Posted at: 06/06/2012 8:33 PM

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Carolyn Hackel

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- Carolyn Hackel is no stranger to state tournaments.

"I've been in gymnastics since I was super little, so going to state for that was kind of expected," Hackel said.

Making it to the state track meet, though, that was a bit more surprising.

"It was one of the things we were hoping to see happen this season and we knew it was a possibility if (Carolyn) had a great meet, which she obviously did," coach Nancy Jones said.

Carolyn qualified in not one, but two events for the state track meet by placing first in both the 100 meter dash and the 200 meter dash. She knew she had a good shot to do what she did, but it all came down to the section meet.

"Part of me wanted to say oh ya you're going to make it to state no problem, but then part of me was like oh you can't be sure, you have to try hard and do your best," said the three-sport athlete.

Now, she has to prove herself to an even bigger pool of runners, something that could be scary for a girl that's only in ninth grade.

"I tell her, like you said, to keep focused, keep striving, and not get freaked out by the other times being posted in the state because that's why we run meets," said Jones.

Carolyn seems to have that mindset down. In fact, she wants to leave the meet with it all out on the track and send a message for the years to come.
 
"I'm just excited for the experience and for the tough competition," said Carolyn. "And to put myself out there for all the other girls to see so they'll know a little girl from Austin is coming up again."