Personal Records:
100mH - 17.34
300mH - 46.23
4K (xc) - 16:52.30
5K (xc) - 23:07.20
Long Jump - 15-0
Class A State 2016 - 300h (8th)
Where were you born?
I was born in New Prague, but I have lived in rural Henderson all of my life.
What sports did you play when you were younger?
I was in t-ball Kindergarten through 2nd grade. Other than that I didn't do any other sports before I joined Cross Country and Track in 7th grade.
Why did you decide to start running?
For as long as I can remember I have liked running. I ran my first 5k when I was 10 years old. Many people told me I should join cross country so I did, not really knowing what it was. I fell in love with the sport so of course I wanted to join Track in the spring. I thought that I would be only a distance runner in track but right away I was put into sprinting and hurdling events to try them out. By 8th grade I switched over to sprinting for track and I love it.
How does cross country help you as a hurdler?
I would say cross country definitely helps me as a hurdler. Not only does it help me stay in shape for track, it also helps me stay strong mentally.
Tell us about your coaches? What does each one do for you?
I am extremely fortunate to have two incredible coaches. The head coach for both track and cross country is Jeff Christ. I admire him greatly for his ability to make the team feel like a family and his passion for running. He has taught me so much and inspired me to always do my best not only for myself, but for the team as well.
The assistant coach for track is Becky Straub. She has not only taught me the fundamentals of track but also how important your mentality is in order to be successful. She has always believed in me and I know I would not have been able to get as far as I have without her.
Which of your teammates has helped you out the most? How did they do that?
I have looked up to many teammates while in cross country and track but two really stand out: Kayla Stowell and Julie Ulrich. Julie more so in cross country and Kayla in track. They were both very successful athletes and taught me a lot about these sports. I admired both of them for their determination and the work they put into their sports.
Have you developed friendships with opponents? Who is your fiercest rival? Do you get along off the course or track?
Yes, I have been lucky to get to know a lot of my opponents. I wouldn't say I have any rivalries. I try to focus on my own race and performance rather than taking time thinking about my competition.
You made it to the state meet in the 300 IM Hurdles in 2016. Why do you enjoy this event?
First off I love doing hurdles. I think it's easier to run a race with hurdles in front of me rather than having an open track. 300s are great because they really test you and you can feel how hard you've worked after every race.
What do you need to make sure that you get back to the state meet in the spring of 2018?
To get back to the state meet, I need to stay in shape and work hard but most of all I need to be strong mentally. The past season I really let my head get in the way of what my body can do. As long as I can keep my mind out of the way, I should be able to get back to the state meet.
What techniques will beginners have to learn first to be a hurdler?
Beginners really just need to focus on getting the hurdle form down and learning how to do it correctly right away. From keeping their lead leg slightly bent to bringing their trail through. They should work on form first then focus on speed.
Describe an advanced technique that could get you to the next level if you master it?
Something I could work on is keeping good form over the hurdles all the way through my 300s race. By the last hurdle my form can get a little shaky so if I can keep the form through the entire race it will make me more efficient and shave off time.
What obstacles have you had to get past to stay in track & field?
The biggest obstacle I've faced is convincing my parents to allow me to join track. When I was in 7th grade my parents had a rule that I could only do one sport. After I did cross country and fell in love with it, I knew I had to do track too. Luckily after a few months of begging, they let me be in track as well.
Do you plan to go to college? Will you compete in a sport there? Which one?
I plan on going to college but I am undecided on where that will be. I would love to continue my career in Track. Hopefully things will work out so I am able to do so.
What are your goals for track & field? What are your goals for college? Would you consider coaching?
Ultimately my goal for track and field is to be the best I can possibly be and help others do the same. I am still undecided on what I will study in college but I would definitely consider coaching in the future.
Photo provided by Kim Scheffler