Hurdles

Hurdles: Just when you thought running couldn't get any worse someone decided to come along and make it 10 times harder. Hurdles are hands down the scariest and most dangerous event in track. I can remember countless times where kids think they've cleared the hurdle but end up face planting right into the track. This is usually super funny at first but once you see the blood dripping out of the person's mouth you can't help feeling bad. I've only seen a few people get knocked out from face planting and that's just down right scary. To get a good visual aid for how bad falling in the hurdles hurts just go ask Makayla Boersma, and she'll show you all her scars from doing hurdles. Makayla is Cadillac's top hurdler and also holds the record for most injuries received from hurdles. Her record is way over 100 injuries, ranging from knee scrapes all the way to shin splints. Chances are if you can name it, she got it.
There are only two hurdle races in high school track and field: the 100 meter hurdles and the 300 meter hurdles. The 100 meter hurdles are usually fun to watch because all the kids in that event are fast and have a crazy good vertical. Hurdle races are usually very close and come down to who has the best hurdle form on the last two hurdles. A funny thought is that sprinters think running 100 meters is a tiring sprint but hurdlers, however, think it's easy and a lot of fun even though they're doing an event that's way harder than a regular sprint. Now 300 meter hurdles are the complete opposite because just like the 400 meter dash, everybody hates this event. The athlete's hate this event because it is about as tiring as a 400 but with a twist that'll send you into a state of calf cramps and coughing fits by the time you reach the finish. The spectator's hate viewing this event because it starts on the very opposite side of the track. Even Cadillac's esteemed hurdler Jake Maier, more commonly known as Pole Boy, isn't to particularly fond of this event. When asked why he does this event even if he doesn't like it he said, "Well Mr. Baker puts me in it and if I don't run it then I can't do pole vault, and I LOVE pole vault! I also do it because there is no one else in Cadillac who does hurdles." Just when we thought Jake was right a miracle happened right here at Memorial Stadium. A man named Austin Carlington stepped up and became one of our best 300 meter hurdlers. You might even say he's better than Pole Boy, and that's because unlike Pole Boy, Austin likes running the 300 meter hurdles. Even after testing negative for any mental illness, Austin still says he likes both the hurdling events.
The Hurdle events are very hard and dangerous but for any athlete that is willing to attempt them I salute you for you are truly an animal. Make sure to thank your local hurdlers soon!