Brian Hagberg
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Competing in a new event hasn’t done anything to slow down former Warren Area High School standout Naomi Hahn.
Hahn, now a freshman at the Virginia Military Institute, finished third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase during the 2021 Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships Saturday at Western Carolina University. She was one of two top-3 finishers for the Keydets during the 2-day event (the 4 x 400 relay took second).
Hahn’s time of 12:00.47 was just over a minute behind Samford’s Emma Garner who finished first (10:54.35).
“I am very pleased with both teams’ efforts, as there were some really good marks achieved this weekend,” VMI Director of Track and Field Darrin Webb told VMI’s website. “We had multiple All-Conference performances in several events, including Ariana, Sarah, Naomi, and the 4×400.”
The third-place finish also garnered Hahn all-freshman accolades in the event.
A 2020 WAHS graduate, Hahn was a 7-time PIAA state qualifier in cross country and track and field and earned a state medal in cross country in 2018. She missed time during the 2019 cross country season due to injury but still came back to post a state-qualifying time at the District 10 meet. Hahn’s senior track and field season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, the VMI freshman, who was recently promoted to corporal for next year, is tackling a whole new event . . . the steeplechase.
Steeplechase is a distance running event with obstacles. The 3,000-meter steeplechase includes 28 barriers and seven water jumps.
The Keydets are slated to compete at the Mount Olive First Chance Invite in Mount Olive, North Carolina on May 14 while qualifiers will head to the IC4A/ECAC Championships May 14-15.
