Hurdler won't let her other shoe drop
Of all the screams, only one stuck out in Hannah Tjaden's head.
There was plenty of noise after the Clearwater hurdler's shoe came dislodged during the 100-meter hurdles at the state meet, but Tjaden could only hear one voice — her dad's.
"Probably because sports is something we connect on," Tjaden said. "My dad is really athletic and did a lot of sports in high school and stuff, so we've always shared that."
He reassured her that it wasn't the end for Tjaden, now entering her junior year. Once again, Tjaden enters the season as one of the Class 4A's favorites in both hurdles events, in large part due to her temperament growing up.
"Everyone in my family is really competitive and we just have this drive," Tjaden said. "I always go to my coaches first, of course, but it helps getting that extra couple of words from my dad."
This offseason hasn't been motivated by the unfortunate ending of last year's state meet. Tjaden has instead stuck to her usual routine, continuing to log hours of hard work and practice.
"It was just kind of bizarre," Tjaden said. "That's not something that I really wanted to get upset about. I had another event in 10 minutes, so I didn't have time to worry about it."
Hurdles has long been in Tjaden's nature. Her two older brothers both were successful hurdlers for Clearwater. That has helped her with honing her technique in the event before high school.
"That first step I want it to be explosive out of the blocks and beat everyone to the first hurdle," Tjaden said. "I work on trying to snap my foot down and be the first one over and the first one to land."
It also helps having two other successful teammates to push her in practice. Senior Paige Moeder and junior Molly Mills both qualified for state last season and the trio makes up the majority of Clearwater's team points.
"All of us are friends outside of track," Tjaden said. "So it really helps when we're on the track. Our coach (Sherys Mellen) lets us goof off, but she makes sure we get our work done."
This season Tjaden isn't driven by one goal. She already has the school record in the 300 hurdles and is closing in on the 100's record.
To do that, she'll have to listen to the voice that always sticks out in her head.
"It's pretty gruesome," Tjaden said. "I always try to think to go really hard when I get to that last 100. When you're on that straightaway and my legs are dying, something that helps me that my dad told me is to come out sprinting as hard as I can."