The 100 meters hurdles...what an exciting Track and Field event run by women. This discipline started back in 1932 with 80m hurdles and was later lengthened to 100m hurdles in 1972. Sirena Alise is an American track and field athlete from Fresno, California. Sirena, who lives in San Diego, competes in the 100m hurdles for Wes Williams Track Club and is a top place finisher in many international meets. We've interviewed Sirena to share her journey towards making it to the Rio Olympics in 2016.
 
Get to know Sirena:
 

How did you get started with Track & Field?

I spent most of my early life competing in Gymnastics. When I got to middle school I decided I wanted to try new things - volleyball, basketball, competitive cheer, and finally Track and Field. My mom ran track so I knew when track season came around that that's what I wanted to do. I started hurdling because that's what my best friend did. And as kids we all do the same things our best friends do, when it comes to something new.
 

What is your biggest accomplishment in your career?

My biggest accomplishment would be breaking 13 [seconds]. I've trained 3 years to break 13 and I finally did that at my first USA National Championships competition. 12.94 to be exact. It was the greatest feeling in the world and the only true goal I had set at the time for my athletic career. I knew if I was capable of breaking 13 that I was capable of making a team.
 

What does your normal day look like?

A normal day for me starts at 6am. That's the time I naturally wake up. It's a blessing and a curse but I get a lot done during the day. If I had a hard training session the day before I normally wake up around 7 or 8am. First thing I try to do every morning is write down my goals: In general life goals, what I want to do that day goals, 5 year plan goals. I have a goal book and to be honest since I've gotten in the semi habit of writing them down, I have accomplished most of the goals in my book. After goal writing its off to "work". I put work in parenthesis because I feel if you enjoy what you're doing it's never "work".  I own my own Online Marketing & Branding company so it typically starts off with me knocking out any projects I have going on with the companies I currently work with. From managing ad spend budgets on social media campaigns to creating innovative ways to engage and build their current audience.
 
After the online work is done I head to training. Knock out a training session and then carry on to coaching. I coach at the high school and collegiate levels and I love it! I love the feeling of helping athletes reach their full potential.
 
After coaching is done I head home and knock out any work I didn't complete in the morning. If American Horror Story is on you can catch me on the couch watching it. It comes on on Wednesdays. Oh yes. Let's not forget Empire. Any other day I work some more, read, and then watch about 20 minutes of Netflix before passing out. I don't watch a lot of TV.
 

Who is your favorite athlete and why?

My favorite athlete is Quincy Amarikwa and that's because he is more than an athlete. He is 100% effort all the time no matter the challenge or obstacle. He encourages other athletes to use their social status as a means to build a residual income once their professional athletic careers end. He's also a beast on the pitch.
 

What is one fun fact about yourself?

One fun fact I guess would be that I can still do flips. If I do to many of them I get dizzy though. I'm getting up there in age. One interesting fact would be I rehabilitated squirrels and birds in high school. Haha that was fun.
 

If you could be anything else besides a pro athlete, what would you be?

I would be a Biological Researcher. My species of study would be tortoises. I have a sulcata at home and he never ceases to amaze me.
 

Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by?

Be the change you want to see. I believe if you want something to change you have to initiate it within yourself for outward results.
 

What kind of music motivates you to perform at a high level?

Haha Trap music. Easily the best hype music ever. But in all honesty any music with an up tempo beat will suffice.
 

What is your favorite food?

Egusi soup. OMG that soup is the bomb!
 

Anything else you'd like to add?

I really appreciate the opportunity to be a guest feature and I'm very impressed with your platform and your willingness to promote athletes at all levels. I understand I don't have the biggest following but I will do my best to help promote your services to other athletes in the same boat as me!!

 
Big thanks to Sirena Alise for taking her time to answer all our questions and sharing some information about herself. Do you want Sirena Alise to be a brand ambassador for your brand? You can find and sponsor Sirena on the worldís largest network of sports sponsorship opportunities at OpenSponsorship. Thanks for reading and don't forget to sign up today.