Quick Q&A: Alex Klein, Stillwater track

Klein won the 110-meter hurdles at the Class 3A True Team state meet on May 15. His talent for running and leaping earned him a track scholarship to Northern State (S.D.) University.

Q: What goes into being a good hurdler?

A: You've got to be fast and be able to get in a good rhythm at the same time.

Q: How did you get started hurdling?

A: I was in seventh grade and I was at a track, doing a workout. I just started jumping hurdles and I guess I was pretty good at it. My mom noticed and I've doing it ever since.

Q: Is it difficult to learn?

A: At first, it's really hard. But you keep practicing getting up and over and it's not that hard anymore. Now it's ingrained in my muscle memory.

A: You can get knocked off-balance by [your competitors]. Sometimes, there's pushing and punching.

Q: Actual punching?

A: Yes. Earlier this year, at the St. Thomas meet, a kid from Wayzata and I were neck-and-neck. Every time we went over a hurdle, I'd get whacked. I guess I whacked him a little, too. But I won.

Q: Hitting a hurdle looks brutal. What's the worst accident you've had?

A: In eighth grade, I was running the 400 hurdles at nationals and I clipped the second hurdle. I was on the outside and I took a spill, hit my head and got a concussion. I finished the race, though. I actually beat a kid.

A: Probably at the True Team meet this year. I felt good in warmups and I thought I was going to have a good race. I got a good start out of the blocks — sometimes I don't start well — and I just rode that. I was pretty happy when I saw my time [14.34 seconds].