As a track and field athlete, one typically competes as a runner, jumper or thrower. Sophomore Brittany Harrell does all three.
During the outdoor season, the multi-event athlete’s main focus is the heptathlon. The heptathlon involves seven events — long jump, javelin throw, 800m, 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200m — that are spread out over the two days.
“It’s very challenging at times, but I need to have a strong mindset and just be willing to give every ounce of energy that I have in those two days,” Harrell said.
Being a multi-event athlete is nothing new to Harrell. As a senior in high school, Harrell won the Mississippi Class 5A State title in the 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles, high jump, 4x400m, 4x800m and 4x1,600m. She also competed in the heptathlon at the Junior Olympics.
“Now it’s just natural for me,” Harrell said. “I’ve always been a hard worker, so it just came easy to me.”
Harrell really shines in competitions with her second-day performances. While the other women start to lose energy, Harrell is just hitting her stride.
Harrell was able to move up from fourth place to second at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays last weekend because of her two top-five finishes in the long jump and javelin throw on the second day of competition. Every meet that Harrell has been entered in the heptathlon, she has improved her standing on the second day of competition.
“By the second day, I’m going off of adrenaline, so I won’t really feel anything until that night and everything just hits me,” Harrell said.
“It usually takes me a good two days to get over it.”
Despite all the hard work Harrell puts into practicing all seven events, she wouldn’t trade it for just focusing on one.
“When I do all of those events, I know that everybody can’t do it, so it’s a challenge to me and gives me that extra edge and that extra boost of energy,” Harrell said.
As the Gators host this weekend’s meet, the Pepsi Florida Relays, Harrell will be competing in the 100m hurdle and javelin to help improve her score for her next competition in the heptathlon.
“This weekend, I’m focusing on getting better with my teammates and working on my hurdles and javelin,” Harrell said. “It’ll be easier when I get in the multi because of the higher competition this weekend with regular hurdlers and javelin throwers.”
