Autumn Wood Mead Year: Junior Sport: Track Event: Hurdler

Autumn Wood was a nationalcaliber roller skater in elementary school and though she rarely buckles on the wheels these days, the experience has served her well.

The Mead junior has the state’s fastest time in the 300-meter hurdles (44.84 seconds) and is one of the leaders in the 100-meter hurdles (15.7).

“That definitely helped as far as conditioning,” Wood said of her past experience, “especially getting used to that kind of workout. Building up your legs, you get used to that type of workout mode.”

A season of cross country running and a winter of serious workouts also helped when Panthers coach Annette Pedersen asked Wood to add the 400 last Thursday for a crucial dual meet with University.

“She’s really strong, she does quarter-mile workouts for the 300s and she’s always ran a good leg on the (state-champion and now stateleading) 1,600 relay,” Pedersen said.

Wood responded by running a GSL-leading 59.2, which put her among the state’s elite in the 400. She won the 300 hurdles just 20 minutes later.

“I would like to run it as one of my events, but I like hurdles better,” Wood said. “I have to make a choice. I wish they were more spread out (during a meet schedule). I like doing the 400.”

It’s another event where she rolls over the competition.