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Eagan's Danielle Anderson hopes for one more crack at distance-running champ

By Star Tribune, 05/14/13, 6:12PM CDT

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Eagan senior Danielle Anderson has spent her high school career chasing one of the state’s all-time best, Maria Hauger of Shakopee


Danielle Anderson

Eagan senior Danielle Anderson has spent her high school career chasing one of the state’s all-time best, Maria Hauger of Shakopee, during the cross-country and track seasons.

Anderson would like nothing better than to have her final shot to defeat Hauger come in the Class 2A girls’ track state meet. A year ago, Anderson finished fifth in the 1,600-meter run and was the runner-up in the 3,200. Hauger won both events.

Anderson took fourth in the Class 2A cross-country state meet in the fall. Hauger won the 4,000-meter race, finishing 24 seconds ahead of Anderson.

Here is a closer look at Anderson:

The best movie I’ve seen in the last year? “The Lucky One.”

Three words or phrases my friends or teammates might use to describe me? Determined; funny; and a hard worker.

Three songs I never skip on my iPod are ... “Fearless” by Taylor Swift; “Just Give Me A Reason” by Pink, and “Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys.

What are your three favorite apps? Twitter; Facebook; Snapchat.

How did you get started in cross-country and track? I started running cross-country and track in seventh grade when people told me that I was a good runner in soccer. Also, one of my teachers in sixth grade, Mr. Broughten, was the cross-country coach and he told me to go out for the team.

At my first varsity practice, I felt ... intimidated and nervous to be running with the older girls, but I was excited as well to compete in varsity races.

What were your goals for track prior to the start of the season? To break both of my records in the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs; breaking 5 minutes in the 1,600 and 10:24 in the 3,200.

What is your favorite meal prior to an event? I have to eat pasta the night before every race. My favorite is spaghetti.

To get focused for an event, I ... listen to music and write down my goal times and strategies for each race.

What is your most memorable moment as a high school athlete? Running at the New Balance nationals and placing second in the 5K.

How do you balance school and sports during the year? It is very busy and challenging at times, but I spend most of my time after practice doing my homework. I also try to get a lot of homework done at school.

If you could change one thing about high school sports, what would it be? I would cut the entry fees, so that everyone had a chance to join a sport and not have to worry about the costs.

Who is your favorite college or pro sports team and why? The University of Minnesota because I am attending there this fall.

In 10 years, I hope I’m ... in medical school and hopefully running post-collegiately!

What is the best sports advice you ever received? You have to believe that all training you have put in before the race is enough for you to win and to do your best.

RON HAGGSTROM

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