MONROE - Monroe High School senior Jordan Hirsbrunner's fourth and final time running at the Kansas Relays was an experience she will not forget.
"It's a memorable experience I will remember for the rest of my life," Hirsbrunner said. "It was a really great experience. It's the last time I get to compete in this meet in high school. It was a nice way to end it. It was a very enjoyable and memorable moment. It was just fun to go against some of the top athletes around the country. The competition down there was unreal."
Hirsbrunner turned in a lifetime best performance in winning the 300-meter hurdles in a school-record time of 43.77 seconds. It was her first Kansas Relays title. Her time broke the previous school record she set of 43.94 seconds while winning the WIAA Division 2 state championship.
"I don't think I would have done it if I wasn't at Kansas (Relays)," she said. "I'm used to running against the competition in Wisconsin. The competition with all of the different runners pushed me to run faster."
Now she has her sights set on breaking the Division 2 state meet record in the 300 hurdles, which is owned by Jefferson's Mikaela Grant. Grant ran a 43.63 during prelims at the state meet in 2015.
"That is definitely the goal," Hirsbrunner said of breaking the record in the 300 hurdles. "It's a high goal. If I keep working hard I can achieve it. I just have to keep on improving."
Hirsbrunner, a University of Wisconsin-Madison track and field recruit, had the opportunity to meet with other top runners in the hurdles from across the country. She saw one common face - Benton-Shullsburg's Emma Lawrence who finished ninth in the 300 hurdles.
"It was really fun meeting new people and getting to share something I do," Hirsbrunner said. "It was fun to learn about the college plans some of them have for next year."
The Kansas Relays is different than a traditional track meet in Wisconsin because of its scope. It draws the elite participants in every event from high schools across the country. Athletes have to meet event time requirements to earn a spot in the meet.
"It's a national track meet where you have runners from all over coming together at the same place," she said. "You see top competition you usually don't see in Wisconsin."
Hirsbrunner also claimed two other medals - seventh in the 100 hurdles (15.25) and ninth in the high jump (5 feet, 2 inches). Her lifetime best in the high jump is 5-5. Hirsbrunner is the only athlete in the history of the Monroe girls track program to medal in four events at state in the same year.
"I just want to keep working to improve my times," she said.
Hirsbrunner is a versatile athlete who excels in a variety of events. It will be interesting when it comes to the WIAA Division 2 Monroe regional on May 12 what events she competes in besides the 300 hurdles.
Hirsbrunner said she would like to run the 100 high hurdles and try to get to state in that event. The Cheesemakers could also use her in either the 1,600, 800 or 400 relays, which all qualified for state last season.
Hirsbrunner is not taking anything for granted with about one month to go until the regional meet.
"You have to work hard to achieve your goals," she said. "I have to take every practice seriously because soon all of these practices will be over because I'm a senior. That is kind of bittersweet."
When asked about her hobbies, Hirsbrunner said, "Track is my entire life. I spend my extra time working on my technique and doing drills in the backyard and basement with my dad, mother and brother. I lift weights. Our whole family is into track. When I do have time, I like spending it with family and friends."
"It's a memorable experience I will remember for the rest of my life," Hirsbrunner said. "It was a really great experience. It's the last time I get to compete in this meet in high school. It was a nice way to end it. It was a very enjoyable and memorable moment. It was just fun to go against some of the top athletes around the country. The competition down there was unreal."
Hirsbrunner turned in a lifetime best performance in winning the 300-meter hurdles in a school-record time of 43.77 seconds. It was her first Kansas Relays title. Her time broke the previous school record she set of 43.94 seconds while winning the WIAA Division 2 state championship.
"I don't think I would have done it if I wasn't at Kansas (Relays)," she said. "I'm used to running against the competition in Wisconsin. The competition with all of the different runners pushed me to run faster."
Now she has her sights set on breaking the Division 2 state meet record in the 300 hurdles, which is owned by Jefferson's Mikaela Grant. Grant ran a 43.63 during prelims at the state meet in 2015.
"That is definitely the goal," Hirsbrunner said of breaking the record in the 300 hurdles. "It's a high goal. If I keep working hard I can achieve it. I just have to keep on improving."
Hirsbrunner, a University of Wisconsin-Madison track and field recruit, had the opportunity to meet with other top runners in the hurdles from across the country. She saw one common face - Benton-Shullsburg's Emma Lawrence who finished ninth in the 300 hurdles.
"It was really fun meeting new people and getting to share something I do," Hirsbrunner said. "It was fun to learn about the college plans some of them have for next year."
The Kansas Relays is different than a traditional track meet in Wisconsin because of its scope. It draws the elite participants in every event from high schools across the country. Athletes have to meet event time requirements to earn a spot in the meet.
"It's a national track meet where you have runners from all over coming together at the same place," she said. "You see top competition you usually don't see in Wisconsin."
Hirsbrunner also claimed two other medals - seventh in the 100 hurdles (15.25) and ninth in the high jump (5 feet, 2 inches). Her lifetime best in the high jump is 5-5. Hirsbrunner is the only athlete in the history of the Monroe girls track program to medal in four events at state in the same year.
"I just want to keep working to improve my times," she said.
Hirsbrunner is a versatile athlete who excels in a variety of events. It will be interesting when it comes to the WIAA Division 2 Monroe regional on May 12 what events she competes in besides the 300 hurdles.
Hirsbrunner said she would like to run the 100 high hurdles and try to get to state in that event. The Cheesemakers could also use her in either the 1,600, 800 or 400 relays, which all qualified for state last season.
Hirsbrunner is not taking anything for granted with about one month to go until the regional meet.
"You have to work hard to achieve your goals," she said. "I have to take every practice seriously because soon all of these practices will be over because I'm a senior. That is kind of bittersweet."
When asked about her hobbies, Hirsbrunner said, "Track is my entire life. I spend my extra time working on my technique and doing drills in the backyard and basement with my dad, mother and brother. I lift weights. Our whole family is into track. When I do have time, I like spending it with family and friends."
