Annmarie Precht launched her track and field career in the seventh grade, just down the road from Cape Canaveral in Florida.

But it really never took off until she transferred to Siuslaw High School last August.

Now she is ranked among the elite 4A sprinters and long jumpers in the state, as well as being a key member of the Vikings' 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams.

"When I saw her on Day 1 (of practice), we knew she had the potential to be a difference maker," Siuslaw coach Chris Johnson said.

"And she has been. It's just a matter of keeping her healthy."

Precht has her feet taped at meets and practice to battle painful micro tears in the tendons.

"We do a lot of things in the offseason to ready the connective tissue for the workload," Johnson said. "And she didn't do much in the preseason."

So far it hasn't slowed her down. And as good as she's been, Precht, 16 going on 17, believes she can get better.

Much better.

"I feel like I'm getting a lot faster here than I ever got close to in Florida," she said. "I feel more motivated, because of the coaching.

"And the team helps a lot. I really enjoy running and seeing my entire team cheering. I've never had that happen to me before."

Precht is among the top five in the state among 4A girls in the 100 and 200 meters, with the top times this season in those events in the Far West League.

She also has gone 17 feet even in the long jump, which puts her No. 3 in the state in 4A and No. 2 in league.

Precht anchors a fine 4x100 relay team and currently is a member of the top 4A 4x400 team.

That's top marks in five events, and that's a problem. But a good one.

"She can only do four events," Johnson said, noting the limit set by the Oregon School Activities Association. "It's hard to take someone out of an event when they're in the top 10 in state.

"We have some tough decisions to make."

Precht believes she can run faster and jump farther, but she also loves being part of the relay teams, especially the 4x100, which she anchors.

"That last stretch really gets me, all that anxiety, that nervousness really hits me all at once," she said. "It's, 'Aw, geez, it's my team. I've got to pass the finish line and make them proud.'"

Precht helped make Siuslaw proud early in the season as part of the 4x400 Vikings team that won a special relay race in Portland during the IAAF World Championships in March.

"That was a big deal. I'm still surprised that we were in the same room with the world's fastest people, the world's strongest people," she said. "It was just amazing."

Precht was joined on that team by Destinie Tatum, Mikaela Siegel and Morgan Bingham, a fellow junior who also transferred to Siuslaw last fall.

But unlike Bingham, who helped the Vikings win a state cross country title, Precht passed on the sport. She seriously is considering taking it up this coming fall, as a senior, as well as wrestling next winter.

"Florida is really hot, and I didn't like distance running," Precht said. "Here I might do it because it's good running weather most of the time."

She credits more than the weather for encouraging her to run year round.

"The coaching here is amazing. I've never been coached so perfectly," she said. "I never got the support in Florida that I do here. It's a big change, and I really like it.

"All the coaches, they're really helpful with a lot of stuff. They know a lot about what they're doing."

She has found a welcoming environment at school and in the community, as well.

"This school, when I got here, from Florida, I almost cried because I saw so much pride, so much caring for each other," Precht said.

"It's like something you see in a movie. I was so surprised how supportive everyone is here. It's just amazing. I like it a lot."