Summer Hanson: Interlake Runner Brings the Heat on the Track Field

To help stay focused, Summer Hanson, a runner on ’s track team in Bellevue, writes down her goals on her mirror, along with lyrics to her favorite song: “We are always running for the thrill of it, thrill of it.”

In four short years she has gone from being the girl who sprinted ahead of her opponents only to count how many would pass her, to the girl who broke two longstanding school records in the 400- and 800-meter races.  Talk about a thrill.

She broke both records while at the state championships on May 26. Her time in the 400-meter race was 57.82 seconds, and 213.08 seconds in the 800-meter race. She also came in first in the 800-meter race for the second year in a row.

Those broken records didn’t come easy, but for Hanson they were inevitable.

“In freshman PE, you know how there’s those banners in the gym for the state champions? I was like, ‘I don’t care what sport it’s in, but someday I wanna have my name on a banner up there.’”

And she definitely tried it all. Hanson was on Interlake’s varsity wrestling team before deciding to focus on her track career. With a background in gymnastics, Hanson decided to pursue pole vaulting, but quickly found that long distance running suited her best.

According to her coach, Brad Barquist, Hanson didn’t start running middle distance until her junior year. “The year … she won her first state title,” said Barquist. “She won the 800.”

Hanson and her teammates practice a couple hours a day, six times a week. The training includes a combination of strength work and speed work with some easy days, said Barquist.

“She’s a hard worker,” he said. “And has excellent all-around athletic ability.” 

Hanson’s sister, Lauren, couldn’t agree more. “She sets the tone for the level of dedication on the team, and she’s a really good role model for everyone else,” she said. 

Hanson also has the love and encouragement of her family. “Our parents are really supportive and expected a lot from us … they had high standards but were understanding,” said her sister.

What motivates Hanson to work so hard? Initially it was the competition, but things have changed.

“I think when you mature as a runner, you learn to do things on your own, and you don’t need the people around you to push you,” she said. “I’ve had really incremental goals that I’ve set for myself and that’s really helped me the most, I’d say.”

The goals Hanson sets for herself truly do motivate her to run faster. While at the district meet, Hanson’s competition was thin, but she kept her goal in mind.

“I was just like, ‘okay, I’m going to pace myself and do it, and if anyone wants to go with me, they can try.’”

Her next goal? To get a 210 in the 800-meter race. The coach at Stanford told her that they wouldn’t even consider her if she didn’t have a 210 so Hanson plans to “stick it to the man and get a 210 anyways.” She said she planned to try for a 210 at Portland’s BorderDuel, held last weekend.

Hanson will attend Princeton University in the fall where she will continue her track career as well as her academic aspirations. She is an International Baccalaureate diploma candidate and has earned A’s and B’s throughout high school. As she finishes up her senior year at Interlake, she has a lot to celebrate. Her 18th birthday, the end of IB and AP exams, graduation and a summer trip to Europe.

While her state championship banner hangs at Interlake High School’s gym, Hanson will certainly break records wherever she goes.

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(MAIDA SULJEVIC is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.)