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COLUMBUS — It's widely known in track and field that running in Lane 1 in the 300 meter hurdles is the worst lane to be in — especially in a final.
Some of the challenges of being on the far outside lane is that hurdlers have to navigate more of a tight, sharp curve. It's physically the hardest lane to run out of because you're in the last lane in the back of your competitors and there's more pressure on that hurdler to catch up, while possibly using too much energy and risking burning out too quickly.
So, there are some obstacles to work through.
More: How Waynedale's Anna Pittman finished as state runner-up in pole vault
During the OHSAA Division IV 300 hurdles final last Friday, June 5, in Columbus at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, Norwayne senior Kaylee Graham found herself having to work out of that dreaded Lane 1 after finishing with the seventh-best time in Thursday's prelims at 46.35.
Graham came into the state track meet with the eighth-best overall time (45.66).
"I was seeded eighth place. Yesterday, I got seventh," Graham said after the final was over with. "All I know was that I needed to not stutter and go over the hurdles. It's my last high school meet. I just had to run this race. I had no other races to worry about."
When the gun went off, Graham took off and, obviously with being in Lane 1, it can give people in the stands the impression that hurdler is in last place halfway through the race. On the turn, Graham looked like she was right with the pack and as the race got closer and closer to the finish line, you can see it might be one of those photo finishes.
Coming up on the last two hurdles, with all the hurdlers seemingly slowing down, Graham hustled her way past the finish line.
Not knowing the official times and placings immediately, it was announced a few seconds later that Graham eked out a state runner-up to finish in a time of 45.34, which was a personal best.
Fairland senior Molly Dunlap won the state title in 43.97.
Graham said she was not expecting to come in second.
"This is my fourth time being at state and first time being in finals, so all I knew is that I did not want to get ninth place," said Graham, who mentioned she felt like throwing up before the race due to nerves. "I had to get on podium because I am a senior. It was all about the lean. I knew it was going to be close at the end. I knew it was going to be the lean. I basically dove over the finish line."
Of the eight hurdlers that medaled, second through seventh place finishers all ran in the 45-second mark. That's exactly the time that Graham felt she needed to run to walk out of the stadium with a medal. And she did that.
"I knew I had to run a 45," she said adamantly. "These girls were so fantastic. They were all running 45s and everyone was capable of a 44. I knew I can't run a 46 and that's what we all ran yesterday. I didn't run great yesterday, so I knew I needed to run a 45."
This is Graham's fourth state trip and third time in the 300 hurdles as she wasn't able to advance out of prelims the last two years. This year, Graham has been striding through at a high rate in the 300 hurdles.
Graham won four times in the 300 hurdles at track meets/invitationals during the regular season (Orrville Invitational, Triway Invitational, Dwight Schar Invitational, Wooster Nikki Reynolds Invitational). She won her third straight Wayne County Athletic League (WCAL) meet 300 hurdles title. She was the Division IV district champion and regional runner-up.
Now, she is a state runner-up.
She talked about her improvements over the last year and the process it took to end her prep career with a silver medal.
"Most definitely my stamina. Like my last hurdle used to be horrendous," she said. "I would come to a complete stop before I jump over it. So, I worked on that with my coach. I just got a new coach this year. It's gotten much better. I have a fantastic support system. My team is the best. I'm always going to have someone calm my nerves and keep me in the right mind."
So, it's safe to say your senior season worked out well then?
"Yes. This year has been a very good year for me. The best year I would say," she said.
So much for being in the Lane 1.
[email protected]
Twitter/X: @JamesSimpson II
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Norwayne's Kaylee Graham earned state runner-up in the 300 hurdles
Continue reading...
Some of the challenges of being on the far outside lane is that hurdlers have to navigate more of a tight, sharp curve. It's physically the hardest lane to run out of because you're in the last lane in the back of your competitors and there's more pressure on that hurdler to catch up, while possibly using too much energy and risking burning out too quickly.
So, there are some obstacles to work through.
More: How Waynedale's Anna Pittman finished as state runner-up in pole vault
During the OHSAA Division IV 300 hurdles final last Friday, June 5, in Columbus at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, Norwayne senior Kaylee Graham found herself having to work out of that dreaded Lane 1 after finishing with the seventh-best time in Thursday's prelims at 46.35.
Graham came into the state track meet with the eighth-best overall time (45.66).
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"I was seeded eighth place. Yesterday, I got seventh," Graham said after the final was over with. "All I know was that I needed to not stutter and go over the hurdles. It's my last high school meet. I just had to run this race. I had no other races to worry about."
When the gun went off, Graham took off and, obviously with being in Lane 1, it can give people in the stands the impression that hurdler is in last place halfway through the race. On the turn, Graham looked like she was right with the pack and as the race got closer and closer to the finish line, you can see it might be one of those photo finishes.
Coming up on the last two hurdles, with all the hurdlers seemingly slowing down, Graham hustled her way past the finish line.
Not knowing the official times and placings immediately, it was announced a few seconds later that Graham eked out a state runner-up to finish in a time of 45.34, which was a personal best.
Fairland senior Molly Dunlap won the state title in 43.97.
Graham said she was not expecting to come in second.
"This is my fourth time being at state and first time being in finals, so all I knew is that I did not want to get ninth place," said Graham, who mentioned she felt like throwing up before the race due to nerves. "I had to get on podium because I am a senior. It was all about the lean. I knew it was going to be close at the end. I knew it was going to be the lean. I basically dove over the finish line."
Of the eight hurdlers that medaled, second through seventh place finishers all ran in the 45-second mark. That's exactly the time that Graham felt she needed to run to walk out of the stadium with a medal. And she did that.
You must be registered for see images
"I knew I had to run a 45," she said adamantly. "These girls were so fantastic. They were all running 45s and everyone was capable of a 44. I knew I can't run a 46 and that's what we all ran yesterday. I didn't run great yesterday, so I knew I needed to run a 45."
This is Graham's fourth state trip and third time in the 300 hurdles as she wasn't able to advance out of prelims the last two years. This year, Graham has been striding through at a high rate in the 300 hurdles.
Graham won four times in the 300 hurdles at track meets/invitationals during the regular season (Orrville Invitational, Triway Invitational, Dwight Schar Invitational, Wooster Nikki Reynolds Invitational). She won her third straight Wayne County Athletic League (WCAL) meet 300 hurdles title. She was the Division IV district champion and regional runner-up.
Now, she is a state runner-up.
She talked about her improvements over the last year and the process it took to end her prep career with a silver medal.
"Most definitely my stamina. Like my last hurdle used to be horrendous," she said. "I would come to a complete stop before I jump over it. So, I worked on that with my coach. I just got a new coach this year. It's gotten much better. I have a fantastic support system. My team is the best. I'm always going to have someone calm my nerves and keep me in the right mind."
So, it's safe to say your senior season worked out well then?
"Yes. This year has been a very good year for me. The best year I would say," she said.
So much for being in the Lane 1.
[email protected]
Twitter/X: @JamesSimpson II
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Norwayne's Kaylee Graham earned state runner-up in the 300 hurdles
Continue reading...
