At the T.R. Miller spring sports banquet this year, there was a constant named being called out for every female sport at the school except tennis—which is the only female sport she does not play.
Taylor’s Guthrie’s name was mentioned for winning an award in all but one (cross country) of the five sports she plays— volleyball, cross country, track, softball and basketball. But for the sports that were recognized early on in the banquet, Guthrie was no where to be found. But later on, she showed up to receive her awards.
But her reason for missing the early awards, does come with a valid excuse.
For the T.R. Miller Lady Tiger athlete that plays five different sports, competing in a seven-event heptathlon would be an understandable reason.
That is what Guthrie was coming back from on the night of the banquet as the day of and prior, she was competing at the state multi’s 2012 heptathlon event at Hoover High School.
Guthrie—a volleyball, cross country, track, softball and basketball player at T.R. Miller—competed in the event and placed 12th out of 51 total entries regardless of classification.
Guthrie scored 3566 total points while Lacy Dent of St. Paul’s High School took first with 4881 points. In the 100-meter hurdles, Guthrie had a time of 16.89 and had a jump of 4-7 ¾ in the high jump. In the shot put, she had a throw of 24-11 ¾ and followed that with a 28.08 time in the 200-meter run. In the second day’s events, Guthrie had a jump of 15-11 in the long jump and a throw in the javelin of 78-03. In the final event of the 800-meter run, Guthrie had a time of 2:42.52.
“I love track and this gave me an opportunity to do other events that I was unable to compete in throughout the regular season,” Guthrie said of her reasoning behind wanting to do the event. “It’s seven different events. It includes the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-meter dash, long jump, javelin, and the 800-meter dash. It was a much more relaxed atmosphere compared to state and a lot of the girls were really nice and willing to share techniques to help others with events that they personally specialize in.”
While she finished 12th, Guthrie said she was not expecting the good finish.
“Most of the girls were from 5A and 6A schools,” Guthrie said. “I did not really have a goal for what place I wanted but I did want to make sure I personally did well in all my events. I was just proud to represent the T.R. Miller track team.”
While most of her school year at T.R. Miller is being spent playing sports—some at the same time—Guthrie says it’s hard to put things into words when they become a part of you.
“All five sports have been a huge part of my life and have impacted me in so many positive ways,” Guthrie said. “I love the sports, the lessons I get from each sport which I can use in life forever, and the team experiences. Each sport is an opportunity to learn more about that sport, team, and myself. I’m glad I was a part of all the sports I did.”
Guthrie, a recent 2012 graduate of T.R. Miller, says she plans on attending Birmingham Southern in the fall.
“I will be taking pre-med courses and I am also very excited to continue running track in college,” she said. “I may or may not do another sport but I am definitely running track for Birmingham Southern.”