BUTLER TWP — When Emily Horstman was a freshman on the Butler girls track and field team, she looked up to senior Paige Allen.

“I wished I could be that fast one day,” Horstman said.

That day came Saturday at the Tri-State Coaches Association Indoor Track and Field meet at Edinboro University.

Horstman replaced Allen in the Golden Tornado indoor record book with a time of 7.89 seconds in the 60-meter dash.

Horstman, a senior sprinter, also set a school record in the 200-meter dash at the meet with a time of 26.28.

“It means a lot,” Horstman said. “It kind of proves to myself all the hard work I’ve put in is worth it and is paying off.”

Butler girls indoor track and field coach John Williams said Horstman’s work ethic is one of the reason why she has excelled this indoor season.

“She’s worked her butt off,” Williams said. “She didn’t do junior high track, so ninth grade was her first season. She didn’t have any times that made you say, ‘Wow.’ But coming out of her sophomore year, she went to summer speed camps. She’s been doing that the last two summers and this fall she did fall conditioning and lifting. She’s a quiet one, but she doesn’t miss a workout.”

Horstman had no idea she had set the records until 10 minutes after her races were over.

“He said, ‘Guess what time that was?’” Horstman said. “I told him I had no idea. When I found out, I was excited. I couldn’t believe it.”

The times qualified Horstman in both events for the state indoor track and field championships, which will be held at the end of the month.

Horstman hopes to get her 200 time under 26 seconds.

Her best time in the event during the outdoor season last spring was 25.75, which was also the top time in the Butler County area.

The 200 during indoor season is much tougher with sharper turns and thus slower times.

“I want to get into the 25s and stay there,” Horstman said.

As far as the 60 goes, Horstman simply wants to keep shaving precious hundredths of a second off her finishes.

That is best accomplished on the blocks, an area Horstman has spent a lot of time perfecting.

“Looking at her on the blocks, it’s almost like night and day from last year,” Williams said. “She really studies it and understands it. She watches video of Olympic sprinters.”

Anything to give her an edge.

Ultimately, Horstman believes her success this indoor season will translate to the outdoor season, even though the two are radically different.

“Indoor is more about individual and outdoor is more about the team,” Horstman said. “In outdoor, I try to do what I can to help the team win.”

She does have individual goals.

“I just want to do my best at whatever event I do,” she said.