PAYSON, Ariz. — It’s typically derogatory for a defensive back when you get put on skates.

But for Keith Abney, it’s complimentary.

When Abney’s on skates, he shines.

“I was elite at that. I was a champion. I still got records," Abney said.

Those records are still the talk of Abney’s hometown. He waxed the competition in Waxahachie, Texas.

"That’s just something we did growing up," Abney said. "We had a skating rink growing up close to my house, and my mom used to always take my family skating.”

Abney broke the 300-meter national record for 13-year-olds.

"They had races for candy. I used to always win," Abney said. "The rink owner was like, 'yeah, you should try it out.'”

A seventh-grade phenom, but was suddenly shut down when he got to ASU. All he wanted was to speed skate to clas

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