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Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Kayla Hanson

Some of the top athletes on the Hi-Line, as well as in the state are multi-sport athletes. They show great sportsmanship, as well as great competiveness and athleticism in several different sports, and they continue to turn heads on and off the field of competition.

Chinook has had several athletes that fit the mold over the years, and Sugarbeeter senior Kayla Hanson is the perfect example.

Hanson has shined for the last four years for the Beeters' volleyball, basketball and track and programs. She lettered the last t

Chinook's Kayla Hanson (middle) leads the pack during the 300 hurdles finals at the Class C state track meet last spring. Hanson is gunning for her fourth straight sweep in the hurdles at today's District 9C Meet in Havre. She's also a three-time gold medalist at the Class C state meet.

hree years in volleyball, and has lettered all four years on the basketball and track and field teams. Hanson has also earned All Conference and All State honors the last two years in volleyball and her sophomore and senior years in basketball. And for track, Hanson has been named All Conference and All State each year she has participated.

Now in her fourth, and final season of track, Hanson has a shot at going down in the books as one of the top hurdlers to come through the Class C ranks in the last couple of years. As a sophomore and junior Hanson won state titles in the 100 hurdles, while last year, as a junior, Hanson also grabbed the No. 1 spot in the 300 hurdles.

But Hanson's accomplishments don't start and finish on the track or court. Hanson as been named Academic All State every year in all three sports. And to top it off, she has also already been accepted to the University of Mary in Bismarck North Dakota, and has already been pre-accepted into their Physical Therapy program.

Already a three-time 9C hurdle champion, here's five questions with one of Chinook's brightest stars

HDN: What is the secret to your success in the hurdles?

Hanson: "I would jut say that it is your own determination in how far you want to go. In track it is more of an individual sport, it is just you, you have to compete at your own level, you can't let anybody hold you back, and you just have to push yourself. And obviously I want to win, but I never underestimate my competitors. I just run my own race and you just have to tell yourself "you can do it" and just be confident at that point."

HDN: What kind of accomplishment would it be to win state titles in the 100 and 300 hurdles as a senior?

Hanson: "It would probably be my greatest accomplishment in high school. I have had a lot of academic success as well, but this is something that I never thought I could do coming in as a freshman, but now that is all coming real, it would be my greatest achievement to win both hurdle races again."

HDN: You get a lot of attention for your accomplishments in the hurdles, but is there one event that you wish you could have mastered?

Hanson: "I think that any throwing event would be fun. And I have always wanted to be good at the 400 meters, but I have never been able to run it because it is so close to the 300 hurdles. There are people that do run the 400, but I have always just wanted to focus on my 300 hurdles. But if I could pick an event, I would probably pick the discus or 400-meter because they are just fun events to watch."

HDN: What will it take for the Beeter girls to finish as the No. 1 team at the District 9C meet on Wednesday, finally overcoming the powerful North Star Knights?

Hanson: "Now that we finally have the numbers, we have had a lot of good incoming freshman that have done a great job. Everyone has to bring their A game and they have to perform at their highest level, just so that we can keep up with North Star, and hopefully beat them. They normally have the numbers, but this year we have them too, so hopefully we can beat them."

HDN: Is track something you want to continue at the collegiate level, or is there another sport you want to continue playing after high school?

Hanson: "I was offered to run track, but I decided not to. I got pre accepted into the physical therapy program and to keep that spot I have to keep my grades up, so that is why I decided not to run. Track and field is my favorite sport to participate in, but it was a fun thing I liked to do in high school, and now I am happy with leaving it at that."

 

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