Natalie (second from left) with her 4x400 teammates Olivia Mitchell, Kelli Praska, and Maddie Gourley at the 2015 State Championships (Photo provided by Natalie Windels)
First of all, how did you first
start doing track?
I loved running as a kid so my mom put me in Eagan Athletic Association Track in Kindergarten. I continued to run in the EAA Track program through 6th grade and then I moved up to the Eagan high school track team in 7th grade.
What are all your personal records?
I have four school records at Eagan High School and I hope to break them again this season. My 100 hurdle record is 14.80 (section meet 2016), 300 hurdles is 44.47 (state finals 2016) and my long jump record is 17' 6.75" (conference meet 2016). I am also part of the 4x400 team that placed second at the 2015 state meet with a time of 3:53.29 (my split was 57.10). I prefer running the first leg of the 4 x 400 relay but I'll most likely be an anchor runner this season. I also compete in the heptathlon and 400 hurdles in the summer. My PR in the 400H is 1:02.81 (USATF regionals 2016) and 4,260 points in the "hep" (2016 Junior Olympics).
Do you do, or have you done, any sports other than track?
I danced for 12 years and stopped when I joined the high school track team. I also played soccer from 3rd-10th grade on Eagan Athletic Association in-house teams and on the high school team.
Did your dancing background have any influence in your choice to run hurdles?
Dancing made me very flexible and agile, which are good qualities for a hurdler. In 4th-6th grade I really started to like hurdles more but on the high school team I thought I'd end up being a 400m runner! But my coach, Rob Graham, had different plans because he realized that my skill set could be used to help the team in the hurdles.
What is your favorite race or most memorable race you have ever run, or your favorite track-related memory?
My most memorable meet was 2015 section finals because we had to turn the hurdles around because of the wind and run the race in the opposite direction. I finished 3rd (only the top 2 qualify for state). But my time was below the qualifying standard so I made it to state and broke the school record in the 100 hurdles (my time was 14.92). That was exciting for me because I had worked hard all season and I really wanted to qualify and prove myself at state. That same day I also got to meet the previous Eagan 100m hurdles record holder, Shannon Sorenson, and she congratulated me on beating her 17-year-old record. I was amazed that she had come to watch me run and that I had broke her record when she was there!
If I'm not mistaken, you also had the opportunity to run at USAF Junior Nationals in the 400 hurdles. Tell me about your experience running at that event.
I've actually competed at both the AAU and USATF Junior Olympic meets five times now but one of the meets really sticks out to me and that was in 2014 at the AAU Junior Olympics in Des Moines, Iowa. I was in the 15-16 age group at the time and I was running in the 400m hurdles. This was my first summer running the 400 hurdles and I surprised myself by placing third and I was very happy that my hard work had paid off! For me, the main goal wasn't about getting a medal, but experiencing the loud stadium with cheering fans and meeting people from all over the U.S.
Who are some of your favorite athletes to compete against?
From 7th-9th grade, I competed against Rachel Schow (Rosemount; now runs for the University of Minnesota) and she has always been someone I look up to and has pushed me to do my best. Also, I'm always excited to race my close friend Julia Hayes (Irondale) because we only compete against each other at state or the Hamline Elite meet and we do all of the same events.
(Photo Provided by Natalie Windels)
I've asked the other female hurdlers I've interviewed about what it is like racing in the most competitive era or girls hurdles ever in Minnesota (for example, all eight of the fastest high school 100 meter hurdlers in Minnesota have graduated in he past five years), so I would like to ask you the same question.
It has been a fun, yet challenging experience. I looked up to those girls for many years and they have pushed me to get my fastest times.
What are you main goals for this upcoming season?
My main goal this year is to place in the top three in my individual events at state. I've placed every year at state since 7th grade, but individually my top finish has been 5th place. However, our 4x400 relay did place 2nd in 2015 and another goal is to get Eagan's 4x400 to state this year.
Do you have any college plans?
I'm looking at Division 1 and 2 track schools but I haven't made a decision yet.
Do you have any rituals or superstitions either on or off the track?
As a pre-meet ritual, I always wear one of my Hamline Elite meet shirts that are neon yellow or blue. Also, the day before a big meet like sections or conference, the whole team listens to "Reach" by Gloria Estefan. We do this to visualize how our races will go and focus on the things we want to improve on in the race the next day.
Is there an particular reason the team allies around that song?
Even before I joined the team, it has always been a tradition. There's just something about the rhythm and Gloria Estefan that makes us want to achieve great things and give us hope!
When not on the track or trying to set records, what might we find you doing?
In my free time I'm usually painting or sending goofy pictures on Snapchat to my friends or you can find me avidly watching "The Walking Dead."
Tell me one bizarre fact about yourself
You will most likely see me with colorful KT/Rock tape on at meets. I usually have some part of my body taped up because some muscle is tight, but it also eases my mind so I can focus on my race. Plus you can immediately spot me anywhere in the stadium when I wear my bright Hamline Elite meet shirt and tape is covering my legs!
