State Track Feature: Freshman Kibler dashes to state
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Hillsboro freshman Hannah Kibler had a decision to make this spring … to choose to play softball or track and field. After qualifying for the Division II OHSAA State Track and Field Championships in the 200-meter dash, it looks like the freshman made the right decision.
Kibler ran a variety of individual and relay events this season, but she was best at the 200m dash, and her times in that event the past three weeks have been enough to get her to the highest level of competition in the state.
[[In-content Ad]]At the South Central Ohio League meet, Kibler ran a 26.46 to win the 200m league crown at London, followed by a second-place finish in the district at Washington C.H. with a time of 26.13. In the regionals, Kibler raced to a fourth-place finish in the Athens regionals at 26.24.
"I was excited because I didn't think I could make it," Kibler said of achieving a top-four spot to advance to the state championships. "After basketball season, I didn't know whether to choose softball or track as a spring sport. I picked track because I did it in seventh grade. I didn't think I could do this at all."
Getting to the state championships took natural talent and "fine-tuning" on some aspects of the sport.
"Hannah came out with a lot of encouragement from the athletic director (Dave Dietrick), from Coach (Amber) Loomis and others pushing her to come out," HHS girls track and field head coach Sarah Horsley said. "I don't think Hannah was sure what she was getting into or what this was all about. After we saw her in the first couple meets, we knew we had something special in her."
Coach Horsley told a story about Hannah's first couple meets and how she switched from running shoes to spikes.
"She didn't even use spikes in the first couple meets and came out running fast," Horsley said. "We asked her, 'Hey, how would you feel about using a pair of spikes?' So we started to work with her to fine-tune some things."
One of the items that was "fine-tuned" was her block work at the start of the races.
"I needed help on my blocks this year because I started slow off the blocks," Kibler said. "For the relays, I had to work on the relays. My favorite events are the 200 and 4x200.
"With the help from Coach Loomis, I don't think I could have made it this far without her helping me with the blocks."
When asked to describe what it's like racing a 200m race, Kibler said it's hard to describe, but it is her favorite of all the events she races during the season.
"The 200 is my favorite because I can pick up my speed, and I can get faster at the end," she said. "I don't really think much when I'm on the blocks, I just want to lean into the curve … so it doesn't take as much time. I just ride the line."
Coach Horsley spoke about the sprinting ability of Kibler.
"Like Hannah said about working with the blocks, she worked hard to improve her starts a lot," Horsley said. "With a sprinter, a lot of it is pure talent. They have fast twitch muscle fibers, so about all you can do is fine-tune what they got … she's already talented.
"We've already seen in her that she has this desire to win. When she comes in second or third, you can just see it on her face it kills her … she has this drive to win."
Kibler said she's just excited to be a part of the whole event.
"I'm excited to go there because I've never been to state before," she said. "This will be a good way to get experience for next year … but I at least want to pass one person."
Kibler ran a variety of individual and relay events this season, but she was best at the 200m dash, and her times in that event the past three weeks have been enough to get her to the highest level of competition in the state.
[[In-content Ad]]At the South Central Ohio League meet, Kibler ran a 26.46 to win the 200m league crown at London, followed by a second-place finish in the district at Washington C.H. with a time of 26.13. In the regionals, Kibler raced to a fourth-place finish in the Athens regionals at 26.24.
"I was excited because I didn't think I could make it," Kibler said of achieving a top-four spot to advance to the state championships. "After basketball season, I didn't know whether to choose softball or track as a spring sport. I picked track because I did it in seventh grade. I didn't think I could do this at all."
Getting to the state championships took natural talent and "fine-tuning" on some aspects of the sport.
"Hannah came out with a lot of encouragement from the athletic director (Dave Dietrick), from Coach (Amber) Loomis and others pushing her to come out," HHS girls track and field head coach Sarah Horsley said. "I don't think Hannah was sure what she was getting into or what this was all about. After we saw her in the first couple meets, we knew we had something special in her."
Coach Horsley told a story about Hannah's first couple meets and how she switched from running shoes to spikes.
"She didn't even use spikes in the first couple meets and came out running fast," Horsley said. "We asked her, 'Hey, how would you feel about using a pair of spikes?' So we started to work with her to fine-tune some things."
One of the items that was "fine-tuned" was her block work at the start of the races.
"I needed help on my blocks this year because I started slow off the blocks," Kibler said. "For the relays, I had to work on the relays. My favorite events are the 200 and 4x200.
"With the help from Coach Loomis, I don't think I could have made it this far without her helping me with the blocks."
When asked to describe what it's like racing a 200m race, Kibler said it's hard to describe, but it is her favorite of all the events she races during the season.
"The 200 is my favorite because I can pick up my speed, and I can get faster at the end," she said. "I don't really think much when I'm on the blocks, I just want to lean into the curve … so it doesn't take as much time. I just ride the line."
Coach Horsley spoke about the sprinting ability of Kibler.
"Like Hannah said about working with the blocks, she worked hard to improve her starts a lot," Horsley said. "With a sprinter, a lot of it is pure talent. They have fast twitch muscle fibers, so about all you can do is fine-tune what they got … she's already talented.
"We've already seen in her that she has this desire to win. When she comes in second or third, you can just see it on her face it kills her … she has this drive to win."
Kibler said she's just excited to be a part of the whole event.
"I'm excited to go there because I've never been to state before," she said. "This will be a good way to get experience for next year … but I at least want to pass one person."