By BobHamar
bob.hamar@theindependent.com

The coaches saw a decent sprinter who maybe could be an excellent hurdler.

"I've been hurdling since eighth grade," Fischer said. "They (the coaches) were just like, 'You've got long legs so we'll put you in this event' and it went from there.

"I like it. I'm not as fast as some other girls. I can place pretty high, but I'm never going to win it. I'm better at jumping than running."

Those coaches knew what they were doing, and it didn't take long for Fischer to show it.

Fischer broke the Wood River high school 300-meter hurdles record in her first meet as a freshman. Later in the season, she broke the school record in the 100 hurdles.

"That wasn't a very good record," Fischer said of the 300 hurdles. "I didn't think I'd get the 100s. It was pretty fast."

Fischer broke her own school record in the 100 hurdles last week at the Wood River Invitational held in Shelton when she won her preliminary heat in 15.2 seconds.

"I didn't think she could run a 15.2 this early," Wood River coach Kevin Mayfield said. "Of course it was a nice day with a little wind behind her, not too hot and not too cold and a good track. I hope she can do better. I hope she hasn't peaked.

"With a little better technique on her trail leg, I think she can go faster."

Fischer hasn't been doing as well in the 300 hurdles early in the season. She won that event at the Wood River Invitational, but her 48.8 time was far below what she ran a year ago.

"I haven't been running very well in the 300s," Fischer said. "I've only run like 48.0. I hope to get back to about 46 by the Central Nebraska meet."

Mayfield isn't worried about Fischer. He said her times in the 300s will come down.

"The biggest thing is conditioning," Mayfield said. "She was sick (March 28) during the Central Catholic meet so she's a little behind. I think by the end of the year we'll get it down."

The state meet is what Fischer and Mayfield are concerned with the most. Fischer finished third in the Class C 100 hurdles last year despite suffering from mononucleosis at the time.

"I was pretty proud of third with that," Fischer said. "I'm hoping for better this year."

She also competed in the 300s at state, but didn't qualify for the finals. Mayfield said Fischer just didn't have the stamina required for that event after losing 18 pounds before the state meet.

Fischer also has been high jumping as well. She went 5-feet at the GICC/Knights of Columbus Invitational but didn't jump as well at the Wood River Invite.

Fischer ran the 200 at the GICC meet, but ran on the 1,600 relay the next week.

"She ran a 62-flat in her anchor of the four-by-four at the end," Mayfield said. "We're really pleased there."

But the hurdles are easily Fischer's best events. She said she has been working hard on her starts this season.

"I've been doing blocks a lot and just staying low," Fischer said. "I stood up sometimes (last year). I've practiced hard this year."

Mayfield said those starts aren't where they need to be yet, and neither is the finish.

"The big thing with the hurdles is we've been trying to work on her starts and her finishes," Mayfield said. "Her race has been fine. She just hasn't been getting off to a good start and she hasn't been finishing strong."

Fischer would like to get under 15.0 in the 100 hurdles this year. Added strength could be enough to get her there.

"I've been lifting more and working on my legs," Fischer said. "My legs are a lot stronger this year. We've been conditioning more in practice. I think that's been helping."

Fischer would appear a sure bet to make state both hurdle events. She's hoping to make it in at least one other event as well.

"I'm going to try and get in three this year," Fischer said. "Maybe at district I can go in the 200, but I don't know if I want to run that at state. It might be kind of bad.

"It would be good to go in three events this year."