GRIMES, Iowa — Top athletes are not always like Southeast Polk senior Grace Larkins.
"It's not about her. She's got the least amount of ego of any top tier athlete I've seen around here in a while," Southeast Polk Girls Varsity Track and Field Coach Chad Willeford told Local 5.
Larkins does it all for the Rams.
"She could run the [400 meter,] the 400 hurdles, the [four by 400-meter relay,] the sprint medley, the [four by 200-meter relay,] the [four by 800-meter relay,] and honestly she could probably run an open [800 meter] as well," Willeford added.
This past weekend Larkins ran the 400-meter hurdles in just over 1:05. That is the fastest any girl in Iowa ran it so far this year.
"I've always been known as not very coordinated so it was kind of a shock when I got put into that race, but just go for it. You're going to mess up a few times," Larkins said of her mind when she started running hurdles.
Larkins knows of messing up a few times. Two years ago as a sophomore at the state meet, she messed up.
"She came across the last hurdle and she was dead even with the leader but with 20 meters left she caught a spike in the track and went down," Willeford recalled.
It is that mess up that pushes Larkins.
"There were some tears shed but, if anything, it has given her some incentive and great perspective that not everything is given," Willeford said.
A perspective that resonates after last year's lost season.
"You take for granted the opportunities that you get, especially with a season getting canceled last year," Larkins said. "We may not have even had a season this year so we are lucky to be here."
By the looks of things, though Larkins would be the last to tell you, the Rams are lucky to have her.
"Her character has been phenomenal. She's a great leader," Willeford said. "Yes, she's a great athlete, but she's a great leader and a great kid to have around the rest of the team."