Chyna has been a major contributor since she was a freshman to the Parkway Central Colts. Chyna recently just committed to DII powerhouse Pitt State. Everyone in our track and field family is very excited to get the season started and put the cherry on top of a great high school career.
Mo.milesplit.com: Coach Burnett, what were your first impressions of Chyna when you first met her?
Coach Burnett: The first time I saw Chyna she was flying around the track at practice. As a freshman, she wasn't shy about competing with the older girls on the squad. On the track, she had a strong yet graceful gate that you don't always see with a sprinter. But the best part was her smile. Chyna truly enjoyed not only the competition but the comradery of the team.
When did you know she could be truly great?
Chyna didn't start hurdling until her sophomore year. Hurdles are not for the weak. It takes a tremendous amount of work on technique and strategy. And it hurts. The bumps and bruises are part of the event. But even as a rookie, Chyna did not let that stop her. She went over the hurdles in practice, again and again, watching the video to make improvements on her form. It takes a special combination of speed, tenacity, and technique to excel in hurdles and she had it all.
When did Chyna make her biggest breakthrough?
Chyna's breakthrough came at the conference meet her sophomore year. It was the only the sixth time she had run the 300 hurdles but the first time where she was able to combine her speed with hurdling ability. With a significant drop in time, she finished second. After that race, we knew Chyna was going to be a state medalist.
How does her weekly training look?
During track season Chyna spends three days a week on sprint workouts and two days a week working on hurdling technique. She also adds weight training to her regimen twice a week.
Is Chyna a year-round track girl? Does she have other talents in addition to hurdling?
Chyna runs track in the spring and summer but also plays basketball in the winter.
What do you think makes Chyna great as an athlete?
Chyna is a great combination of amazing speed, flexibility, and competitiveness. She is never happy with less than her best and is willing to put the time in at practice to reach her goals.
Mo.milesplit.com: What made you decide to do track and field?
What do you love about track and field?
What are your goals for this upcoming season and future in the sport of track and field?