Second isn’t a bad place for Jess Vedbraaten.
The junior is a standout hurdler for the Badger-Greenbush-Middle River/Freeze co-op track team. Vedbraaten lives about 20 miles north of Thief River Falls; that means frequently she is running the hurdles against Thief River Falls High School’s Meleah Biermaier, a former state 300 hurdles champion.
“She’s beaten me every time we’ve run against each other,’’ Vedbraaten said. “And I like winning.’’
Vedbraaten doesn’t go into a race expecting to beat Biermaier, ‘’not with the times she puts down. But it helps me whenever I run against Meleah. I usually have a faster time myself.’’
How much that competition helps Vedbraaten in her ultimate goal of qualifying for the state track meet will be determined this week.
ADVERTISEMENT
Vedbraaten takes the No. 2 seed in the 100 hurdles and the No. 3 seed in the 300 hurdles races in the Section 8A track meet Saturday in Ada. There will be no Biermaier in the way, as Thief River Falls competes at the Class AA level.
The top two finishers in each event at the section, as well as all entrants who meet state-qualifying standards, advance to next week’s state track meet.
“Jess’ question before most meets is if Thief River Falls will be there,’’ BGMR/Freeze co-coach Zach Green said. “She know it will be tough to get firsts if Meleah is there.
“You always race for second against Meleah, she’s so tough. But that’s good for Jess. It’s really helped her. All of her best times have been when she’s run against Meleah. I think Jess has a good shot at winning both hurdles at the section. She’s running really well in the 100s and her times are coming down in the 300s.’’
For Vedbraaten, the retention factor will be the key. While she doesn’t win running against Biermaier, those are the races where she runs her best times.
“Meleah pushes me and it makes me a better hurdler,’’ Vedbraaten said. “I just have to remember that feeling of running against her, of getting out of the starting blocks fast and keep pushing yourself throughout the race.’’
Comeback from surgery
ADVERTISEMENT
Vedbraaten was close to state last season, finishing third in the 100 hurdles at the 8A meet. A lot has happened since then.
In November, Vedbraaten underwent back surgery, missing the end of the volleyball season and a good portion of the basketball season. “It was very difficult, sitting and watching,’’ Vedbraaten said. “You feel like your teammates need you, but all you can do is cheer and encourage them.’’
Then there were the track implications from the surgery. Vedbraaten said she’ll never be able to triple jump again because of the pounding the back takes in the event. She hasn’t been able to long jump or pole vault this season, but hopes to compete in those events next season.
“I was worried if my back could take all the pounding in the hurdles, or if I’d have to stop running them all together,’’ she said. “There was a lot of anxiety and stress. Then I started working out and it did hurt.
“But it got better and better. My back still hurts. But it’s not as much as before I had the surgery.’’
Vedbraaten has overcome the back surgery and is posting her fastest times on the track. She still hasn’t overtaken Biermaier, but she does hope to beat the 8A field Saturday.
“She’s racing to win,’’ Green said. “She’s finding an extra gear this year. Part of it is because of the training she’s put in. And part of it is a will to win that either you do or don’t have.
“It’s an X factor. Some kids are just more competitive than others. And I think Jess has that competitiveness.’’
ADVERTISEMENT
