As a sophomore, Hayes finished third in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles in the Class 2A state meet.

Q: What other events do you do in track and field?

A: I anchor the 4x400 for my team and do long jump. During the summer, I do the 400-meter hurdles and the heptathlon.

Q: What is your strongest event?

A: The 300-meter hurdles is probably my strongest one, but I've been working hard on improving my 100 hurdles as well.

Q: What did you learn from the state meet last year?

A: I learned that I still have a lot of work to do if I want to become a state champion, my goal by the time I graduate. I know I am capable of getting better so that's what I'm hoping to do by the end of the season.

Q: What have you done to get better?

A: I do train in the winter at the U of M and doing some stuff at my school, and I train during practice.

Q: Any times in the hurdles you want in particular?

A: I want to get down to 43 flat or lower in the 300-meter hurdles. In the 100 hurdles, I want to get to a low 14.

Q: What do you do in your free time?

A: I hang out with my friends a lot and we go on adventures in Minneapolis, do photo shoots and stuff like that.

MIKE HENDRICKSON