State champion hurdler Gianna Verdone will be trading in the track for the runway this summer as the Fort Campbell High School graduate heads to New York to pursue her modeling career.
Verdone, who moved to Fort Campbell from Texas earlier this year, made her mark on the school in her short time there. She won region titles in the 100 and 300-meter hurdle events and ran the second leg on the 400-meter relay team that beat defending state champion Murray by .08 seconds.
She won the 100-meter hurdles at the state meet, becoming Fort Campbell’s first individual female state champion in seven years. Her winning time on the track at the University of Kentucky was the 13th fastest in school history.
WATCH GIANNA VERDONE WIN THE STATE TITLE IN THE 100-METER HURDLES
She also finished tied for second place in the high jump, was fifth in the 300-meter hurdles, and teamed with Savannah Ziegler, Natalie Winters, and Jerni Hicks to finish third in the 400-meter dash.
“I’ve always had the support of my coaches and family and of course, my teammates and that has pushed me to work hard and get to where I’m at today,” Verdone said of her state meet success.
Her success helped the Lady Falcons to a second-place team finish – the school’s best in 27 years.
But topping the hurdles isn’t Verdone’s only talent, At the state meet earlier this month, Verdone told YSE she is continuing her modeling career in New York City this summer.
Her brother already works as a model and Verdone was offered a contract while in high school. The decision to graduate paid off both academically and athletically.
And Verdone can sing too so her array of talents will most likely see the Fort Campbell track star land on her feet – two things that have benefitted her quite well.
