Jay Coleman, a recent graduate from East, concluded their high school track and field season by earning four medals at the State Meet. Coleman secured two state titles in the Girls Wheelchair Division with first-place finishes in the 100-meter dash and the 1600-meter events. They also achieved second place in the 800-meter and fifth in shot put, despite having no practice or proper equipment for shot put.
“I was honestly a little frustrated at first,” Coleman expressed. “But then I reminded myself—I just did something really cool, even without all the resources.”
Initially a distance runner, Coleman’s participation in cross-country and track became challenging due to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), which causes chronic pain and fatigue. Encouraged by teammates from wheelchair basketball, they transitioned to wheelchair track.
“At first, I wasn’t sure if I ‘qualified’ enough to be part of it,” said Coleman. “But when I saw a friend with the same condition who was able to compete, I decided to try it out—and I’m so glad I did. It’s been such a meaningful experience.”
Madison East lacks a track facility, making practice difficult for Coleman, especially using a racing wheelchair. To maintain fitness, they lifted weights and used neighborhood bike paths. Despite limited practice opportunities in their racing chair each week, they focused on making those sessions count.
“The 800,” Coleman noted as their favorite event. “It’s short enough to push hard but still has that endurance element I love.” They were particularly proud of winning the 100-meter dash despite being seeded third.
Coleman plans to attend Carleton College in fall with aspirations of majoring in biology and pursuing a healthcare career. While continuing track at college may be challenging for wheelchair athletes like them, Coleman is determined to stay involved and advocate for more inclusion for athletes with less visible disabilities such as EDS.
“I tried to get classified for the Paralympics, but my condition isn’t currently considered qualifying,” explained Coleman. “It’s really frustrating.”
Coleman acknowledged support from Paul’s Party, a Wisconsin nonprofit providing adaptive sports equipment: “Track chairs can cost around $8,000,” they said. “Without Paul’s Party, most of us simply wouldn’t be able to participate.”
Coleman aims to inspire others through sharing experiences and advocating change so future athletes have better opportunities.
Their journey exemplifies MMSD’s Strategic Framework by highlighting every student’s need for opportunity and support towards aspirations.
