(KMAland) -- The latest KMA Sports Hall of Fame announcement claimed four state championships in track and field during her illustrious career.
Former Treynor star Chaley (Rath) Hempel won three high jump titles and a 100 hurdles championship between 2011 and 2013.
“The first one was a surprise,” Hempel said. “I just showed up and competed like I normally did. It was almost the easiest state championship because there was no pressure.”
The second state title was when she made her biggest mark on the event, jumping over the bar at 5-08.25 to set a 1A record that still stands to this day.
“I couldn’t just win the high jump,” Hempel said. “I had to do something else also. It was always in the back of my mind. That was the most memorable of the three.”
“Something I’ll always remember, my second or third attempt (at the record). There was no other track event going on at the time, and the whole stadium got up and did the slow clap. That’s something I’ll always cherish.”
Rath followed up her junior year with a pair of state championships, winning the high jump for a third straight season and nabbing her first 100 hurdles title.
“My final year was an interesting one,” she said. “It was a struggle to say the least. The pressure in all of that. I’d like to say I was pretty fortunate that year to pull it out because I was having some head case issues. It ended up all working out, and it was a great four years of high school.”
And on the hurdles:
“At that point in my career, I knew I was going to be doing the heptathlon in college. So, I think along with my other coaches, we really worked hard on getting the hurdles down. It was a close, fun race, and I think I won by five-hundredths of a second. That was one of the greater moments of my career.”
Hempel would go on to a terrific career at the University of Northern Iowa as a heptathlete.
The former Treynor star joins Griswold’s Bill Blay in the track wing of the Hall of Fame for the 2018-19 class. Past choices include Red Oak’s Tom Dovel, Sidney’s Terry Graham, Sandra Hays Smith of Malvern and Glenwood’s Linda Rowe.
Hear the complete interview with Hempel linked here.
Previous announcements are linked below. Listen to KMA's Upon Further Review each day in August for a new Hall of Fame announcement.
Wednesday, August 1st - Dan Martinez, Red Oak (Coach)
Thursday, August 2nd - Ricky Williams, Riverside (Basketball)
Friday, August 3rd - 1989 Glenwood Wrestling (Team)
Monday, August 6th - Bill Blay, Griswold (Track & Field/Cross Country)
Tuesday, August 7th - Madison Frain Peterson, Creston (Softball)
Wednesday, August 8th - 2008 Lenox Football (Team)
Thursday, August 9th - Megan Winkelmann Ivusic, Nodaway Valley (Cross Country)
Friday, August 10th - Connie Shafar, Bedford (Basketball)
Monday, August 13th - Kadie Subbert, Stanton (Volleyball)
Tuesday, August 14th - Joyce Tiarks, Underwood (Coach)
Wednesday, August 15th - Tom Ramsey, Farragut (Coach)
