Sevan Ikeda, a senior at 17 years old, might be the first person from California School for the Deaf in Fremont to make it to the Cross Country State Championships three times.
He doesn’t let the fact that the hearing world sometimes forgets about him stop him. In fact, it can be a superpower sometimes.
“It motivates me,” Ikeda told CBS News Bay Area through an interpreter about running against hearing people that she is deaf. “Everyone else around me can hear, but I’m showing them that deaf people can, too.” I want to show them all how good I am at running.
While running, Ikeda is one of the best in Northern California Division 5. He ran the three-mile race and won his conference title earlier this month in just under 15 minutes and 34 seconds.
The person who was closest to him was more than eight seconds slower than him.
To be on the same level as everyone else in an event where every second counts, he needs to start at the starting line.
Ikeda said, “Usually I would talk to the official who will wave his hand and use the horn or gun at the same time.” This is how he knows when the race is about to begin.
Ikeda works hard; he trains for hours every day after school. He takes the time to stretch, take care of his body, and run between 50 and 60 miles a week.
Kristopher Hatch, his coach, says he knew right away that Ikeda was special.
Hatch said of Ikeda, “He has been one of our best runners in school history.” “He has already elevated himself at the national level, at the elite level.”
Ikeda has been running since sixth grade, when he started training with people who are hard of hearing. After that, he made a lot more progress at California School for the Deaf, where it was easier for him to talk to his coach.
“He’s already broken almost all of our school records, not only in cross country but also in the spring track and field in the 800 meter, the 1600, and the 3200,” Hatch said.
Ikeda is getting ready for the Deaflympics in Tokyo in 2025, where he wants to win a medal.
He’s participating in the North Coast Section Championships on Saturday, though, and hopes to make it to the State Championships in Northern California Division 5.
He does say that being a deaf runner in a group of mostly hearing athletes can be lonely at times, but he goes out of his way to make friends with them.
“After the race being able to say ‘hello’ or ‘good job’, I’m not able to, but sometimes I am assertive and use my phone and communicate with them and learn from each other that way,” Ikeda said.
In the last few days, he’s not working as hard so that he can be well-rested and try to win.
“Thursday, Friday, I’ll take it easy, and then Saturday be ready,” Ikeda said. “That afternoon at 1:00. I’ll see you there!”
