DENISON, Texas (KTEN)- Denison hadn't sent an individual athlete to the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in Austin since 2012.

But on Friday, Lady Jacket senior Bella Maxson will change that.

she will be competiting in the 100 meter hurdles at 1:30...

In order to qualify, she had to have one of the top 52 times out of all the girls at 5A and 6A schools in the state.

Maxson didn't even start running track until eighth grade. Now, she's excelling for the Lady Jackets and committed to run at Ouachita Baptist collegiately.

And when it comes to the Texas Relays, it's an event she's been eyeing for awhile. Now on Friday, she's looking forward to competing down in Austin.

"I'm super excited to see all the talent and all the people I've looked up to," Maxson said. "Just seeing their hard work and their dedication to the sport. Just a prerequisite for what I can be doing next year."

And for Maxson, Friday will be the culmination of years of hard work.

"We went from freshman year knocking off the first hurdle in practice to now there's nothing she can't do," Denison hurdles coach Brandon Quate said. "She's looking for her own critiques, any way she can get better. That's what you want out of an elite athlete that really really cares. That's somebody I hope my daughter can look up to."