News-Letter

Media Credit: Conor Kevit

It all started with the number seven.

In seventh grade, junior Kathy Horn joined her school's track team. Throughout middle school and into high school, Horn stuck mostly to running mid-distances, focusing on the 400- and 800-meter. But when she came to college, the number seven struck again.

"After a while I wanted to try something new, and decided to do the heptathlon."

The what?

The heptathlon, a track and field event consisting of seven events: 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-meter, long jump, javelin throw and 800-meter. When Horn decided to try this new thing, she was really signing up for six "something news."

Competing in seven events over two days is a challenge many athletes are afraid to face. For Horn, though, the challenge is exactly what draws her to the event.

"Kathy has always been excited by the prospect of such an intense task. She constantly tells me how much fun it is and how she looks forward to it," freshman teammate Anita Mikkilineni said. "I'm so proud she did so well, because completing her events is an accomplishment in itself."

Along with the pure accomplishment of completing the heptathlon, Horn has acquired a few other accomplishments as well. This past weekend, she placed fifth out of 15 in the Messiah Multi-Event Meet. She also stands second in the team's top 400-meter dash times of the 2006-2007 season and is the only Hopkins woman to compete in the heptathlon.

"I like the heptathlon, because it shows you what you are made of, and it tests your limits. It's a huge challenge physically and mentally," she said.

And if there's anything Horn loves more than the heptathlon, it's a mental challenge. As a civil engineering major, she's dedicated to giving her best in order to learn. This attitude is what made her pursue Hopkins after high school.

"I wanted a place where I could get a good education ... I chose Hopkins because it has a great engineering program."

Her quest for knowledge also led her to the heptathlon.

"I had to learn how to throw a javelin and a shot put, which I had never done before. There's always something new to work on, and there is plenty of room for improvement. Learning the strategies of each event has made me appreciate the sport as a whole," she said.

Continued...

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