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SAVANNAH, Ga. — Anisten Wortmann may not have brought home a medal from the USATF National Junior Olympic Championships, but the Hartington athlete gained something more valuable — a national-level experience and a hunger to improve.
Wortmann placed 10th in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.79 which didn’t move her along in the championships, but it did give her plenty of experience on a national level.
“I wasn’t really nervous, I was more excited for the opportunity to compete with some great athletes,” said Wortmann. “It gave me some things to work on and showed me I have a lot of things I can improve on to get better, and not just in track.”
She competed in the girls 15-16 division and also ran in a relay for the Olympus Track Club.
The 4x100 meter “mixed” relay, consisting of two boys and two girls circled the track in 46.61 seconds which placed the team ninth overall, just missing out on making it into the national finals by one spot.
“Losing teaches you a lot, I hate to lose,” Wortmann said. “It shows you where you are coming up short and keeps you humble. And it makes you work harder.”
She also realized track will help in every other sport she competes in, back here in Hartington at Cedar Catholic High School.
“Track is really great for any sport, I think everyone should run track,” she said. “You need to be able to sprint, run and jump in any sport you play. And there is no place to hide on the track, it’s just you and it’s all up to you.”
Wortmann is already analyzing ways to improve her technique.
“I watched the video of my hurdles race and saw my trail leg needs to get through the hurdles better and quicker,” she said. “It’s something I’ll definitely work on moving forward.”
For now, Wortmann has put away her track shoes but knows this experience will help her during the upcoming volleyball and basketball seasons.
“It showed me I have a lot of work to do to get better in every sport I compete in,” she said. “You’re never at your highest level of performance. There’s always something you can improve on.”
And if there’s one thing she’s taking away from Georgia, it’s this: “I just hate to lose.”
