Siebka

SLIPPERY ROCK — Hurdling has always come naturally to Morgan Siebka — perhaps it's because it runs in the family.

Starting as a seventh grader, Siebka, a sophomore at Slippery Rock High School, took to the hurdles and has been getting better ever since.

Siebka advanced to the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles. Friday, she ran a time of 16.01 seconds in the 100 hurdles to reach Saturday's semifinals.

She did not advance in the 300 hurldes, however.

Siebka got to the state meet with a strong showing at the District 10 Class AA championships, where she won the 100 hurdles with the same time she ran in the preliminaries at state — 16.01 — and was second in the 300 at 48.20.

“The reason I started is because my dad hurdled (at Clarion-Limestone High) and my mom (Slippery Rock High) did too,” said Siebka.

“The key thing in hurdling is to get the three steps down. I was able to do it in the seventh grade. I picked it up pretty fast,” Siebka added.

Siebka ran a 15.75 in the 100 hurdlers in an earlier meet this season, but her 16.01 at the district meet was her best since then.

“I had only run under 16 once, so I was happy at the district meet,” Siebka said. “There was a lot of good competition.”

With the 100 hurdles up first, Siebka was looking to get off to a flying start.

“The 100 is normally done fast ... I've done those a lot longer,” said Siebka. “I don't think about it as much as the 300. I don't get as nervous. I get in the blocks and think, ‘Let's do this fast and get over with it.'”

Siebka entered the state meet with a simple plan: don't overthink things.

“I think the same thing at all other meets,” said Siebka. “If I have the right mindset, know what I have to do and not be nervous, then I know I can run my best time and compete with the other girls.

“I know at states I'm not in the top 10 seeds, but I'm not in the bottom 10 either,” Siebka added.

Siebka has had better success with the 100 and won her district in it, but actually prefers the 300.

“With the 100, you hit one hurdle, it slows you down enough and you won't make it up. The 300, is something you can still recover from.

“I don't think the pressure was off of me in the 300 (after already winning the 100 hurdles). I can do better in the 300,” she added.

Siebka was joined by two teammates at the state championships — juniors Brea Northcott, who qualified in the discus and Jessica Bennett in the 3,200.

Northcott placed 12th in the discus Friday with a throw of 115 feet, 10 inches. Bennett will run the 3,200 early Saturday.

“I'm kind of nervous and excited,” said Siebka. “Brea went to states her freshman year and Jessica went last year.

“It's old news to them. They can show me around. I'm excited to tag along.”