Jamie Shaffer: student, musician, athlete. The three time NVL qualifier is setting the bar high with hurdle times inching closer towards record breakers.
She began track and field in the winter of her sophomore year, starting off with a 10.66 in the 55 meter hurdles. Since then, she has shaved off 0.67 seconds, leading to a personal record (PR) of 9.99, which was accomplished in her junior year (2023). That PR brings her one step closer to setting a new school record, with the previous one held at 8.83 seconds.
“I have so much time to get those [records]. It’s just about improving and putting in the work,” Shaffer said. “I think I’m pretty close to three school records. The first one being the 55 indoor hurdles…then for outdoor the 100 and 300 meter hurdles.”
Nicole Jones, class of ‘07, currently holds the 100m hurdles and 300m hurdles records with times of 16.23 (2006) and 47.40 (2006). Shaffer is mere seconds away from both with times of 17.54 (100m) and 52.48 (300m).
“For outdoor I want to get my three step, fix my four step, cut down my times, and make State Opens,” Shaffer mentioned, along with her goals for the upcoming outdoor season.
She’s currently qualified for the indoor Class S Championships, and is aiming to further compete with the top five females from every division. Regardless, Shaffer’s outlook on track has changed along with the improvement in her times and dedication to the sport.
“At first, I didn’t take it very seriously. Then I started getting good times, and that’s when I really had to put my mind to it,” Shaffer stated.
In addition to her athletic feats, Shaffer maintains high academic standards and dedicates her free time to piano lessons. Track and piano tend to land on the same day, so Shaffer is always facing the difficult decision of what to prioritize.
“I usually pick track because I don’t want to lose endurance or skip a meet,” she stated. She went on to highlight how humility and determination play a critical part in both her track and music career, “I never play a piece right the first time I read the sheet music, nor do I go over a set of hurdles perfectly the first time.” Her ability to excel at both track and piano shows serious commitment and resolve. Not to mention, she stands as an example for many Woodland underclassmen that look up to her hard work ethic and dedication.
Overall, the hurdler has built up an impressive resume, so the question is, what’s next for this student-athlete? Firstly, she aims to pursue track and field in college by working hard to cut down on times and improve technique until then.
“I want colleges to look at me and want to recruit me. I want to benefit the team and continue doing this after high school,” Shaffer said.
Whether it be in the classroom, on the track, or at piano lessons, Shaffer brings positivity and ambition to the table. She encourages others to perform at their best and is always looking to improve. Watch out as she hurdles over obstacles, competitors, and records this season.
