By Allan Johnstone
Brenna Porter, a junior hurdler from Brigham Young University, lined up for the first time ever Saturday at Hayward Field for the Pepsi Team Invitational. Her event was the women’s 400-meter hurdles, but for her it was about more than just the event.
“It was super fun just because I have always dreamed of running on Hayward Field,” said an out-of-breath Porter. “Ever since I was a freshman in high school, it has been a goal.”
The conditions at Hayward Field weren’t ideal: There was a heavy flow of rain throughout the afternoon and gusts of wind up to 49 mph. But that wasn’t going to put a damper on Porter’s mood.
“We expected it to be crazy,” she said. “But I’m from Logan, Utah … so it was fine.”
Porter started in Lane One and had a solid start that allowed her to feel comfortable.
“It was nice having the tailwind from the get-go because then you could get out strong and keep to your stepping pattern,” she said. “I knew I wasn’t going to set a PR, but it was just fun to come out and compete.”
Porter said the wind didn’t mess with her stepping pattern.
“Usually I make it to the seventh hurdle — then I have to switch,” she said. “So it was right when the wind hit that I had to switch anyways.” But she added: “When you come around the home stretch, you can definitely feel that wall.”
Porter was able to finish strong down the home stretch and clinch first place with a time of 58.83 seconds, .ahead of Hanna Tarleton from Washington, who finished in 59.55.
Porter has plans to make a return trip to Hayward Field, which will host the NCAA championships June 6-9.
“I’ve never qualified for nationals, so that’s the next goal,” she said. “Keeping working, keep improving myself so maybe I can get here in a few months.”
