Laehn earns State track medal, competes at Senior Spotlight meet to wrap up impressive career

by Beth Kraft

Shanna Laehn’s quiet demeanor may hide the fierce competitor that lies within to a point, but the Mondovi senior’s skills on the track could not be ignored this past spring.

A hurdle specialist who was also pleasantly surprised by her success in the 100 meter dash to close out the 2015 season, Laehn, known to some as “Flash,” certainly lived up to her nickname this season.

A three-sport athlete at Mondovi High School, Laehn became the first trackster in school history to qualify for State in three individual events. She was also the lone Mondovi runner to hit the track at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse this year, competing in the 100 meter hurdles, 300 meter hurdles and 100 meter dash during the 2015 WIAA Division 2 State Track Meet, held June 5-6. 

“It just means that all of my hard work really paid off,” said Laehn of the accomplishment. “I’m just really glad how it all ended up.”

Not only did Laehn compete in those events, she also qualified for finals in all three and landed on the podium in the 300 meter hurdles, finishing sixth with a time of 46.07 seconds.

She also finished ninth in the 100 meter hurdle finals with a time of 15.99 seconds and was 10th in the 100 meter dash in 13.33 seconds.

“After my 100 hurdle race and my 100 dash, I was kind of upset with my times,” shared Laehn. “But the 300 is what I really look forward to, so I gave it my all and just went for it.”

Having qualified to compete in the 300 meter hurdles at State as a junior, Laehn says she knew she had a good shot at a repeat appearance at UW-La Crosse in the hurdles. Tacking the 100 meter dash onto her schedule came as an added bonus.

“I didn’t really know about the 100 dash because they just threw me in it,” she explained. “That was surprising to me [to qualify for State in the 100 meter dash].”

Mondovi co-head track coach Paul Bielmeier says if anyone had suggested at the beginning of the year that Laehn would be a State finalist in the 100 meter dash, he wouldn’t have believed it.

“Her top-end speed really started to stand out to us about halfway through the year so we decided to have her try the 100 and she did well,” he explained. “She continued to surprise us and improved greatly.”

Running the 100 meter dash in only a few late-season meets, Laehn’s performances quickly showed why she’s known as “Flash.”

At the Dunn-St. Croix Conference meet, which saw the Mondovi girls bring home the conference championship plaque, Laehn scored 38 of the team’s 133.5 points herself by taking the top spot in the 100 meter dash and both of her hurdles events in addition to a second place finish in the triple jump.

Laehn says she later had to give up the triple jump due to a nagging heel injury, choosing instead to focus on her other events.

She followed up a strong showing at the DSC meet with repeat performances at Regionals, sweeping the top spots in all three events on her home track. She also claimed the Sectional crown in both the 100 and 300 meter hurdles while finishing third in the 100 meter dash with a blistering time of 12.77.

In addition to picking up her fair share of hardware this year, Laehn was also invited to participate in the 2015 Senior Spotlight Meet, held June 13 at the University of Dubuque in Dubuque, Iowa.

“Being there was really cool because there are people there from different states,” she explained.

Wearing the red and white of Team Wisconsin, Laehn competed against senior stars from Illinois and Iowa in the 100 and 400 meter hurdles, taking eighth place (16.85) and fifth place (1:08.94), respectively.

It was Laehn’s first time stepping up to the 400 meter hurdles from the 300, and the extra distance proved a bit challenging.

“It was a little bit difficult because I ran a regular 300 and didn’t really pace myself out,” she admitted. “I’ll have to work on that.”

Laehn will have to get used to that extra 100 meters, as she plans to join the track team at UW-Stout this fall. She is undecided on a major for now, but is interested in possibly pursuing physical therapy.

“I’ve heard really great things about [the track program] and the coaches there really spoke to me,” said Laehn, detailing what set the Blue Devils apart from other schools.

UW-Eau Claire and St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minn., were also on Laehn’s list.

But rewind to the start of Laehn’s junior season and competing at the college level hadn’t yet entered her mind as a possibility.

“I didn’t even think about State, either,” she admitted.

Making the cut for State in the 300 meter hurdles as a junior was a difference-maker. 

“I believe that success really gave her a lot of confidence,” said Bielmeier. “This confidence paired with her tremendous work ethic and determination is what I believe allowed her to be so successful this year.”

Laehn pulled out all the stops leading up to her senior season, working on her hurdle skills and lifting weights last summer.

It’s apparent that her hard work paid off. She dropped over two seconds from her 300 meter hurdle time, and made it to State in two events she didn’t even compete in as a junior.

“I wanted to place in the finals [at State] for sure...and my other goal was to get on the podium, and I did that, too,” said Laehn.

Thanks to her natural speed combined with a strong work ethic, it’s no wonder why Laehn went from being a two-time Most Improved award winner to receiving the MHS girls track team’s Most Valuable Athlete honor this year.

“You can improve a lot in four years if you buy in to the program and work hard,” Bielmeier pointed out. “[Shanna] is a great example for young kids and athletes to look up to.”

Bielmeier says Laehn’s determination, work ethic and talent bode well for her future in the highly-competitive Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

As he said at the team’s recent banquet, if Laehn is anywhere near her opponents headed down the stretch, “you better look out, because she’s coming for you.”