Kelsa Young Waite, pictured second from the left, was a member of the 1969 Christian County state champion track and field team, which was coached by C.A. Meisel (left) and Eldridge Rogers (right) -- KHSAA Photo
A member of Christian County’s 1969 and 1970 state champion track and field teams passed away recently. Kelsa Young Waite of Dallas passed away at her home on May 25. She was 66. Waite competed for the first Lady Colonel track and field teams from 1965-70.
Waite teamed with Patti Marquess, Carolyn Arkin, Barbara Croney, Pam Houchens, Wanda Newton, and Vira Caldwell to win the 1969 Class 2A girls’ state championship. The Lady Colonels edged Owensboro by three points, and Paducah Tilghman by nine points. Waite was a member of the 880-yard relay team that set a new state meet record in a time of 1:45.7.
She won three state championships in 1970 as part of the 880-yard relay, 440-yard relay and 880-yard medley relay teams. She was a key member of both the 1969 and 1970 state championship teams.
She attended the University of Kentucky where she graduated with a degree in Literature. She was very active in her church and was a homeschool teacher. She is survived by her husband David Waite and her mother Wanda Cunningham among other family members.
Waite was inducted into the Heritage Bank Christian County Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.
Visitation will be Friday, June 15 from 6:30-8:30 pm and a memorial service Saturday, June 16 at 11:00 am. Both will be held at Trinity Fellowship Church in Richardson, Texas. Restland Funeral Home in Dallas is in charge of funeral arrangements.
