Former Hudson Track Star Competes at Penn Relays

Without much sleep or food, and slightly jetlagged after a flight delay from Minnesota, Sharyn Dahl still smiled at her surroundings. 

She was exactly where she wanted to be. 

The former track star, now running at the University of Minnesota, took to the surface at the Penn Relays, one of  the United States' oldest track & field traditions.

Kicking off the occasion—Event 101, Dahl ran in the College Women's 400-meter hurdles championship against top runners from other Division 1 schools. 

With her step on the same hallowed surface once touched by Bruce Jenner, Carl Lewis and, more recently, Usain Bolt, Dahl forgot about the flight delays, lack of sleep and injuries that preceded her arrival at this point. 

"It was hectic, but you have to be ready regardless of the circumstances," said Dahl, who finished 14th of 55 participants. "It's a memory. I'm not super happy with my race though. That was unfortunate, but it was still exciting to be here." 

Really, Dahl was excited to be anywhere after missing all but one outdoor meet last season with a stress fracture in her left shin. 

"I was ready to come back," Dahl said. "It was a bad year." 

The injury slowed a promising running career that began at Hudson. With the Raiders, she was a two-time Wisconsin Division 1  champion in the 300-meter hurdles. In leading her team to the 2007 state championship, Dahl clocked a career-best time of 44.11 in the title race as a senior. She also slummed it on the tennis court, and owns the school record for career wins. 

Want more? She lettered twice in basketball and was an honor student who graduated 12th in her 2007 class. 

After redshirting as a freshman with the Gophers, she finished her sophomore season by competing in nine meets, and won the 400-meter hurdles at two meets. 

In her first Penn Relays event, running in heat 4, lane 9, Dahl said she never found a rhythm. 

"I was physically warmed up," she said. "I don't want to make excuses, but I felt a little tired early and then felt like I was playing catch up from hurdle one. If you think in this race, you know it's not going to be a good one." 

While she's already looking forward to next year, a shorter term goal is next month's Big Ten Meet. 

"That's awesome because we'll have next week to recover and be ready to go," she said. "[The Penn Relays] was just one more step along in the training process. It's still all about Big Tens." 

When she's not running, Dahl is all about brushes, charcoal and canvas. 

"One of my favorite thing to do is draw and paint." Dahl said. "Any art that I do, when it's about something I love, it turns out better, and I enjoy the process of creating it. Someday, maybe I'll do that on the side, paint and draw pictures for people." 

Her prized artistic expressions marry her love of running with her home state. She attended a meet while in high school that featured former Badgers Chris Solinsky and Simon Bairu, each of whom went onto to accomplish great things on the track. Solinsky won eight state championships while at Stevens Point Area Senior High School, then five NCAA Division 1 titles at Wisconsin. He's also the American 10,000 meters record holder with a time of 26:59.60. 

Dahl worked up a charcoal drawing and Solinsky autographed it. 

"He wanted a copy, actually, but I never sent it," Dahl said. "I probably should." 

If not, Solinsky should understand the need for Dahl's main passion to come first. 

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College Women's 400m Hurdles Championship Results (Top 20):

1. Leslie Njoku, Georgia Tech, 58.11.
2. Ugonna Ndu, Florida, 58.79. 
3. Megan Duncan, Penn State, 59.07.
4. Alexandra Tanner, Dartmouth, 59.07.
5. Danielle Aromashodu, Florida Atlantic, 59.15.
6. Amber Allen, South Carolina, 59.54.
7. Talisha Lee, Mississippi State, 59.55.
8. NaTasha Blair, Purdue, 60.12.
9. Amani Bryant, Florida, 60.17.
10. Janica Austin, South Carolina, 60.20.
11. Amanda Seigworth, Slippery Rock, 60.25.
12. Ann-Marie Clarke, Indiana, 60.26.
13. Radiance Basden, South Carolina, 60.29.
14. Sharyn Dahl, Minnesota, 60.43.
15. Jenea McCammon, North Carolina A&T, 60.47.
16. Kyra Caldwell, Columbia, 60.47.
17. Jasmine Isley, Georgia Tech, 60.50.
18. Asia Rawls, Eastern Michigan, 60.55.
19. Sararesa Hudson, N.C. Central, 60.65.
20. Sonni Austin, Clemson, 60.81.