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An Oregon track athlete went viral over the weekend
Brooklyn Anderson won the state title in the 100-meter hurdles in an unconventional way
After her knee caught the last hurdle, she somersaulted twice to victory
A high school hurdler found a creative way to win gold!
Brooklyn Anderson, of Thurston, Ore., won the 100-meter hurdles in style at the state track and field championships in Eugene on Saturday, May 31.
In a now-viral video, the high school junior led for the duration of the race but clipped the final hurdle with her right knee — which resulted in her losing her balance.
What happened next was a bit of muscle memory, she told CBS affiliate KOIN-TV.
“All I remember is resorting back to my gymnastics career,” the athlete said.
All of which meant Anderson tucked and rolled upon hitting the ground — and executed two perfect somersaults that carried her over the finish line.
“I wasn’t sure how far back everybody else was behind me, so I just knew to just keep rolling,” she said.
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Abigail Dollins/Statesman Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Brooklyn Anderson rolls into the finish line at the Oregon State Track and Field Championships
And while she didn’t set a PR, Anderson finished the race with an impressive 14.93 seconds to win the 5A state title.
Anderson’s feat didn’t end there — she also placed third in the long jump and third in the 100m open at the meet.
But nothing topped the reaction of the crowd, she told the news station.
“I was just so proud, just very, very happy,” she said. “Nobody’s ever cheered for me that loud before.”
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