Hanna Anderson has qualified for the state track and field meet the past two years.
This season, simply making it back there won’t be good enough for the Greenwood junior.
“Some people go just because they really want to get to state and they’re happy to get there,” Anderson said.
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“I’ve worked really hard in the offseason, this past winter, and I’ve really stepped up my game with my training. I’ve worked a lot harder than I had the past two years, and I think I have what it takes to place at state this year.”
As a sophomore, Anderson qualified for state in the 200-meter dash and also helped the Woodmen make it in the 4×100 relay.
She won sectional titles in both events, taking the 200 in 26.58 seconds and leading off the 4×100 quartet that finished in 50.84 seconds. Anderson also had second-place sectional finishes in the 100 and the 4×400 relay.
At the regional, Anderson was third in the 200 with a season-best time of 25.98, and she helped the Woodmen finish second to state champion Warren Central in the 4×100. She pulled out of the 100 to focus on those events.
Anderson didn’t fare as well in the final meet as she hoped, placing 21st in the 200 prelims, but she’s eager to go back and improve upon that finish.
She will also be trying to reach the state finals in a new event.
With senior teammate Taylor Neely out for the season with a knee injury, Anderson plans to put more of her focus on the 400-meter dash.
“The 400 is something that I’ve actually been looking to do for a while,” Anderson said. “I couldn’t really run the 400 a lot last year because I ran the (4×100) relay.”
Both Anderson and her coach, Blaine Williams, talked about expanding Anderson’s repertoire a bit this year, trying her in some different events throughout the season to make her more attractive to potential suitors at the next level.
Williams, who feels like Anderson might be naturally shifting toward some longer distances as she matures anyway, even mentioned the possibility of trying her in the 4×800 relay.
“Obviously, I want to go to college to run,” Anderson said, “so if I can run more than just the 100 and 200 like a lot of sprinters, then it’ll make me look better.”
While college is on her mind, Anderson’s top priority right now is making the most of this season. She has designs on returning to Bloomington for the state meet in June, and she’s intent on coming away from it with some hardware this time.
“She wants to get on that podium,” Williams said, “and she’s got all the tools and work ethic to get there.”
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Hanna Anderson’s fastest official electronic times heading into this season:
Event;Time
100 meters;12.6 seconds
200 meters;25.98*
400 meters;1:00.68
*at Warren Central Regional
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