As junior Courtney Daniel and senior Eva Abshire stood on the podium at the Regional Meet they felt a weight being lifted off their shoulders. The girls had just found out that they had qualified for the State Championship. 

Daniel finished the meet in first place for both shot put and discus. Abshire placed first in the 300-meter hurdles.

Going into the track season, the girls had similar goals of qualifying for State. 

The state qualifiers have found inspiration through their teammates – sophomore Emilee Smith (pole vault) and sophomore Madison Staggs (hurdler).

With Smith and Daniel competing in events near one another, the two have been able to cheer one another on as they wait for their respective events.

Abshire and Staggs have formed a friendship as they both competed in hurdles. The two have been able to motivate each other and give advice when needed.

“Me and Maddie have been very close in competition all year,” Abshire said. “Just having her to push me everyday and racing each other each rep. Just really pushing each other each day.”

Aside from their team at school, the girls have found motivation with coaches outside of school. As a transfer from Porter High School Abshire has stayed in contact with her Porter track coach, who continues to be supportive of her.

“He was really influential to me. He was a really good mentor for me,” Abshire said.

Daniel has a virtual private coach who has given her advice to grow her success. She sends videos of her practices to the coach who analyzes her throws and gives her an in-depth analysis on what she can improve on.

The girls are at the University of Texas-Austin to compete in the State Championship today. Daniel started the day off strong with a third place finish in the shot put with a throw of 45-5.75. She went into the meet ranked seventh in the nation and seeded third at State.

Daniel is a returning state qualifier for shot put and first-time state qualifier for discus. 

After running her race at the Regional Meet, Abshire stood on the podium as she was given her medal to be crowned Regional Champion of the 300-meter hurdles. 

Abshire is hopeful she will carry that momentum to the State Meet to place in the top three in the 300-meter hurdles, where she is currently seeded fourth. 

As a senior, Abshire said attending State feels bittersweet since it is her last track meet.

“It’s kind of bittersweet, like if there were to be a last meet, State is definitely where I’d want to be for my last meet,” Abshire said.

The girls have been working hard all year in hopes to reach this moment. Now gearing up for State, Abshire and Daniel have practiced daily. 

“I’m practicing every day you know, just listening to my coaches,” said Abshire, a first-time State qualifier. “Just really be in the moment and excited for myself because this is what I’ve waited for and work for all year.”