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At 5-foot-7, Brian Zahnle is not your typical hurdler. But his height, ironically, got him running hurdles in the first place.
“I guess I got into it because people told me I couldn’t do it because I was so short,” the Fulton senior said. “I started running them in middle school just to prove them wrong, and it progressed from there.”
It’s progressed so far, in fact, that Zahnle will finish his time as a high-school athlete at the Class 1A state track meet, starting Thursday in Charleston.
He won both the 110 highs and 300 intermediates at last week’s 1A Bureau Valley Sectional, clocking a 15.4 to win the 110s by three-tenths of a second, then turning in a 40.69 to win the 300s by the same margin.
“To be honest, I’m a little surprised that I made it to state in both,” Zahnle said. “I think my parents and coaches expected me to be down there, but I never looked at it that way.”
Zahnle, who enjoys the 300 hurdles more “because it’s easier for me to get over the hurdles,” has never before been to O’Brien Stadium’s blue track.
He has advanced to a state meet before, however, as he earned a trip to the 1A state wrestling meet at Champaign’s Assembly Hall this winter as the 125-pound champion at the Rock Falls Sectional.
“I expect this to be a lot like that experience,” Zahnle said. “I remember being so amazed when I walked into the arena in Champaign at how big it all was, and my coaches are telling me it’ll be the same way when I get to the big track in Charleston.”
Zahnle has been consistent all year in both events, but he’s feeling more comfortable in the 300s lately since fixing a flaw in his footwork.
“At the beginning of the year, I was stuttering [my feet] real bad and really decelerating at the hurdles,” Zahnle said. “I was always trying to go over them with my right leg no matter what; last week, before sectionals, I started to go over them with my left leg, too, and I’m happy with the progress I’ve made.”
Zahnle, who carries a 3.3 GPA, plans to attend either Central College in Pella, Iowa, or Ashford University in Clinton next year. Should he go to Central, football and track may both be in the cards; at Ashford, he would solely run track.
For now, though, his focus is on the much nearer future.
“Thursday, my goal is just to get into the finals,” Zahnle said. “I’m going to soak up as much of the whole experience as I can, but I just really want the chance to run again on Saturday.”
Zahnle file
School: Fulton
Year: Senior
Sports: Football, track, wrestling
State qualifier in: 110 hurdles (15.4, seeded 14th), 300 hurdles (40.69, seeded 8th)
FYI: Will be making first trip to state track & field meet this weekend. ... Qualified for 1A state wrestling meet for first time in February after winning 125-pound title at Rock Falls sectional.