Henderson clearing hurdles this season

For the first time in recent memory, the Texas A&M University – Commerce women’s track team has an athlete that is competeing in the 100-meter hurdles. Sunny Henderson, a sophomore kinesiology major, is in her second year with the track team. During the 2007 season, Henderson sat out the year, due to a torn hamstring. “It was depressing. I went from being one of the best to watching everyone else,” Henderson said about being injured in 2007. With the Lone Star Conference championship meet in a few weeks, Henderson reflected on what it was like entering this season, after sitting out last year due to her injury. “It was hard, it was like starting over, as far as getting in shape and everything,” Henderson said. Growing up in Daingerfield, Texas, Henderson ran track at Daingerfield High School. While at Daingerfield, Henderson competed in the 100-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles and the discus, long jump and triple jump events. During Henderson’s junior and senior years of high school, she was a state qualifying in both the 100 and 300-meter hurdle events. In addition to running hurdles for A&M-C, Henderson also throws in the javelin event. Henderson chose to major in kinesiology, with hopes to coach high school track, due in large part to coaches she had in junior high and high school. “I was blessed to have a group of wonderful coaches during junior high and in high school that I can call my friends for life! I want to have that same relationship with my own students someday,” Henderson said.In preparing for the LSC Championship meet, Henderson hold a season-best mark of 15.06 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles, and 120-8 in the javelin event. Henderson hopes to be break the 15 second barrier in the 100-meter hurdles, and to throw a provisional mark in the javelin event. When she isn’t in the classroom or on the track, Henderson enjoys spending time with her friends and playing other sports. “During the off-season, I like playing volleyball and tennis and hanging out with friends,” Henderson said. Next season, Henderson said she looks forward to “starting the season in shape.”Up next for Henderson, will be the Mean Green Twilight meet in Denton on Thursday, April 24, then she will prepare to compete in the LSC Championship meet May 2-4 in Abilene.