RAPID CITY - Rapid City Central hurdler Anna Gagliano made a name for herself after finishing second in last year's South Dakota Class AA 100-meter hurdles championship.

She made that name a little bigger after uncorking a long jump of 17 feet, 6 inches to win that event at last weekend's Queen City Invitational in Spearfish in addition to winning the 100-meter hurdles. For that effort, Gagliano has been named the Rapid City Journal Athlete of the Week.

Gagliano, a junior, had never jumped at a high school meet before and didn't even get to really practice the event before topping teammate Jasmyne King by half an inch.

"My coach, Coach (John) Huska, just said out of the blue, 'You know, you should try long jump.' He just said that and I did it," Gagliano said.

Gagliano tried to practice a few jumps before the meet, but weather kept the Cobblers from practicing outside, so she had to settle for a few run-throughs and working on technique. That Gagliano went out and bettered King, the defending Class AA champion in the event, says plenty about Gagliano's natural athleticism.

"I was extremely nervous," she said of jumping for the first time since middle school. "I went out there and my steps were all off and I thought it was going to be bad. But Coach (Thad) Caldwell and Coach (Dave) Dolan told me to just move a little bit that way and everything turned out pretty well."

Obviously. The win was a surprise to most everybody, and puts yet another female Cobbler in the mix at the state meet in yet another event.

"I guess it was probably my fault that we had never put her in the long jump before that," Central head coach Dave Dolan joked. "She's a great kid with a lot of ability and we're just excited to see what she can do as the season goes on."

Gagliano admits that the win in a new event was fun, but she's not ready to start calling herself a jumper any time soon.

"The hurdles are still my favorite, but I'm excited for the long jump," she said. "It's kind of an exciting, new and different thing."

Gagliano pretty much sticks to the 100-meter hurdles, running on some relay teams and now, long jumping. Just don't ask her to run the 300-meter hurdles any time soon.

"They're kind of a killer," she said with a laugh.

Gagliano doesn't play any other sports for the Cobblers, but she is definitely a well-rounded individual. Gagliano competed in gymnastics when she was younger and counts unicycling, horse riding and rock climbing as helping her overall balance and athleticism.

"I guess if you count chasing horses, but that's about it," Gagliano said when asked about her off-season training regimen for track.

Gagliano wants to compete for a track and field program in college, where she would like to study to become a veterinarian. She is also active in orchestra - she plays the double bass - and choir. Music has been a part of Gagliano's life for nearly as long as she can remember.

"My older sister, Morgan, plays saxophone and sings," Gagliano said of her 27-year-old sibling. "She's always been a good role model for me. I'd like to be like her some time."

While Gagliano competes in an individual sport, she isn't quick to take much credit. In fact, she never once talks about herself when it comes to her abilities on the track.

"A lot of people help me with everything," she said. "Coach Houska and Coach Dolan and all of the coaches really help me out. I have to give a lot of thanks to my coaches, my family and all of the other athletes on our team that support me. I wouldn't be where I am without them at all."