Mojave’s Derriah Wren – Las Vegas Sun News

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When the Mojave High track team gathers for training, one athlete naturally takes charge.

Senior Derriah Wren is not only a state champion sprinter and hurdler, but also the team’s unquestioned leader. That means organizing drills, pushing the pace in practice and encouraging teammates at meets.

The formula is working: Both the Mojave girls’ and boys’ teams claimed Class 4A Mountain Region titles last week. The state tournament is this weekend.

At the regional meet, Wren swept her events — winning the 300-meter hurdles (46.80 seconds), the 100-meter hurdles (15.79) and the 200 meters (25.16). She enters the state meet as the defending champion in both hurdle events.

Wren is her own toughest critic.

Crossing the finish line first is only half the battle. A win that doesn’t meet her time standards is hardly a win at all — and that relentless drive is exactly what sets her apart.

“Technique is most important. That’s No. 1,” she said. “(Winning a race) is 60% technique and 40% speed.”

Wren has also competed in flag football and wrestling at Mojave, but track is where she feels most at home. The thrill of racing has drawn her in since an early age — especially when it ends with a victory.

And the victories have added up: She’s collected so many medals that keeping count is nearly impossible.

Wren is a finalist for Female Athlete of the Year at next week’s Sun Standout Awards, the Sun’s annual high school sports awards show.

That’s because Wren’s impact extends beyond the track. She serves on Mojave’s Rattler Leadership Team, a group of student-athletes who advise school administrators — and she does it all while carrying a 4.3 weighted GPA.

It’s been a decorated four years, and come Saturday, she’s hoping to add a few more medals to the collection.

Her advice: “Keep having fun and racing hard.”

That, after all, is what leaders do.