Columbus North’s Emerson Chambers runs to victory in the 100-meter hurdles during the May 20 Columbus North Sectional.
Tommy Walker | For The Republic
As a three-sport athlete, Emerson Chambers hasn’t been able to devote all of her athletic focus to track and field.
But the Columbus North sophomore made it to track workouts when she could during the offseason, and this year, her efforts have paid big dividends. She won the the 100-meter hurdles and anchored the winning 4×100 relay team at the Bloomington North Regional and will be competing in both events at Saturday’s Girls Track and Field State Finals.
“I’ve always had a love for track,” Chambers said. “I did it throughout middle school, as well, whereas soccer, I just started freshman year and gymnastics, I took a little break between middle school in high school. But I also run in the offseason because I love it so much.”
Chambers ran a personal-best 14.62 seconds in the 4×100 at the regional, which is just a couple tenths off Debie Gedeon’s school record. Chambers also teamed with sophomore Avery Johnson, junior Lily Miller and senior Sierra Newell to run a school-record 49.47 in winning the 4×100 relay.
“I just think that I personally got better this year,” Chambers said. “I didn’t really pay attention to who I was going against. I just try to be confident and run my race, just do my best and put all what I have out there.”
Between the 100 hurdles and 4×100 this season, Chambers also ran the 100. The 100 is contested right after the 110 hurdles, and there is only one event between the 100 and 4×100.
Chambers finished fifth in the regional in the 100. In the sectional and regional she ran prelims in both the 100 and 100 hurdles, then finals in both of those races and the 4×100 relay.
“My team is super motivating, and they keep me on track and motivate me to do my best, so I’m really grateful for that,” Chambers said.
“She has phenomenal talent,” North coach Rick Sluder added. “If we asked Emerson to run the 4×400, she’d run it. If we asked her to try long jump, she’d try it. She’s just a heck of a worker and loves track and field. She’s just really that whole package there of hard work and talent and enthusiasm like crazy. She always a smile on her face.”
Chambers is seeded 12th out of 27 state qualifiers in the 100 hurdles, based on regional times. The top nine advance to the finals and earn medals.
“Last year, Emerson was learning high school track and was a very strong runner,” Sluder said. “This year, she just continued to work hard, and she would swing out for conditioning before gymnastics started. Then immediately when gymnastics was over, she was back out with us again. I know she would run some on the weekends, so her work ethic is really strong. She’s just a phenomenal hard worker mixed with great talent.”
