Breanna Peabody:

 

 

High School: Utica

University: Oakland University

Events: 60m hurdle, 100m hurdle, 400m hurdle, 200m, 60m, 4x4 relay, pentathlon

Height: 5'9"

Career Bests: 8.48 (60m hurdle), 14.24 (100m hurdle), 59.29 (400m hurdle), 7.79 (60m), 25.22 (200m), 3392 points (Pentathlon), 3:57.64 (4x4 relay)

 

Throughout junior high and high school, I have always been a competitive athlete. This comes from both of my parents, being athletes, too. I could never have an off season of sitting around because I wanted to stay as active as I could. So, I tried out for basketball, volleyball and track in 7th grade and from then on I played all 3 sports up until my senior year of high school. That was my favorite part of high school, the sports. It wasn't until high school, that I knew how good of a runner I was and can be. I became a true hurdler my sophmore year, after an injury to a top athlete that couldn't compete anymore. They asked me to try hurdling and I was a natural at it. From then on, I realized that this is the career path that I needed to pursue in. Now that I had the passion for hurdling, it has never left my side. After finishing high school, I accepted a full ride scholarship for 5 years at Oakland University to be a collegiate athlete on the Track and Field team. I could not of been more happier, thanks to Coach Paul Rice, head coach for Men and Women's Cross Country and Track and Field. Though I had many personal records to start off my career, I struggled with injuries as well. But they did not knock me down. Those injuries made me realize that it was not only part of being an athlete but having a healthy lifestyle as well. The last couple years of my track career is when I was as healthy as I have ever been thoughout any sport and workouts. I thank a few people in my life for that part. In my last year at OU, I was at my strong point; breaking personal and school records. Also, I qualified for the NCAA Division 1 Track and Field Nationals. I ranked 31st overall in the 400 meter hurdles. Being part of a college sport has made me stronger, faster, motivational, and fearless. After my college career, my coach, Paul Rice, desgined a program under his name, called Paul Rice Track Club (PRTC-ELITE). And so this is where our journey begins, to follow our dreams and continue training with our "passion." I hope to compete in the Olympics one day. 

 

 

Niklas Rippon: 

 

High school: Lake Orion

University: Oakland University 

Events: 60m and 110m high hurdles, 60m, 100m, and 200m sprints

Height: 6' 7"

Career Bests: 8.24 (60m hurdle), 7.21 (60m), 22.97 (indoor 200m), 22.50 (outdoor 200m). 14.31 (110 high hurdles)

 

My first experience with the world of track began with a bit of a mistake.  I had no knowledge of the sport and went to cross country practice in the fall.  The coach was happy to see me but immediately informed me I was going to be a hurdler in the spring for track season.  When my first track season came, we had a coach who took the time to instruct the entire team of hurdles.  I had a fear of them on the first day, but a teammate forced me to try, I fell in love and haven't stopped. My passion grew greatly through the years but was influenced mostly by my high school coach, who embedded the concept that one needs to learn hurdles forwards and backwards along with the capability of coaching others, to truly grasp the concepts.  I became an expert in form because I lacked speed at the time.  Being 6ft 7 meant I had to make everything work with efficiency.  My high school career was successful enough to get the attention of a division one coach at Oakland University.  I dealt with major injuries which halted my progress for the first two years of college.  Once recovered, I worked hard in the weight room and on the track, finding what best suited my bodies abilities and weaknesses.  Once strong, I found that I was not able to fit the general 8 steps to the first hurdle and found a way to teach and train myself the art of the 7 step approach.  I was able to comeback and obtain two D1 University school records and make finals all but one high hurdle conference championships. My passion for this sport has given me something to dedicate my life to, and has given me opportunities I couldn't have imagined.  On top of my own training I enjoy showing others what give me so much enjoyment, coaching the fine details along with beginner skills.

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