Nikki Wetstein, senior hurdler and pentathlete, broke her own school record – again – on Jan. 24 in Warrensburg, Mo. at the UCM Invite.

In the race, Wetstein ran 8.56 seconds, which is a provisional qualifying time. This is Wetstein’s second time breaking the school record for the indoor track 60-meter hurdles. Her time is ranked sixth in the nation.

“I hope to keep breaking it,” she said.

Wetstein has had an impressive year, also provisionally qualifying in the pentalthon Jan. 31.

“Things are finally just starting to click and I feel like I am finally starting to break through,” Wetstein, a health promotion major, said. “The atmosphere of the program has really changed since my freshman year and I compete with a really supportive group of girls which makes a difference.”

Wetstein has also broken her outdoor track record twice. The St. Louis native has had three top three finishes in the MIAA conference while at ESU, and she has been to nationals for track three times – indoor in 2011 and both indoor and outdoor in 2013.

“The MIAA is one of the best conferences in (Division II),” Wetstein said. “So finishing top three is pretty big.”

But track is not the only passion she has. In fact, until college, Wetstein says she considered herself a dancer and did not get into track until her senior year of high school. She still enjoys dance and has even helped out with the Emporia Elementary cheer camp.

“It is important to me to let the athletes know that we have their backs, and we try to take a family approach to the program,” said Steve Blocker, head track and field coach. “Working with her has been really good and she has been really fun to coach. I am going to miss her when she is gone.”

Wetstein, who just started competing in the pentathlon this year , says the 60-meter hurdles are her favorite.

“I am not good at, like, the shot put, but I do like to test myself, and it is a challenge,” Wetstein said.

Dominique Staats, sophomore psychology major and sprinter, said the track team meshes well, and that Wetstein adds a lot of enthusiasm.

“We are all close on and off the track and I think that helps us motivate each other during competitions and practice.”

This summer, Wetstein plans to find an internship before she goes to grade school. She is looking at Nebraska-Kearney, a rival team in the MIAA conference, but says she hasn’t made up her mind completely. In a perfect world, Wetstein says eventually she would track coach and own her own dance studio somewhere on the east coast.

“I would like to stay close, I love Emporia and have been here all four years,” Wetstein said. “I love Coach Blocker and I love what he was about, so I would like to stay around track, too.”