Maddy Hurt has recently picked up a new running fascination
– the 2000-meter steeplechase. And she has literally ran with it.
She started training for the steeplechase after the end of her
sophomore high school track season with Crawfordsville High School in May. She
first became interested in it when she saw it on TV. Then, she decided to start
training when she saw it listed in the USATF events.
She has had two months to prepare, but that hasn’t stopped
her.
She qualified for the USA National Junior Olympic Track
& Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif. by placing second in the
steeplechase at the USATF Indiana Regional meet on July 9. This is her first
Track & Field Nationals, but she made a similar trip to the USA National
Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships last fall.
Splashing through water and jumping over hurdles, she posted
her personal record of 7:49 at Regionals.
The 2000 steeplechase involves 18 barriers and five water
jumps, in addition to all the running. Hurt has focused her training on these
two aspects during the summer months.
“I’m more tired because I have to jump and get out of the
water,” Hurt said. “But it’s a good challenge, I like it.”
Hurt’s big races were the 1600 and 3200 runs during the high
school season. She broke Crawfordsville’s 1600 record with a 5:19 and the 3200
with a 12:14.3. She went on to place first at the Montgomery County meet and
the Sagamore Athletic Conference meet in both events. She also qualified for
the IHSAA Lafayette Jefferson Regional meet with third place finishes at the
Harrison (West Lafayette) Sectional.
However, the steeplechase has a few more aspects involved.
This is her first time training for hurdles.
“I always thought hurdles looked fun but I’m pretty clumsy
so I didn’t know how that would work out,” Hurt explained.
But she added that they are an extra factor of interest.
“It’s a lot more interesting, you have something to look
forward to as you run,” Hurt said.
Since cross country season is quickly approaching, much of
the training crosses over.
“It’s like cross country but on the track, adding in a few
hurdle trainings a couple times a week.”
But the hurdles and water jumps take a while to get used to.
Hurt fell in one of her first water jumps, but has begun to master the art of
landing with only one foot to increase speed since then.
She said she wants to focus more on the 1600 run this
upcoming year which fits into the mold of the new steeplechase athlete.
According to her father, Jacob Hurt, the trend in ‘steeplers’ (as they are so
called) is veering towards more of a sprinter, rather than the 3200 runners.
“She’s OK with steeplers heading that direction,” Hurt said,
citing her 1600 Crawfordsville record.
Emma Coburn is one of Hurt’s running inspirations and Coburn’s
big events are the 1500 run and the 3000 steeplechase. Coburn is a two-time
Olympian in the steeplechase.
Maddy Hurt and her father will be taking a side trip to see
Coburn run at the TrackTown Summer Series at the University of Oregon’s Hayward
Field on Friday. This is also where the 2021 IAAF World Championships will be
held.
“I’m excited for the competition,” Hurt added. “I might have
a chance to be an All-American.”
To advance in the IHSAA State tournament is one thing, but
to be able to compete nationally and shoot for All-American status is another.
The USATF Indiana races have had around five steeplers in
each race. In Sacramento, Hurt will be competing against 17 other women in the
17-18 age group. This creates a slight change in her approach.
“I’ll have to go wide outside so I can get over the barrier
without hitting somebody or falling over,” Hurt said.
She will compete on Thursday at 2 p.m. at Sacramento
State’s Hornet Stadium. The stadium seats over 21,000 and the $1.4 million
track was installed in 2014.
“It’s a good meet experience so when you get put in bigger
meets you are used to it a little bit,” Jacob Hurt said. “The size will be
something unique.”
It’ll be hot. The Sacramento weather will be above 100
degrees for the rest of this week. But Hurt said she will be cool.
She joked, “I’ll be jumping in water so it should be fine.”