ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Windermere Observer: Alahni Wood

Which of your many events is your favorite?

I really like the triple jump – I think jumping is my favorite. But I'm better in hurdles. To me, (jumping) is the easiest.

What got you into track and field?

My mom said when I was little I used to run everywhere. She'd say, “Go get this;” I'd run to the kitchen. “Go get that;” I'd run and go get it. She thought, “Well, I'm just going to put her in track, because she likes to run everywhere.” Ever since then, it's been my sport.

What's it like to cap your high-school career with a silver at states?

I didn't start off doing hurdles. I was a sprinter doing the 100, but I was just slow. So my coach was like, “I know you can jump, so you can try hurdling.” I was like, “Hurdles? What?” She put me in there – I was so slow, running 16 (seconds). Then over the years, I just started learning how to three-step. It's been a journey. It's been amazing watching myself increase and my drop until it's really good – 13 seconds now from 16.

What's it like to be in an event typically favoring taller runners?

I do wish I was taller, because all the other hurdlers are so tall to me. My sophomore year, I was at state, and a girl was like, “You're only a sophomore?” I said yeah. She was like, “You're so little – I can't believe you made it this far!” So I was just like, “Yeah, I'm just fast, I guess.” Everybody's bigger than me. I don't know how I do it.

What's your favorite memory from the team here?

When I broke 13, that was amazing. Everybody was like, “Oh my God, you did it! You did it!” Last year, I did 14.1 at Florida relays, and then I did 14.01, I think, at districts. And I was still trying to hit 13, and I couldn't do it. This year, I tried again, tried again, tried again – and I could not hit 13. At regionals, the gun went off, but I thought somebody had false-started, so I stopped. But then everybody kept going, so I had to play catch-up, and playing catch-up got me in the 13s. I don't know how. That was weird. I guess I ran mad, because I was not supposed to get beaten, and I got second.

What is your favorite class?

I had Mind, Body and Fitness my sophomore year, and it was a good class to have toward my sports and stuff, because we would stretch and get a workout. And then I'd come out to the track and get a workout, so it was helping me out here, too.

What made you choose Florida A&M?

Well, my cousin goes there. All my family, they went there. I wanted to go there, but I didn't really want to go there if I had other choices. But then I saw they really care about you. My cousin, she said she really loves her school. She's participating in all the clubs and stuff, and she's like, “They really care about you.” I met my coach … She sounded like she really cared about me, too, and when I talked to other coaches trying to recruit me, they were saying the same things. But it's something about her that she was saying different from them that got me.

Have you thought of a major?

Yes, I want to study biology, pre-dentistry. I want to be an orthodontist. I love teeth. It sounds weird, but ever since I was little, I just wanted to do something with teeth. I love braces – I wanted them, but my parents said, “You don't need them.” I'm going to get those. [laughs]

Do you have a favorite animal?

I always loved dogs, but I want a hamster now. I always wanted a pet hamster.

– Zak Kerr