college level but to exceed her own expectations. Still, balancing two sports required her to adapt to markedly different competitive styles.
 
Soccer, she explained, brings a different kind of challenge compared to track.
 
"Soccer is like a team sport where you're constantly running, but you get breaks," she said. "Track is different. Track is an individual sport, so you just have to be mentally strong when you don't do well."
 
Lobianco has had the opportunity to watch her grow from her early days.
 
"When she started, track was kind of like, 'Hey, I was good at track in high school, I'll do it in college,'" he said. "But over time, she started taking it more seriously, and it showed in her times. When people are busier, they actually are better at things."
 
That growth led to one of the biggest moments of her career during last spring's conference championships. Boyce was part of the 4x4 relay team, a race that became one of the most memorable performances of the season. Going into the race, the team was not expected to win, as they were originally seeded sixth.
 
During the final leg of the race, Boyce had the baton in her hands. She anchored the relay and made a final push in the last meters of the race, passing two runners to secure the win for her team. The relay team not only finished first, but also broke the school record.
 
"It was a super close race," LoBianco said. "She was an integral part of us winning that and setting the school record."
 
While track may feel like an individual sport, teamwork remains essential, and Boyce knows she isn't alone in her journey. Her teammate on the soccer and track team, Madie O'Brien, has been a constant source of motivation.
 
"Having each other definitely helps," O'Brien mentioned. "Just knowing another person is going through the same thing with you makes it easier. If one of us is having a bad day, the other kind of pushes them, and we go back and forth."
 
O'Brien competes in multiple events on the track team, participating in the pentathlon during the indoor season and the heptathlon outdoors, while also serving as York's goalie on the soccer team. She knows firsthand the dedication it takes to balance both sports.
 
"During soccer season, we're fully in soccer mode because having two games a week is really demanding on your body and you need a lot of recovery," O'Brien said. "As soon as soccer season ends, we pretty much switch over to track. In the spring, track becomes the priority, but if there's time after track practice, I'll still try to make a part of a soccer practice."
 
For Boyce, balancing both sports also means managing a packed daily schedule. Her days often begin with morning classes, followed by practice in the afternoon. After classes, she goes to the training room to prepare for practice. Once practice is over, she usually spends time with her teammates before getting ready to do it all again the next day.
 
Even when the spring season brings overlapping soccer practices, Boyce and O'Brien find ways to support each other. LoBianco noted that their presence elevates the team.
 
"They do a good job of team culture," he said. "Even though track is individual, they're inclusive and supportive. It's really easy for it to become all about you, but they set an example for others."
 
For Boyce, the experience of competing in both soccer and track has helped shape her not only as an athlete but also as a teammate. The lessons she has learned from teamwork to personal accountability continue to influence how she approaches competition. Whether she is running down the track or stepping onto the soccer field, one thing remains the same: the determination to keep pushing forward.