By Staff
Kim West
RED BAY – Getting into a rhythm is the key to success when running hurdles, according to Red Bay High School senior Kellie Sella.
"Running hurdles is all about getting your timing down and your strides just right," said Sella, who competes in the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles.
She first participated in track as a seventh grader and immediately fell in love with the hurdles event despite having a height disadvantage.
"It can be hard to compete because I'm 5-2 and a lot of the runners at state are 5-7 or 5-9," said Sella, who has placed as high as third at the state meet. "But I've gone the past four years to the state meets, and I love competing in them."
In addition to track, Sella is a trained gymnast and part-time instructor for Dana's Dancers and is a UCA All-Star member of the school's varsity cheerleading squad.
Sella, who moved to Red Bay from Mississippi the summer before her eighth grade year, also strives for success in the classroom and is active in school activities. She is ranked seventh in her class with a 3.9 GPA and was selected for "Most Leadership Ability" by her classmates. She serves as president of the SADD Club and Beta Club secretary and belongs to the English Club, Spanish Club, Leo Club and Science Club.
"My favorite trip was with the SADD Club the summer before my junior year when we went to the national convention in Boston," she said. "I loved it, and we were able to visit a lot of historical sites including where the Boston Massacre happened."
Sella doesn't have a favorite teacher or coach but has a definite description for an effective teacher.
"I think coaches are teachers," she said. "They have to be willing to work with you and motivate you and be able to tell you what you're doing wrong and what you're doing right. And I think a good teacher is someone who can explain things well."
Sella identified math as her favorite subject and will attend the University of North Alabama in Florence next fall.
"I'm going to major in computer information systems at UNA," said Sella, who plans to live on-campus. "My brother-in-law is in the computer field and he has taught me a couple of things. I thought it was interesting, and I've always liked computers."
Sella, who describes her personality as loud and outgoing, called twin sister Lauren her best friend.
"We sometimes get called 'the twins' instead of our individual names, which we don't like that much," she said. "But we get along great and we're best friends. We share the same car but it's not hard because we've always had to share things."
In her spare time, Sella enjoys everything from listening to music to deer hunting.
"I like watching movies and spending time with friends and family," Sella said. "I really like rock and Christian music, and some country – I've seen Skillet, Casting Crowns, Mercy Me and Kenny Chesney in concert.
"I also like to go deer hunting with my dad. Ever since I was little, we've gone out hunting together, and it's something I really enjoy doing. Lauren is definitely not a hunter even though she went out with us one time when we were younger. My dad asked her if she was ready to leave and she said, 'I was ready to go two hours ago,' and I don't think she's tried it again since then."
Sella is the daughter of Paul and Sheree Sella and also has two older half-sisters, Stephanie and Michelle.