GALION — Despite not getting quite the end of her senior year like she expected, Kerrigan Myers has still made quite the accomplishment — she has been named a 2020 New Balance All-American for the indoor track nationals in the 60-meter hurdles.
Although the meet could not be held due to COVID-19, the committee looked at each athlete’s times over the beginning of the season to where they had to stop, and they awarded the top six with the All-American status.
“Kerrigan worked very hard since November for this honor. This was her goal for the indoor season, so I am very happy the NSAF (National Scholastic Athletics Foundation) decided to name her an All-American based on her times this season. It is a well-deserved honor for her. She had the 4th fastest time going into the meet and the top six are awarded with All-American status,” Galion track coach Todd Roston said.
Myers was quite surprised at first because she did not expect the honors to be given out with the meet being canceled, but she still feels very humbled with the award because she has worked very hard to get that title.
“Whether that meet was canceled or not, I still think I would have made All-American even though I was ranked 10th in the nation — every meet I was dropping time,” Myers said.
Throughout high school, Myers has competed in a number of events — pole vault, long jump, high jump, 100 meter hurdles, 100-meter dash, 300-meter hurdles, 200-meter dash, 4×100-meter relay, and the 400-meter dash — though her main events are the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, 4×100-meter relay, and the 200-meter dash.
“The titles that I hold are County Running MVP, MOAC Running MVP, 100-meter hurdle Regional and District champion, the 100-meter hurdle State Champion, and I wanted to repeat making All-American at the Outdoor New Balance Nationals,” Myers said.
In December, Myers signed with the University of Nebraska at Lincoln to further her academic and athletic career. She will enter the Pre-Vet program, and for track she will participate in the 100-meter hurdles, 200-meter dash, high jump, long jump, shot put, 800m run, and javelin.
With the spring track season still uncertain, Myers is hopeful the season can still happen, but is keeping her momentum going to prepare herself for the next level just in case it doesn’t.
“I am staying in shape. I’m not allowed to have any contact with my coaches. They are allowed to call and text me, but they are not allowed to coach me face-to-face. With other states canceling their spring sports season, I am only hoping that we are able to have a season once the stay-at-home order is lifted. I have a state record and championship to win, and I’m not going to let what’s going on take that away from me,” Myers said.