UT Tyler’s Hurdlers Jump at Chance to Compete at Nationals

Turner races in the 110-meter hurdles at the Carl Knight Invitation track and field meet April 12 at Stephen F. Austin State University. He has one of fastest times in DII. Photo by LANG WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY courtesy UT Tyler Sports Information.

By JULIANE FRUEH/Contributor

Two UT Tyler’s hurdlers are fighting for spots at the DII Outdoor Track & Field National Championships May 22-24 in Pueblo, Colorado.

Brandon Arenas, a junior kinesiology major, and Ashton Turner, a senior education major, are contenders in the 110-meter hurdles race.

Representing UT Tyler at the national level means a lot to them.

“Being able to say that you build a legacy at a school is going to speak wonders for years,” Turner said. “Being able to represent UT Tyler at nationals is not only what I want and the goal I had since coming here. It is my dream.”

Added Arenas, “Representing UT Tyler at nationals is a big goal for me. We do not have a lot of athletes representing us.”

Brandon Arenas represents UT Tyler at the Carl Knight Invitational track meet April 12 at Stephen F. Austin State University. He is hoping to qualify for the national championships in the 110-meter hurdles. Photo by LANG WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY courtesy UT Tyler Sports Information.

GETTING FASTER

Arenas improved his best by running 14.11. Last year his best mark was 14.33.

“I changed my hurdle form, mostly my arms, to get down faster and bring more speed to the hurdles,” Arenas said. “This year I focus on more speed on the weights and lifting heavier.”

Changes in practice, his mindset and training in the weight room helped him improve his form. His teammates and a competitive atmosphere at practice keep him focused.

“Every practice we come out there and compete,” Arenas said. “I am trying to beat my hurdle partners at practice.”

Arenas trains with Turner, who runs both the long- and short-distance hurdle races.

Turner improved his best time in the 110-meter hurdles by running 13.73. This is a school record and the first time a UT Tyler athlete has run this race in under 14 seconds.

“The goal is to become an All-American in the 110-meter hurdles,” Turner said.

Last year, Turner’s best mark was 14.01.

Hurdlers Brandon Arenas and Ashton Turner push each to be faster a practice April 7 at Grace Community School. Photo by JULIANE FRUEH.

TRAINING HARD

“A lot has changed, honestly. Especially, the intensity of how we are doing our workouts and drills,” Turner said. “Also, I am trying to maintain a healthy diet, taking creatine and protein supplements. I feel like that helped a lot maintaining my muscle.”

At a track meet at West Texas A&M this year, he ran the 400-meter hurdles in 51.33 to improve his best time by 0.65 seconds and set a school record.

Turner is fifth on qualifying in the 400-meter hurdles and sixth in the 110-meter hurdles. Arenas is 19th in the 110-meter hurdles. Only 20 athletes in each event qualify to compete at the championships.

The 110-meter hurdles is one of the most competitive events. According to Track & Field Results Reporting System, positions two to 20 are separated by 0.73 second.

“The toughest part is getting to the national meet,” track and field head coach David Kaiser said. “Especially an event like the hurdles where it truly does come down to hundreds of a second.”

Track and field head coach David Kaiser (on the right) supervises
a team practice with distance running coach Kirby Shepherd. Photo by JULIANE FRUEH.

PRAISE OF COACHES

The coaching staff is confident in the talent and work ethic of their hurdlers.

“They push and encourage each other every day,” Kaiser said. “They are super competitive and very talented.”

Springs coach Nick Anthony, who creates and adjusts their workouts, said both hurdlers put a lot of work into training and have consistently progressed.

“The intensity of the preparation for the race increases a noticeable amount,” Anthony said.

Both have a shot for national honors.

“There is no question that if they both get to the national championship meet, I do not think there is any reason in the world why they could not both make the final and leave us All-Americans,” Kaiser said.