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Roo Senior Spotlight: Christopher Bryan and Kennedy Bright
4/16/2020 7:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Christopher Bryan is from St. Catherine, Jamaica and competes in track. He specializes in multiple events, including the triple jump, long jump and the 60-meter hurdles. He garnered the 2020 WAC Men's High Point Athlete award for the third-consecutive year, becoming the first-ever athlete in conference history to win this award three-straight years. He also boasted the 2020 WAC Men's Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year.
1.   Tell us the story behind what made you decide to become a Kansas City Roo.
I chose the University of Missouri-Kansas City because it was the best option for me at that time. Also, having a coach that is from Jamaica, as well, definitely influenced my decision.
2.   What is your best memory from your time as a student-athlete attending Kansas City?
My best memory as a student-athlete is winning the 2017 WAC Outdoor Championships. I have won a lot of individual events throughout my time here at Kansas City, but the feeling of winning as a team is insurmountable.
3.   Do you have any advice for your younger teammates or recruits that are looking at coming to KC?
Enjoy every moment because it goes by fast. I would also advise them to make use of every opportunity they get and appreciate everyone they encounter along the journey.
4.   What are your plans after you graduate/leave KC?
I see myself as structural engineer working at a firm. Hopefully, I'll still be located in Kansas City.
5.   Where is your favorite place to eat in Kansas City? What do you get there?
I like to eat at the Island Spice restaurant by 39th and Main Street. That's the closest it gets to grandma's kitchen.
6.   What is one unique/special talent you have that no one knows about except maybe your family?
I don't have any unique talents. I've been doing track and field all my life so that's all I know.
What head coach Benaud Shirley has to say about Bryan:
"Chris is a special athlete and special talent. I say this because of all the obstacles he had to overcome to achieve success in sports. He has dominated the WAC for the past four years and left his mark in the history books. Chris will leave this institution as one of the best male Track and Field student-athletes in school history. It all seems so surreal when you take into account all the injuries that he has faced over the years and his ability to excel in events he could not train for. I am mostly proud of him for achieving his academic goal of graduating with a Civil Engineering degree."
Kennedy Bright is a sprinter from Kansas City, Mo., and attended St. Teresa's Academy. She transferred from Missouri State University wrapping up her athletic career as a senior as a KC Roo. She competed in the 60-meters during the indoor season.
1.   Tell us the story behind what made you decide to become a Kansas City Roo.
I have a pretty unique college journey, due to multiple learning disabilities that weren't diagnosed until after I graduated high school in 2015. That made the college recruitment process very difficult for me. I took a gap year, then had to go to a non-NCAA school for a year after that (to not lose eligibility). I then committed to Missouri State University my sophomore year as my home. In 2018, my head/sprint coach left unexpectedly so I just gave up running. I was tired of trying and came back home to KC to finish out my degree. After a basketball game here, I checked out the track team and got that drive to compete again and figured, 'shoot why not? I'll contact the head coach and see if I can join the team,' and he let me. Transferring from another DI school, I had to sit out a year in residency in 2019. Finally five years and three schools later at 22-years old, I competed in my first meet at Nebraska this past February. I am now 23-years-old still getting a chance to compete at the highest level with an Olympian as my coach. I tell my story to say, for anyone who thinks about giving up on anything they want to do in life, just know there is someone/somewhere out there set in place to give you a shot. Keep looking until you get that chance you deserve, no matter how it looks let no one stop you, not even yourself; you won't regret it.
2.   What is your best memory from your time as a student-athlete attending Kansas City?
My best memory is over winter break this year, assistant coach Muna brought in professional photographer equipment so we could have a photoshoot in our new uniforms. I loved that because you really only see major universities do that with a track program, so for her to do that with her time and her own equipment for us meant a lot. You can tell everyone enjoyed it.
3. Do you have any advice for your younger teammates or recruits that are looking at coming to KC?
If you are looking at being a college athlete, the best advice I received during my process was 'pick a school that you can see yourself going to, even if you are not a student-athlete anymore and just a student.' That is the best advice I received and any aspiring college athlete needs to know that as well.
4. What are your plans after you graduate/leave KC?
My situation leaves a lot of scenarios. I graduate in the fall in the middle of the season and still have one year left of eligibility, even without the coronavirus pandemic. I am looking at being a graduate transfer next season for track or a GA for an athletic department. I want to pursue my masters in sports journalism or stay in KC going into the workforce working with the Kansas City Chiefs. But, I haven't fully decided.
5. Where is your favorite place to eat in Kansas City? What do you get there?
I am from Kansas City, Mo., so local food is like McDonald's to me (haha). But, I would have to say Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbeque. I'm friends with and attended St. Teresa's Academy with the owner's granddaughter. She would always bring our class food from there, so I grew a big love for their burnt ends and jalapeno cornbread in high school! BUT I grew up on Gates Bar-B-Q and they have the BEST baked beans!
6. What is one unique/special talent you have that no one knows about except maybe your family?
A unique talent that no one knows but my family… that would have to be that I can change my voice to sound like three completely different people. The voices allow my prank-calling game to be very lethal, no one EVER suspects it is me, but my sister does if I call her… (haha).
What head coach Benaud Shirley has to say about Bright:
"Kennedy is very resilient. She had to persevere and overcome different obstacles to realize her dreams of running track at the collegiate level. Personally, it was great to see her getting the opportunity to compete during this past indoor season. Kennedy is a true team player; she was always supporting the other teams and different organizations around campus. Kennedy is a valuable member of the University News team and she serves as one of the editors and has done a great job keeping the campus community in-tune with athletics."
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1.   Tell us the story behind what made you decide to become a Kansas City Roo.
I chose the University of Missouri-Kansas City because it was the best option for me at that time. Also, having a coach that is from Jamaica, as well, definitely influenced my decision.
2.   What is your best memory from your time as a student-athlete attending Kansas City?
My best memory as a student-athlete is winning the 2017 WAC Outdoor Championships. I have won a lot of individual events throughout my time here at Kansas City, but the feeling of winning as a team is insurmountable.
3.   Do you have any advice for your younger teammates or recruits that are looking at coming to KC?
Enjoy every moment because it goes by fast. I would also advise them to make use of every opportunity they get and appreciate everyone they encounter along the journey.
4.   What are your plans after you graduate/leave KC?
I see myself as structural engineer working at a firm. Hopefully, I'll still be located in Kansas City.
5.   Where is your favorite place to eat in Kansas City? What do you get there?
I like to eat at the Island Spice restaurant by 39th and Main Street. That's the closest it gets to grandma's kitchen.
6.   What is one unique/special talent you have that no one knows about except maybe your family?
I don't have any unique talents. I've been doing track and field all my life so that's all I know.
What head coach Benaud Shirley has to say about Bryan:
"Chris is a special athlete and special talent. I say this because of all the obstacles he had to overcome to achieve success in sports. He has dominated the WAC for the past four years and left his mark in the history books. Chris will leave this institution as one of the best male Track and Field student-athletes in school history. It all seems so surreal when you take into account all the injuries that he has faced over the years and his ability to excel in events he could not train for. I am mostly proud of him for achieving his academic goal of graduating with a Civil Engineering degree."
Kennedy Bright is a sprinter from Kansas City, Mo., and attended St. Teresa's Academy. She transferred from Missouri State University wrapping up her athletic career as a senior as a KC Roo. She competed in the 60-meters during the indoor season.
1.   Tell us the story behind what made you decide to become a Kansas City Roo.
I have a pretty unique college journey, due to multiple learning disabilities that weren't diagnosed until after I graduated high school in 2015. That made the college recruitment process very difficult for me. I took a gap year, then had to go to a non-NCAA school for a year after that (to not lose eligibility). I then committed to Missouri State University my sophomore year as my home. In 2018, my head/sprint coach left unexpectedly so I just gave up running. I was tired of trying and came back home to KC to finish out my degree. After a basketball game here, I checked out the track team and got that drive to compete again and figured, 'shoot why not? I'll contact the head coach and see if I can join the team,' and he let me. Transferring from another DI school, I had to sit out a year in residency in 2019. Finally five years and three schools later at 22-years old, I competed in my first meet at Nebraska this past February. I am now 23-years-old still getting a chance to compete at the highest level with an Olympian as my coach. I tell my story to say, for anyone who thinks about giving up on anything they want to do in life, just know there is someone/somewhere out there set in place to give you a shot. Keep looking until you get that chance you deserve, no matter how it looks let no one stop you, not even yourself; you won't regret it.
2.   What is your best memory from your time as a student-athlete attending Kansas City?
My best memory is over winter break this year, assistant coach Muna brought in professional photographer equipment so we could have a photoshoot in our new uniforms. I loved that because you really only see major universities do that with a track program, so for her to do that with her time and her own equipment for us meant a lot. You can tell everyone enjoyed it.
3. Do you have any advice for your younger teammates or recruits that are looking at coming to KC?
If you are looking at being a college athlete, the best advice I received during my process was 'pick a school that you can see yourself going to, even if you are not a student-athlete anymore and just a student.' That is the best advice I received and any aspiring college athlete needs to know that as well.
4. What are your plans after you graduate/leave KC?
My situation leaves a lot of scenarios. I graduate in the fall in the middle of the season and still have one year left of eligibility, even without the coronavirus pandemic. I am looking at being a graduate transfer next season for track or a GA for an athletic department. I want to pursue my masters in sports journalism or stay in KC going into the workforce working with the Kansas City Chiefs. But, I haven't fully decided.
5. Where is your favorite place to eat in Kansas City? What do you get there?
I am from Kansas City, Mo., so local food is like McDonald's to me (haha). But, I would have to say Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbeque. I'm friends with and attended St. Teresa's Academy with the owner's granddaughter. She would always bring our class food from there, so I grew a big love for their burnt ends and jalapeno cornbread in high school! BUT I grew up on Gates Bar-B-Q and they have the BEST baked beans!
6. What is one unique/special talent you have that no one knows about except maybe your family?
A unique talent that no one knows but my family… that would have to be that I can change my voice to sound like three completely different people. The voices allow my prank-calling game to be very lethal, no one EVER suspects it is me, but my sister does if I call her… (haha).
What head coach Benaud Shirley has to say about Bright:
"Kennedy is very resilient. She had to persevere and overcome different obstacles to realize her dreams of running track at the collegiate level. Personally, it was great to see her getting the opportunity to compete during this past indoor season. Kennedy is a true team player; she was always supporting the other teams and different organizations around campus. Kennedy is a valuable member of the University News team and she serves as one of the editors and has done a great job keeping the campus community in-tune with athletics."
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