Rachel Mehringer is rewriting the record books one hurdle at a time. The Indiana State junior kinesiology major from Schnellville continues to dominate the track and field scene, and her latest performance at the Outdoor Music City Challenge was nothing short of spectacular.
Last weekend, Mehringer blazed to a first-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 12.96 seconds. That's just the latest in a growing collection of Indiana State and Missouri Valley Conference records she holds across multiple indoor and outdoor events.
So what's the secret behind her sizzling success? For Mehringer, it's all about patience and persistence.
"I think this season has just been lots of trusting the process and doing the hard work in the beginning and just letting it pan out in the end," she said.
That breakthrough didn't happen overnight. Last season, Mehringer was knocking on the door with times consistently around 13.07 and 13.08 seconds—frustratingly close but not quite there yet.
"I kept hitting 13.07s, 13.08s, so it was almost there and I just don't think it was time," she told the Tribune-Star.
A firm believer in faith, Mehringer credits her blessings this season to a higher power. "I have been so blessed this season," she said. "My whole season outdoors has been so wonderful. I have no complaints."
Behind every great athlete is a great support system, and Mehringer's coaches have found creative ways to push her limits. Coach Angie Martin has even let her train alongside the men's team—a move that's paying dividends for everyone involved.
"I do starts with them, so that is really helpful. It's helpful for both sides," Mehringer explained. "We do different speed techniques and strategies, so I think it's all helpful."
What sets Mehringer apart isn't just her speed—it's her sportsmanship. While track can be fiercely competitive, she prefers to keep things friendly with her rivals.
"I try to stay friends with my opponents," she said. "It's nice to catch up with longtime friends. We're all in it together."
Looking ahead, the MVC Outdoor Championships are set for May 16-17 at the ISU Gibson Complex. After a tough indoor season where she hit a hurdle and finished seventh, Mehringer is keeping her expectations grounded.
"Indoor did not go as I had planned," she admitted. "With that being said, everyone has a good day and everyone has bad days."
Her takeaway from that setback? No race is guaranteed—even for the top seed.
"Anything can happen," Mehringer said. "Anyone can hit any hurdle and go down and not come back up. Just try to enjoy the races as they come. Don't take them for granted and enjoy every success even if it's small."
With that mindset and her record-breaking momentum, Mehringer is poised to make some serious noise at the MVC championships. Whether she's racing against the clock or against the competition, one thing's for sure—she's running with purpose.