SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior hurdler Amanda Schnabel had three races Wednesday – two at the Sac-Joaquin Section trials and a third to make it to the school’s graduation in downtown Sacramento at Memorial Auditorium in time to walk with her graduating class.

Schnabel was one of three seniors on the track and field team posed with the dilemma of competing Wednesday in Elk Grove at the Sac-Joaquin Section Trials and rushing to graduation, joining discus throwers Kayla O’Brine and Cherie Murbach.

“When I was at the meet, I was focusing on the meet,” said Schnabel. “Once I left, I focused on graduation. I don’t think it affected me too much.”

Based on her results, she did a great job keeping her focus. She finished second in her heat of the 100m hurdles, qualifying sixth overall for Friday’s finals in a personal-best 14.98.

 “It felt really good because I had not set a PR since April of last season,” said Schnabel Thursday at practice.

She also ran in the second heat of the 300m hurdles trials, an event scheduled to begin at 6:17 p.m. She was expected at graduation at 7 p.m. O’Brine, who finished third in her event, was also competing in the finals of the discus past 6 before racing back into town.

Schnabel qualified seventh in the 300m, posting a time of 45.45. Then her third race began.

“I went and did a good cool down because I did not want to be sore for Friday,” said Schnabel. “We drove to Memorial and got there about 7:15. I went in and got ready by 7:45 and we walked in at 8. All the girls were in the bathroom, checking their hair and makeup so it was really packed and stressful.”

Schnabel officially received her degree when her name was called at 9:34 p.m., closing her final race of the day.

“It was really good,” said Schnabel of her graduation experience. “It did not feel like it was actually happening. It has not set in yet.”

She will be back on the track today looking to help her team to a second consecutive section title.

“I am hoping to PR in both and move up in places to score more points,” said Schnabel.

Schnabel started hurdling as a sophomore at the bequest of assistant coach Joe Poggi. As a former gymnast, she took to the event and, as a former gymnast, she “had that experience of not being afraid of running at an object”. It was something new and different.

She has since developed into one of the top hurdlers in the state, a distinction she hopes to quantify by advancing to the state championship meet after missing by one spot last year at Masters.

She will run at Bellarmine University in Kentucky next fall.

“I am really excited to go there,” said Schnabel. “I know the team and coach are really excited to have me there. It will be a good team next year.”