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Athena Winner Jenna Severson to Run for the Badgers
By: Karen Myhrman
As soon as the starting gun is fired, St. Anthony hurdler Jenna Severson is ready to gun-it herself. Jenna has made it to the State Track and Field Meet for the past two years and was the State Champion in the 300 meter hurdles last year. Because of her noteworthy feats, not just in track but in soccer as well, Jenna has been named this year's Athena Award winner. Her excellence in athletics has also given Jenna the opportunity to compete on scholarship at a Division I school for track next year.
The Athena Award is given annually to a top senior female athlete who shows great accomplishment in a multitude of sports at St. Anthony. As a three-time All-Conference winner in track, three-time All-Conference winner in soccer, eighth place competitor in the 400 meter dash at state and the state champion in the 300 meter hurdles, Jenna Severson has deservingly received this award. Jenna's success in athletics is a combination of very focused work and natural talent. She only recently took up triple jumping and already took third place in the section track meet last year, with her best jump at 35 feet, 8 inches. In the off season she works at strengthening her core and arms to give her an extra edge when the track season comes around.
Next year Severson plans to run track at a Big Ten university, the University of Wisconsin-Madison. However, she will have to run the 400 meter hurdles since they do not have 300 meter hurdles in collegiate track. Being a part of such a huge program will be a big change for Severson, though not unmanageable. For the time being, Jenna takes great pride in being able to represent a small school like St. Anthony. Commented Severson, "Since we come from small schools we don't get the level of exciting competition in most circumstances. I want to give everyone the chance to watch an exciting race where the underdog comes out on top." Jenna's determination and passion for athletics are sure to be potent ingredients to her future success in sports.
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