By My love for hurdles started when I was 13 years old.
I was in the seventh grade, and like most of my peers, I was trying track and field for the first time. Most of us were still testing out different events that interested us.
One warm afternoon, the seventh-grade girls had the opportunity to try hurdles for the first time. There were hurdles scattered throughout a section of the field on the track. The coach gathered us around and explained, step by step, how to go over a hurdle.
Now, it was our turn to try.
We dispersed among the hurdles, got into lines to take turns, and began to practice. Some girls were too nervous to attempt one , others ran towards the hurdle but lost their nerve and bailed at the last second.
I was also nervous. The hurdles were daunting. The top of the hurdle reached my waist.
But, I knew the only way to overcome my fear was by going over the hurdle. I backed up from the hurdle so I could take the eight steps needed to reach the hurdle. I blocked out the world and focused on the hurdle in front of me.
The hurdle seemed a mile away. My heart was racing, and adrenaline was pumping through my veins.
At that moment, I made a promise to myself: “Don’t wuss out.”
I summoned my courage and sprinted toward the hurdle, counting as I charged at it.
“One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, jump now!”
My form was awful.
My arms and trail leg were swinging out instead of being tucked in close to my body. I am sure that I flailed over the bar instead of hurdling it.
But I cleared the hurdle! The hurdle was still standing, and so was I!
I remember the rush of excitement and joy, cementing in place my love for the 100-meter hurdles.
Throughout middle school, I was one of the fastest hurdlers and a star athlete. However, once I entered high school, the competition got more challenging. To compete on varsity, I had to improve my form to increase my speed and improve my time. A key component for a good race in the 100-meter hurdles is how fast one can three-step, the number of steps a runner takes in between hurdles.
Most hurdlers are tall and lean with long legs which helps them clear the hurdles, taking three steps between each hurdle. I, on the other hand, stand at a whopping 5 feet 3 inches and have stumps for legs.
I could not three-step to save my life, no matter how hard or much I practiced. I just did not seem to have the body for hurdling.
This did not stop me, though.
I knew that I was not good, but I still loved hurdling.
I made a promise to myself: Don’t wuss out.
Out of all the events I did in my six years of track and field, the 100 meter hurdles was my favorite. So, instead of giving up, I buckled down and learned the importance of grit.
I found a new way to run the race.
Instead of three-stepping in between the hurdles, I four-stepped.
With three-stepping, you use the same “lead” leg (the leg that goes over first) each time you jump over the hurdle. So if you ask a hurdler which leg is their lead leg, they will answer with either right or left.
But, with four-stepping between the hurdles, you alternate your leading leg. If you ask a four-stepper which leg is the lead leg, I would answer: left, right, left.
I became a master of four-stepping between the hurdles, but I was still not as fast as the three steppers.
This, however, did not stop me.
Even though I was not the best at hurdling, I truly loved it.
Everyone on the track team had the same end goal: qualify for State. There are two ways to qualify for State. One way to qualify is to clock a certain time or to jump or throw a certain distance. The second way is by placing in the top six of an event at Divisionals.
Throughout high school, I had never made it to State in any of my events, but I had one last chance my senior year at Divisionals. If I placed in the top six, I would earn a spot on the roster for State.
I remember that day like it was yesterday.
I was at Van Winkle Stadium in Bozeman. It was cold and rainy, making the track slick, so my coach made me warm up for about two hours before my race. I had a great warm up, and, with years of experience behind me, I was ready.
I did not think I would make the top six, but I was ready to leave everything on the track. The starter called my heat. I came to the starting blocks with adrenaline pumping through me. I was focused on nothing but the track.
“On your mark.”
I backed into my blocks.
“Get set.”
I raise into the starting position, staring at the ground with a blank yet focused mind.
“Boom!”
The gun goes off. I leap out of my blocks and attack the hurdles with only one thing racing through my mind: “1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4.”
I was satisfied with my race.
After six years and blood, sweat, and tears I figured I was done with the 100 meter hurdles.
Some of my friends came up to me and congratulated me on my race as we walked to the schedule board to check what the time for our next events was.
Then, the announcer came on the intercom stating to read the results for the women’s 100 meter hurdles.
We all fell silent.
“In first place is Delaney Bahn from Bozeman with a time of 15.69 seconds.” She dominated the hurdles all year and was probably the fastest hurdler in the Eastern AA Division.
“In second place is Kaia Schreder from Billings West with a time of 15.87 seconds.”
She was also a star hurdler in our division and perhaps the best at her school.
The announcer went down the line until he got to sixth place, the last racer who would move on to State.
“In sixth place is Samantha Allie from Billings Senior with a time of 16.98 seconds.”
My friends and I jumped up and down screaming like teenage girls at a boy band.
I then raced into the bleachers to find my parents. I jumped into my dad’s arms with tears streaming down my face and cried into his shoulder saying that I was going to State.
I had run my fastest time in all my years of hurdling. I was moving on to State.
I have never felt so happy and so accomplished in all of my years competing. My hard work paid off and my dreams were coming true.
Against all odds, this short-legged four-stepper was going to state.
