Hampton junior McKenna Restori on fast track to hurdles success

By: John Grupp
Saturday, April 12, 2025 | 11:01 AM

Hampton junior McKenna Restori entered this track season hoping to run the 100-meter hurdles in under 18 seconds.

That didn’t take long.

Restori, who began running track only 2 1/2 years ago, set new personal best times in the 100 hurdles with first-place finishes in each of Hampton’s first two dual meets, reaching her elusive 17-second goal along the way.

“This year, it is starting to click,” Restori said. “These last few races have been going really well for me. I feel like I’m more excited to run it now.”

Restori had a personal best “in the 19s” as a freshman learning a new event. She trimmed her time to 18.46 seconds as a sophomore and spent the past offseason and winter indoor track season working to get faster.

“It’s phenomenal,” coach Heather Dietz said. “Hurdles aren’t easy. She’s out there doing it day in and day out and really working hard. … She is very positive and very uplifting. She is an all-around great kid and great athlete.”

Restori bolted out of the blocks this spring, timing an 18.22 to finish first against Mars in the March 25 opener and then ran a 17.83 against Knoch on April 1 to win the race with a sub-18 time.

“Honestly, I was just trying to get into the 17s this year,” she said. “That was a good feeling, coming off and finding out I got a 17.”

Restori started running track as a freshman during the indoor winter season. The coach needed hurdlers and asked Restori to give it a try.

“She decided she wanted me to do it,” Restori said. “She really worked with me, and I was able to pick it up pretty quickly.”

Restori is athletic — she’s a key member of the most successful Hampton girls tennis team in program history — and her hurdle technique has continued to improve.

The 5-foot-1 Restori practiced her start and focused on snapping back to the ground after clearing the 33-inch hurdle.

“I’ve been working on running faster in between the hurdles,” she said. “I’ve also worked on my start. I’ve been doing eight steps to the (first) hurdle instead of nine. I think that’s really helped. Honestly, just getting over the hurdle faster. I feel like snapping down has really helped.”

Restori, who also does the 300 hurdles and the long jump, will face much tougher competition in the coming weeks. The Talbots will attend invitationals at Butler (April 17), South Fayette (April 26) and Pine-Richland (May 2). As for the ultimate goal, the WPIAL Class 3A championships on May 14 at Slippery Rock, the top 24 times recorded throughout the season will qualify. Last year’s cutoff in the 100 hurdles was 16.67 seconds.

“I’m still working on it,” Restori said. “My goal every race is to drop time.”

Tags: Hampton