Natchez High Rosalyn Minor took to the hurdles naturally. Now she hopes the hurdles takes her to national fame.

Minor qualified in the 110-hurdles for the USA&160;Track and Field Junior Olympics in Buffalo, N.Y., July 29.

Minor earned her ticket to New York by finishing third in the USA&160;Regionals in Nashville, Tenn., earlier this month. She posted a time of 15.81 to grab the final qualifying spot.

Minor tried out for the Natchez Middle School track team as a seventh-grader.

&uot;One day I walked on the track and was told to jump the hurdles,&uot; she said. &uot;That’s how I learned it. I was kind of a natural, it just came to me. Everything just felt right. So I kept working at it and practicing every day to get better. I just kept polishing it up.&uot;

Minor, who finished sixth in the 400-hurdles at the Region VI Meet in Nashville, Tenn., earned the final spot in the 110-hurdles, finishing several seconds ahead of the fourth place finisher.

&uot;There was some good competition and a lot of bigger girls,&uot; said the 5-foot-8, 114-pound Minor. &uot;I knew I had to get a good start and finish first, second or third. I wanted to finish first, but the other two girls beat me out of the blocks.&uot;

Minor, the daughter of Jennifer Minor and Dave Smith, said her goal at nationals is to run a 15.6.

&uot;I want to at least beat the other girls to the first three hurdles,&uot;&160;she said. &uot;If I can do that and keep it to three steps between the rest of the hurdles, I think I can win.&uot;

Minor said she looks up to track star Gail Devers. She credits former Natchez High standout and current Mississippi State hurdler Kelvin Harris with helping her improve her running style.

As has Natchez USA teammate Janice Davis, who will compete at nationals in the 400-meters.

&uot;Janice has give me several tips on hurdles,&uot; she said.

Davis begins competition at the Nationals today in qualifying heats.

Minor said her goal is to make the Olympic team.

&uot;I want to go to college and run track and then make the Olympics,&uot; she said. &uot;I just have to keep practicing hard and getting better.&uot;