SACRAMENTO, CA -- Cristina Hibbert, the former 400 meter Hurdles 2007 California Community College State track and field champion first started thinking about pursing a T&F career when she was a 17 year-old junior at Foothill High School in Sacramento, California. Then, under the careful tutelage of Coach Dennis or Coach D as called by his T&F charges, she states, "Coach D noticed me running while I was in my physical education class, and he asked me if I would tryout for T&F, and that is what I did."  She continues, "Coach D instilled in me (a dream) that I could attend college, and that I could have it all paid for with a T&F scholarship."

Hibbert, having missed competing in the sport she has come to love in year 2008 states, "I was out of T&F because I had personal problems that occurred in my life in 2008.  I just didn't know how to handle them, and it didn't help that I was away from my immediate family while I was attending college in Southern California." She continues, "I've had this love-hate relationship with T&F for a few years, but my former sprints, hurdles, jumps, and relays coach (Coach Reid) at American River College in Sacramento, California  listened to me talk about this love-hate thing, gave me fatherly advice, and helped me successfully return to the sport.  I'm very happy, in fact, I'm overjoyed to be back competing in my sport, because when I was away from it, I was lost, I had no sense of direction, it was out my life, and until it was gone, I did not realize how much I really loved it."

Now, at 22 years of age, Hibbert is feeding her passion with what has become her lifeblood for just everyday living.  She will return to track and field competition at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 level while attending the University of Nevada Reno.  And she brings to UNR a stupendous CCC athletic superstar reputation having been picked as one of the "Best Stellar Student-Athletes" by the editors of the Sacramento Magazine, and being named the top female T&F athlete of all-time at American River College.

In 2006, Hibbert took the women's ARC women's track and field team to the top of the scoreboard at the Big 7 League, and the Northern California Championships while winning gold medals in the 400 meter Hurdles, Heptathlon, 400m, 4x100m and 4x400m relays.  Also, she broke five school records and is still listed in ARC's all-time Top 10 in 13 events.

Returning to ARC in 2007, Hibbert led her school to their first-ever CCC State of California women's T&F title along with team wins at NorCals, and the Big 7 League Championships!  She won CCC gold medals in the 400 meter Hurdles, Heptathlon, 200m, 4x100m and 4x400m relays at the State, NorCal, and Big 7 League Championships.  She was named 2007 NorCal Athlete of the Year, Outstanding Performer at the NorCal Championships (where her posted time of 59.32 seconds was number one in the entire Nation), and Big 7 League Most Valuable Player.  As well, she proved to be one of the most versatile athletes in CCC track and field history competing in the Heptathlon, 100 meter Hurdles, 100m, 200m, 400m, 400m Hurdles, 4x100m, 4x400m, and 4x800m relay teams.

It is evident that the thrill of competition awakens hope, builds passion, and draws Ms. Hibbert to that place where she wants to be perfect in her performance in the sport that she has come to love.  It is also evident that she put forth the necessary hard work and self-sacrifice to become a champion in her sport.  As she prepares for her countdown to NCAA stardom, all UNR track and field fans can feel comfort in knowing that she will give her best at all-times.  And that she will leave every morsel of her being out there on the track as she strives to become a gold medal winner once again for the UNR Wolfpack team.

You go Cristina!