The Hive Sports

by James Tate

Bonneville High School has produced elite athletes before, but few have reshaped the state’s sprinting landscape the way Davis DeGroot has. A 2026 graduate, a multi‑event state champion, and now a University of Kentucky commit, DeGroot leaves Utah as one of the most decorated sprinters the state has ever seen. His medals tell one story. His mindset tells a better one.

Arcadia: The race that changed everything

For most athletes, the Arcadia Invitational is a proving ground. For DeGroot, it became a defining chapter. He remembers two things above all else: the atmosphere and the moment he lined up next to Olympian Quincy Wilson.

“The two most memorable things about that race were the atmosphere and racing Quincy,” DeGroot said. “I never remember what I’m thinking about when I race, and I usually can’t hear anything. But at Arcadia, I remember how many people were there, and with that many people, it was still dead quiet right until the gun sounded. Then it erupted into cheers.”

Finishing second to Wilson didn’t discourage him. It unlocked something.

“It taught me that anything is possible,” DeGroot said. “I feel like that race could have gone either way. If you’re mentally strong and you never limit yourself, you can visualize anything happening, and that can lead to actual success.”

Arcadia sharpened him, not by pressure, but by clarity.

“Track is a mental sport, and I practice being mentally strong all the time,” DeGroot said. “I didn’t feel a ton of pressure at Arcadia. It helped me know there’s never any pressure at any meet, because when I’m racing it’s just me, God, and the track working together.”

And while he didn’t need Arcadia to validate his place among the nation’s best, it still meant something.

“I’ve already kind of known I’m meant to be on this level,” DeGroot said. “But seeing all the hype around Quincy and knowing I took second to him just solidified that I’m supposed to be here.”

He left California with a lesson he carried into the championship stretch.

“I learned I always need to be ready to go no matter what,” DeGroot said. “I had a bad start out of the blocks, that’s where I lost the race. Looking back, I know it would’ve been a lot closer if I were ready and stuck to my race plan.”

photo courtesy of hannah grace photography

Instagram: @han.nahs_view

A career built on leadership and legacy

Davis DeGroot is the Utah state record holder in the 200m (20.68) and 400m (45.46) events, and the state champion in the 100m, 200m, 400m, and long jump.

DeGroot’s senior year wasn’t just about medals. It was about impact. On a Bonneville team full of young talent, he embraced the role of mentor.

“I’ve enjoyed every second of it,” DeGroot said. “I have a lot of friends on the team, and I always try to include and help anyone I can, whether it’s blocks or strategy. I always try to help my friends out.”

His legacy, though, stretches beyond leadership. He accomplished an incredible feat in winning four individual gold medals at the state meet during his junior year.

“Being able to compete at such a high level across four different events against really good competition means the most to me on the track side,” DeGroot said.

But the social side of his legacy matters as much.

“It’s been so fun to talk to people from all over the state about the sport I love,” DeGroot said. “Everyone has been so supportive. It means so much knowing people look up to me and the work I’ve done.”

The adversity no one saw

Behind the medals and the highlight videos, DeGroot battled something far more personal: a nagging hamstring injury that tested him in ways the stopwatch never could.

“This season really opened my eyes,” DeGroot said. “When you think of track work, you think of hard practices and lactic acid. But what you don’t think of are the athletes who are injured, whose ‘hard practices’ are mental and emotional.”

The injury forced him to grow.

“It strengthened my mental side of the sport,” DeGroot said. “I know I’m capable of so much, but I have to trust God’s path for my future to show those capabilities when I’m ready.”

That perspective became the quiet backbone of his senior year, the part no one saw, but the part that shaped him most.

photo courtesy of @jacquiknightonphotography

Training with Gold Medal Athletics

Training with Gold Medal Athletics (GMA), led by Head Coach and CEO Sean May and assistant coach Brandon Diaz, has been a transformative experience for Davis DeGroot.

“You could say he’s unlocked every second under 50 that I didn’t know I had,” DeGroot said. “Going into my sophomore year, my end-of-season goal was to be sub-50. I joined GMA over spring break, and in my first race after joining, I was over 50 seconds. Sean taught me about race plans and helped with my blocks, and I instantly saw results as I continued to work with him throughout the season. It only got better and better every race I ran, I would PR because I was getting more and more training with him, if you would’ve told me to guess what I would’ve ended my sophomore your time with I would’ve said maybe 50 low but because of Sean’s intelligent training, I was able to run a 47.23 in the state finals which I would have never thought I would have been able to do. I obviously continue to train with him, and I’m now down to a 45.46, which would not be possible without Sean’s help.”

The GMA team’s unwavering belief has been a vital pillar in Davis’ development. Their trust in his abilities and the training plans they design has bolstered his confidence each time he steps onto the track. Whether the workout is challenging or routine, Sean and Brandon consistently affirm that he is prepared and capable, never once doubting his potential. This steadfast encouragement has played a crucial role in Davis’ continued growth and success.

“I know that Sean believes in me as much as I believe in myself,” DeGroot said. “I know how confident he is in his workouts, and I know I can trust them. He’s always believed in me, and it’s increased my confidence every time I’ve gotten near a track because I know he’s helped me reach the level I’m at. During practices, he’ll always tell me I’m ready, whether it’s a really easy workout or a really hard workout; he’s never doubted my abilities.”

Kentucky bound: A new stage, a bigger dream

Now, DeGroot heads 1,500 miles east to join one of the premier sprint programs in the SEC, which includes notable alums Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Abby Steiner, Masai Russell, Debbie Ferguson, and Daniel Roberts.

It’s a leap he welcomes.

“Moving 1500 miles away is going to be difficult,” DeGroot said. “But it’ll be amazing being surrounded by other great athletes and coaches in a new world full of opportunity.”

For the first time, he’ll focus solely on track — no basketball season, no missed indoor meets.

“I’m excited to see how I excel when everything is based around track,” DeGroot said.

And beyond college? His goals stretch far past Lexington.

“My big goals have to do with the Olympics,” DeGroot said. “I love my country, and the best way to show my appreciation would be to run for Team USA and do anything I can to bring home a gold medal.”

A legacy that will last

Bonneville will remember the records, the medals, the anchor legs, and the electricity he brought to every meet. But DeGroot’s true legacy is the standard he set for discipline, humility, and belief.

He didn’t just elevate Bonneville; he elevated Utah sprinting. And now, he carries that momentum to Kentucky, where the next chapter begins. The stage is bigger. The stakes are higher. The dreams are louder.

But Davis DeGroot has already proven one thing:

He belongs.