Track And Field: Benson/kms Junior Checks Off Her Goals

May 9—BENSON — Ava Noble got an offseason worth of motivation after last year's Class A State Track and Field Championship.

Competing for Benson/Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg, Noble was at state for the first time to compete in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles. She finished the 100 hurdles with a 12th-place time of 15.85 seconds. That time was .10 off the program record set by Lisa Arneson in 1982.

"I had just looked at the records right before her race," said Benson/KMS girls head coach Samantha VanHeuveln. "I was like: 'Ava, you almost broke the record.' She was like: 'Why didn't you tell me that when I was running? I would've run faster.'"

Now a junior, Noble remembered that series of events well.

"That's exactly what happened," Noble said. "I was like: 'You didn't tell me that like a minute before I ran?' I feel like that would have given me a tiny bit more motivation to break that."

That moment provided Noble the spark she needed to compile a record season for the Braves.

"I wanted to break it (in the) first meet," Noble said. "I kind of did, but it was hand-timed, so it didn't officially count. But I got it in the second meet."

She shattered Arneson's record with a time of 15.40 at the Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City Invitational on April 17. That time also qualified for the Hamline Elite Meet on April 25. Noble, along with Julia Claussen, Izzy Wirth and Carly Tolifson, also claimed the program's 4x200 record with a 1:48.76 at the Section 5A True Team championship on May 6. The previous record of 1:49.45 was set in 2002.

In hope of embarking on a record season, Noble got to work in the winter. She opted out of playing basketball at KMS and put her focus on track.

"I lifted in our school weight room three times a week," Noble said. "Then I went to my uncle Jason's gym and set up my hurdles in there. It was a small space but it worked. And then on Sundays, my dad and I drove to the Cities and just raced at the USA Track and Field indoor meets at the U of M and Bethel."

Noble continued: "I had a lot more confidence. I'd been working for it so I could definitely get things done."

It took a short time to put Noble's name in the record books in the 100 hurdles.

"Down at ACGC, it's like: 'We got a pretty nice tailwind here, so let's see what she can do,'" VanHeuveln said. "She broke it. And that previous record was when the hurdles were three inches shorter, which makes it that much more impressive."

Said Noble: "We got there and it was hot. It was supposed to be cold so that threw me off. I was dressed for the cold and I was sweating so much just walking in. It cooled down when we were in the blocks. I just thought about getting my arms right so they don't throw me off, get the feet right, snap down the lead leg and try to go faster."

That run of 15.40 is the third best time in Class A this season, according to Athletic.net. The top spot is held by Rushford-Peterson/Houston's Aubryana Boldt (15.26). The second spot is held by Holdingford's Rilee Breth (15.29). Breth put up that time in a race with Noble at the 5A True Team championships.

With that early season time, Noble got the invite to the Hamline Elite Meet, which pits the top performers in all three classes against each other.

The only Class A runner in the 100 hurdles field, Noble finished seventh at 15.86. The winner was Lakeville South's Eva Welsch at 14.88.

"It was a little intimidating, honestly," Noble said about being the only runner from her class. "I was hoping for a better time; it's something I got to work on, but it was such a good experience."

Throughout the season, VanHeuveln has seen Noble mature while managing high expectations.

"Last year, she was a lot more solitary, she'd only warm up with a few specific people that she was comfortable with," VanHeuveln said. "And now, she's basically training our seventh- and eighth-grade hurdlers and they follow her around like little duckies.

"She's just gotten that much more comfortable with being a leader and it's just been really cool to see."

Getting that record out of the way, Noble has another goal in mind as the postseason approaches.

"Before sections, I want to hit a 15 flat," Noble said. The 3A-North sub-section meet is on May 22 and the 3A championship is on May 29. "That's my number one goal."

And if Noble makes it back to state, will she make sure VanHeuveln informs her of any benchmarks?

"Yes," Noble said with a laugh. "Yes I will."