Centennial High junior Savannah Horne didn’t know it had been 16 years since the last girls’ track champion at CHS.
“This morning he (Coach Rob Johansen) said that,” Horne said May 20. “And we’ve never had one who’s gotten two golds in different events.”
Now they have. Horne won the 100-meter dash in 12.54 seconds and the 200-meter dash in 25.74 seconds.
The last CHS girls’ gold medalists were the Maher sisters in the pole vault – Lindsey in 2005 and 2006 and Maggie in 2007.
“We have a pretty small list of girls that have won gold medals at state, so this is pretty special for us,” Johansen said. “Coaches are super proud of her hard work and dedication. She has been really focused on the 100m dash this season going undefeated in both races.”
“It’s awesome to be undefeated all season,” Horne said. “It has been in my head. It’s cool that he can say that about one of his athletes and support me,” Horne said. Horne said she likes the 100 better because it’s shorter. The 200 takes a lot more energy.
“She makes comments about not really liking the 200 as much, but her strength development this past season has made that race a good one for her,” Johansen said.
Horne said it’s important to get out quickly and push hard in the 100.
“My blocks could be a lot better. That could help a lot,” she said with a grin. “Everyone beat me out of the blocks.”
Coming out of the curve in the 200-meter final, Horne was not in the lead.
“There were girls in front of me, and I thought I’ve got to push hard. My body took over and I went for it,” she said.
Then she crossed the finish line and was announced as the winner.
“I thought ‘Wow. I just won state,’” she said. “It’s an incredible feeling.”
Horne doesn’t really have a strategy when it comes to the two races.
“Just run,” she said with a smile.
During the 100, she said, there’s no time to think. In the 200, she said, “I just tell myself to keep going.”
She said she can’t hear voices in the crowd when she competes.
“I can hear the loudness,” she said.
In addition to two gold medals, Horne also holds the school records in both races. She said both accomplishments are “equally awesome.”
She already has a spot picked out for her new medals. They will join her eighth-place 100-meter dash medal from her freshman year and her fourth-place 100-meter dash and sixth-place 200-meter dash medals from last year.
Those lower place medals are on a board by her bed.
“They are definitely motivation,” she said.
Horne was not the only Bronco competing at state May 19 and 20.
CHS senior Clinton Turnbull ran a new personal-best time in the 3,200-meter run, finishing in 10:30.53.
Ella Wambold ran a personal-best in the 1,600-meter run of 5:45.03.
All four members of the 4x800-meter relay – Cora Payne, Karley Naber, Wambold and Grace Schernikau – ran well and finished in 10:30.1, just two seconds off their district time, Johansen said.
The 4x100-meter relay team of Cambria Saunders, Bree Nisly, Samara Ruether and Kate Luebbe finished in 52.93 seconds. Horne is usually the relay anchor.
“It was run about 1 hour before the finals of her 100, so wanted her to be fresh and able to focus on that race,” Johansen said.
Saunders also ran the 100-meter dash and finished in 12.99 seconds.
“It was good for some of the younger ones to just get to the state meet and get that ‘big meet’ experience and make them excited and focused to get back there next year,” Johansen said.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here