She broke her back, literally. But Woodmore's Travis' confidence has returned on the track

Winning a state championship is backbreaking work.

Woodmore senior Azure Travis finished first in Ohio in Division III in both hurdle events in Columbus last season.

"I broke my back, I don't know how," she said. "I was feeling pain that wasn't going away for two months. It happened in the summer, but I found out in September. I didn't have the indoor season I wanted. I couldn't train for four or five months.

"I was waiting to get back to feeling like me and accomplishing as much as I could."

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She had two stress fractures in her lowest vertebrae, and her bone slipped as she developed a spinal disorder called spondylolisthesis.

"It was very painful at first but decreased as I spent more time in a brace and doing physical therapy," she said. "The toughest part was mental, with all injuries, that's not something I planned. It puts a stop in my plans for myself; I had to accept the fact it's a long recovery, but I have time to accomplish my goals.

"The biggest thing was putting faith in God and trusting that's His plan for me."

Things seemed to click at Oak Harbor last week. Travis felt like Azure again.

"I had doubts about setting personal records and improving on last year," she said. "Getting back into the shape I was. It solidified I'm improving. It crossed my mind; it's scary when the doctor tells you you fractured your back.

"I didn't know how the healing process would go, and a lot of my confidence went away."

It's back. She established a meet record in the 100 at 12.28 seconds and 100 hurdles at 14.68 and matched the meet and program record in the 200 at 25.60 as Woodmore's girls finished first at the Oak Harbor Invitational.

She won the 300 hurdles at 46.37.

"I feel great where I'm at," she said. "I've never touched some of those numbers and for hurdles, I'm more confident in my form and more quick. There are always nagging injuries, but God never fails to deliver. So, I'm excited about His plan for my future and the rest of the team going forward."

This is Travis' first season counting steps between hurdles.

"I'm getting used to that," she said. "I'm getting better at counting steps and being more consistent."

It was the first time Travis returned to the 200 this season. She started the season in both hurdles and on two relays, before trading the 4x200 for the 100 shortly before Oak Harbor.

She'll continue to run the 200 through the Sandusky Bay Conference Meet but might switch back to the 4x400 like last season. She was part of a 4x400 relay that was second at state at 3:56.29 as the Wildcats were first as a team.

Freshman Willow Lewis and Maddie Hammer, who is Emma Hammer's twin, stepped into two 4x400 spots vacated by graduation.

Travis established a program record in the 100 and 300 hurdles at 14.42 and 43.82, respectively, to finish first at state. Her 100 at Oak Harbor and 25.46 for an indoor 200 are career bests.

"That was a breakthrough in the season on the sprint side," she said. "I've been working getting faster, but that was a big drop in the 100. My first 200 of the season, I tied the record. My indoor doesn't count; I wasn't sure I'd get that record."

Travis continues her career at Marshall.

"Their team and college atmosphere seem like a family," she said. "I've got to know the coaches and some of the athletes, and I'll be in a good place. That was my first overnight visit; that was a great experience. I knew they wanted me there, and they would take me far."

They wanted a girl who knows how to get where she's going.

"My experience with injuries, I haven't went a full year without experiencing an injury that took me out for at least a month," she said. "It's helped knowing, no matter what it is, I'm able to bounce back."

She had stitches in her knee as a junior, problems with her shin as a sophomore and hamstring as a freshman.

What more does a Division I college athlete with multiple state crowns want? Why endure so much?

"There's a pressure to duplicate what I did, or do better, but I try not to put that on myself and the people around me have expectations, but they don't put that on me," she said. "It's kind of a mind game sometimes.

"I don't think it's hard to stay hungry because even when you accomplish what you accomplish, at that point it pushes me to want even more. I'm very hungry."

Many in Elmore and Woodville won't forget Travis.

"The past four years, I've seen so much progress as a person and made so many memories at this school," she said. "I'm excited to build off that, but it's sad to leave that environment and those people. I don't necessarily want to be remembered for accomplishments or what I did.

"That's not what defines me; I try to be the best person to others and spread kindness."

Plus, she broke her back to get here.

mhorn@gannett.com

419-307-4892

X: @MatthewHornNH

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: She broke her back, literally. But Woodmore's Travis' confidence has returned on the track