By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
Hannah Antkoviak shined on the track during her time at Allegan High School, winning Division 2 state titles in both the 100-meter hurdles and the 300 hurdles during her senior season in 2021.
And she’s carried over those successful ways to the collegiate level.
Competing for Olivet Nazarene University in Bourboannais, Ill., Antkoviak won the NAIA national title in the 400 hurdles with her time of 56.71, breaking her own national record in the process.
But wait, as they say in those late-night infomercials. There’s more.
In addition to that record-setting performance, Antkoviak also placed third in the nation in the 100 hurdles (13.61) and was part of the 4×400 relay team that placed third in the nation (3:45.63).
Not a bad way to close out her sophomore season.
“It’s very special to me,” Antkoviak said of her national record in the 400 hurdles. “Coming into the year, that was not even something that was on my radar and it was a big surprise.”
Antkoviak credits God with helping her achieve such a lofty feat.
“It was really all due to the Lord’s blessing and goodness,” she said. “He kept me from getting injured this year—I’m quite accident prone—and walked with me through all the stresses and joys of the season.”
Antkoviak originally broke the national record in the 400 hurdles at the Drake Relays on April 29 with her time of 56.97. The previous record had been 57.63.
“The Drake Relays is one of the bigger meets we go to,” Antkoviak said. “It was cool to have a lot of bigger competition that I don’t normally get. It was also my first time trying out a new step pattern that my coach had had me practicing for just about a week, which was a little nerve-racking.
“But it went well and I kept with that pattern the rest of the year.”
Antkoviak’s winning time in the 400 hurdles at the NAIA Outdoor Championships on May 24 also would have won the NCAA Division 2 and Division 3 national titles. It would have placed her 12th in at the NCAA Division 1 National Championships.
Aside from the 400 hurdles, Antkoviak holds school records in six other events: outdoor 100 hurdles (13.55); outdoor 400 (54.45); outdoor 4×400 relay; indoor 60 hurdles (8.68); indoor 400 (55.11); and indoor 4×400 relay.
“All of those records are special,” Antkoviak said. “But I think the 4×400 relay records stand out after the 400-hurdle record. The excitement you get from setting a new record quadruples when you have three other teammates to share it with.”
Although Antkoviak’s transition from high school to college competition appears to have been seamless, she said that’s not the case.
Rather, there was a large learning curve she had to go through during her freshman season at ONU.
“Last year, I struggled to get used to the new environment and physical demands of collegiate practice,” she said. “I was also injured frequently, which was tough.
“This year, though, has been a lot better as I have gotten more comfortable with my environment and team. And I love our new coach.”
Of all the lessons Antkoviak has learned the past two years, she said two stand out above the rest.
“First, you have to be mentally tough,” she said. “There are ups and downs and there is a lot of pressure that can be hard. I deal with this by knowing that God knows the outcome of the race either way, and then controlling the only things I can—my effort and attitude—to finish well.
“Secondly, there is always someone faster. So, always just go out and do the best you can.”
During the summer months, Antkoviak’s training consists of three workouts per week along with weightlifting. As the season gets closer, the training will be more difficult with more volume.
“Once we move into season, everything gets shorter and faster,” she said. “I’m with the long sprinters mostly and I hurdle a couple of days a week.”
As for her future goals on the track, Antkoviak plans to keep it simple.
“This sounds very cliché, but I plan to work as hard as I can and, Lord willing, continue to lower my times around the clock each year,” she said. “I would like to do a little better in my 60 hurdles. The shorter distance is not really my strong suit, but I would like to work on that and hopefully make the finals next year.”
After her career at ONU is over, Antkoviak plans to come back to Michigan and find a job teaching art and, hopefully, continue to be involved in track by way of coaching.