Warm weather and gun starts can mean only one thing – track season has arrived. While many LCM students are just beginning their track careers, senior hurdler Kirty Weatherly is pretty much a veteran at this point, as she enters her sixth year in the competitive sport.

Weatherly’s practices can get challenging, as she typically has to spring 300’s, which can be a grueling task.

“Running 300’s and having to sprint them full out and running usually ten a week is death, but it pays off,” she said.

According to Weatherly, her preparation for a track meet starts with a prayer, then leads into a pep talk of telling herself she can do it, even when it hurts.

Because of all the hard work she put into track her sophomore year, she broke the school record for the 100-meter hurdles. Weatherly said she considers this her favorite experience so far in her six-year track career.

“After I finished the race, Coach Dashazo shared my time with me, then picked me up and spun me around to inform me I broke the record,” Weatherly said. “I was so happy and shaken, I couldn’t even speak.”

While she makes it seem easy, competing in hurdles has proven to be one of the more challenging races.

“You just really need to know technique and form really well, as well as having speed, and everything falls into place,” Weatherly said. “It’s pretty difficult and takes full focus.”

Weatherly has a burning passion for track and enjoys pushing herself to be better.

“My coach, Wesley Gruber, knows exactly what he’s doing,” she said. “He helps me fight through the pain so I can better myself.”

Weatherly said she not only plans to finish out her senior track year with a bang, but also looks forward to big things in fitness even after graduation.

“After high school I want to pursue a career in fitness and health in hopes of being a physical therapist or fitness trainer and one day open my own gym,” she said.