Columbus North’s Owen Russell, center, edges past South Dearborn’s Zachary Cassini, left, and Lawrenceburg’s Ryan Hinthorne in the 110-meter hurdles at the North Sectional May 22.
Nicholas Shaw | For The Republic
Owen Russell had a painful junior track season, but the Columbus North senior has experienced nothing but great health this season.
Russell’s senior year became even more pleasant last week after he finished second in both the 110- and 300-meter hurdles at the Bloomington North Regional to qualify for Friday’s Boys Track and Field State Finals in both events.
“I think it’s been a long time coming,” Russell said. “Sophomore year, I was doing great at regional, and hit (a hurdle), and last year, I was battling injury all year. So being able to finally go back-to-back in these events I’ve been working at so hard the past three years, it’s really a crazy feeling. I wanted this so bad, and I’m glad I could finally piece it together.”
Russell tore a hamstring in the first indoor meet last year. He still ran and made it to regional in both hurdle races.
“I just kept running through it all year, making it worse,” Russell said. “It just wasn’t the right time. I’m really peaking (now), and I’m feeling great.”
“He’s always been very good for us, and this year, everything clicked,” North coach Rick Sluder added. “The injuries stayed away. His performance has been strong and consistent at practice, and it really allowed Owen to have the season that he’s been waiting for and that we knew we had in him. We really saw what Owen was capable this whole season, and it showed with two state performances.”
Owen Russell
After winning the Columbus North Sectional in both events, Russell ran personal-bests of 15.11 seconds in the 100 hurdles and 40.15 in the 300 hurdles at the regional.
“It definitely boosted my confidence a lot,” Russell said. “I felt empowered knowing how much faster I’ve gone in just the last two meets. Going into the 300s, just having the idea in my mind that it’s all-or-nothing, it’s now-or-never, and it’s just leaving it all out on the track.”
Russell narrowly missed making it to state in a third event. His 4×400 relay team finished fourth in the regional, a fraction of a second out of the third-and-final qualifying spot.
“He’s just a really hard worker, and he took on the 4×400 with us and he’s run excellent splits on that,” Sluder said. “He’s our second-best 4×400 runner, and he’s been a good senior leader for us, so I’m just really proud of Owen all the way around — leadership, hard work, performance, talent — he’s really shown the whole package this season for us.”
The state meet likely will be the last track meet for Russell. He is headed to Indiana University, where he plans to major in advertising.
“I just want to leave a lasting effect on this program, hopefully, just leave my mark,” Russell said. “I’m glad our sprints team is finally to the point where we can rely on ourselves. We’re getting pretty self-sufficient over here.”
