TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

'Short Stuff' Can Handle Tall Task

ADVERTISEMENT

By BART O'CONNELL Tribune correspondent

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 2, 2008

WESLEY CHAPEL - More than a few of Shaniqua Hill's competitors have looked at her this season and had their doubts.

Not only have they thought she'd struggle to get over the hurdles, they've wondered if she can even see over them.

But at 5 feet tall, the girl they call "short stuff" not only can see the finish line when she runs the 300 hurdles, she got to it faster that all but nine girls in Class 3A. And she is determined to get to the medal stand in today's state meet at Showalter Field in Winter Park.

"I feel like I can get 45 seconds or better," said Hill, who set a PR of 46.61 seconds at regional. "I look at it as a race against other people, not against time. I'm kind of nervous about it, but I think I can keep up with them."

It's that determination that has enabled the diminutive freshman to reach such incredible heights in such a short time. Wesley Chapel coach Kristi Frye, a former hurdler at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, has had at least one hurdler make the state finals in six of the last seven years. But Hill is the first to do it as a freshman.

She came to Frye before the season started and asked to be a hurdler. Frye, like everybody else, initially thought Hill's height would prevent her from being good at it, but immediately noticed her work ethic.

"I thought she was going to be average. The first time she tried the hurdles, she had trouble with her trail leg and we worked hard to fix it. She was willing to put the time in," Frye said. "I never, ever would have dreamed that she would be this successful early on."

Hill had to adapt a four-step style for the 100 hurdles because her stride wasn't long enough to do the three-step, meaning she jumps the hurdles with both feet going over at the same time. While that hurts her times in the 100, it helps in the 300 because she can aggressively attack each hurdle and is able to lead with either leg.

"No stutter-steps," Frye said.

Hill has consistently surprised Frye with her efforts in the district and region tournaments. Frye has set lofty goals for her each time, to which Hill has responded with a simple "OK," and gone out and met or exceeded them.

After finishing in 55 seconds in her first prep meet, she posted a region time of 46.61 seconds that actually was better than Angela Medvid's third-place finish in the 2002 Class 2A state finals (46.79). Frye said Hill is so good for her age; she could develop into a multi-state title contender.

"I love kids that give everything they have and don't save it until the end," Frye said. "She's got the determination to win."

Today, Hill will have several family and friends watching her in the 300 hurdles, as well as the 4x400 relay, where she is expected to run the second leg with Renee Vaughns, Kandice Watson and Meredith Dean. Hill, Vaughns and Land O' Lakes distance runner Felix Soto are the only Pasco County track athletes competing in two state finals events.

When she steps on the track, she'll probably find herself surrounded by more people that doubt her ability. But she clearly knows how to handle them.

"It's just fun to prove people wrong," Hill said.

Bart O'Connell can be

reached at boconnell@

TRACK ATHLETES TO WATCH

CLASS 3A/4A

KEARI BRINK, RIDGEWOOD: Brink is the No. 1 seed in the Class 3A girls pole vault, the only entry to clear 10-feet-6 in region competition. She has been remarkably consistent clearing that height this season, but should have company as six other girls cleared 10 feet in regionals. It wouldn't be unexpected to see a couple of them clear 10-6 today, meaning it could come down to who scratches the least. The senior is making her first state meet appearance in this event.

FELIX SOTO, LAND O' LAKES: Despite winning the 3A-Region 2 3,200-meter run and setting a PR in the 1,600, finishing runner-up, Soto has been unhappy with his performances in recent meets. The reason is simple: he knows 9:59.17 in the 3,200 and 4:28.71 in the 1,600 aren't good enough times to win state titles, which has been his goal all along. His best chance to pull an upset is the 1,600; he was only 3.75 seconds off top seed Johnathan Esteban's time last week.

KAMRAN JOYER, WESLEY CHAPEL: The shot-put specialist is coming off a PR in region (51-2.25) and is seeded fifth today. That was an 11.75-inch improvement from his district-winning effort, but it will take an even bigger increase to catch up to the top three seeds in 3A, all of which posted region throws of 53-plus feet. In all likelihood, 50 feet will be a prerequisite to make it to the final in this tightly-bunched field event.

SHANIQUA HILL, WESLEY CHAPEL: The freshman has come on strong in the postseason, advancing to the state meet in the 300 hurdles as well as the 4x400 relay. But her best shot to medal is definitely in the hurdles, where she is seeded 10th, only 0.82 seconds slower than the No. 6 seed at region.

EARON HICKS, WESLEY CHAPEL: Hicks has battled some nagging injuries all year but produced his best triple-jump performance at last week's region meet, posting a school-record 44-7.25 to earn a No. 9 seed today. He should benefit from not having to do other events, which Coach Brian Colding said affected his results. Said Hicks, "I think I can jump 46 feet today and get top-3." This is another tightly-packed event with the top seed at 45-9.50, so if Hicks can make another leap in his PR, he might win a medal.

OTHER QUALIFIERS: 4A - Jessica Jagielski, Mitchell (800), Caitlin Young, Mitchell (HJ). 3A - Joey Buono, Hudson (PV), Beth Butler, Ridgewood (HJ), Jeani Ducos, Wesley Chapel (D), Courtney McAuliffe, Gulf (1,600), Mikaela Morolla, River Ridge (PV), Matt Schwartz, Land O' Lakes (3,200), Nicole Woodard, Land O' Lakes (LJ), Reta Woodard, Land O' Lakes (SP), Wesley Chapel Girls 4x400 relay (Hill, Meredith Dean, Renee Vaughns, Kandice Watson) and 4x800 relay (Vaughns, Kirsten Fee, Jessica Furst, Desiree Vizcaino).

pop.tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT