Waldner named all-state in two events

A Dexter teen who competed at the state level in girls track took home a pair of medals over the recent weekend.

Makayla Waldner, sophomore daughter of Bob and Kim Waldner of Dexter, is a multi-sport athlete who seems to find success in everything she does.

Competition is in her blood.

Waldner qualified last week to compete at the state level for the second consecutive year. She was Dexter's only qualifier this year.

She travelled to Lincoln University at Jefferson City, Mo., and competed in the 100-meter hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles.

The two-day competition began on Friday with preliminary heats leading up to the final event on Saturday.

In the 300-meter hurdles, Waldner took second place with a time of 45.83 seconds--barely missing the mark she set last week of 45.55 that changed the school record.

She lost to Kendra Perren, a senior from DeSoto, Mo., who crossed the line with a time of 44.80 seconds.

"Winning state runner-up was so exciting," Waldner said. "We had to run that one twice, because three girls fell down when we started. It was like a domino effect."

Waldner had major respect for her competition, noting that she has competed against Perren several times.

In the 100-meter hurdles, Waldner finished in seventh place with a time of 15.88 seconds.

The first place athlete in this competition was the same girl who won in the 300-meter hurdle race--Kendra Perren. Perren ran an impressive 14.75 seconds, a full three-tenths of a second ahead of second place.

Medals were awarded for the first eight places in each competition.

Waldner, a sophomore, was among the youngest in each of the categories in which she participated. That's a distinction she is very proud of and one she hopes will give her better experience going into her junior and senior years.

"It definitely gives me a taste of what I have to look forward to," she said.

Waldner is a true athlete--capable of competing in virtually any sport.

She's active in track, tennis, basketball, football and soccer. In three of those sports she competed at the state level this year--a distinction not just anyone can claim.

After Saturday's competition the family rushed home, but not to relax around the house after two busy days. She had a state cup soccer competition in Elizabethtown, Ky., on Sunday.

Her mother said she's very proud of Makayla and understands how difficult it can be to keep up with schoolwork and even one sport, let alone five.

"A lot of times we take the homework on the road," Kim Waldner said.

While some might question whether five sports is hard on the body, Makayla Waldner feels the work has been beneficial to her.

"I feel like I don't get injured as much, because every day I'm working [different muscles,"] she said. "I love it."