By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

She’s healthy, and running strong.

As successful as Troup’s Ashanti Tigner has been throughout her high-school career, she has been slowed by injuries.

This season, it’s been full-speed ahead for Tigner, who has been one of the state’s top sprinters since day one.

This weekend, Tigner is competing in the Class AAAA state finals in Albany, and she’s participating in three events.

Tigner will run in the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash, and she’ll compete in the 1,600-meter relay along with Kaila Jones-Hooks, Khara Roberts and Catherine Leverette.

“Throughout high school I’ve been getting hurt,” Tigner said. “This year, it’s been a pretty good year. I got a lot of new (personal records), and I’ve become a whole lot better sprinter.”

Tigner’s best performance of the season came in the Region 5-AAAA meet when she delivered a blistering time of 11.94 seconds in the 100-meter dash to beat a loaded field

Tigner also won the 200-meter dash at the region meet with a time of 25.40 seconds.

“I feel like region was the hardest meet this year,” Tigner said.

Tigner followed that up by posting the second-best times in the 100 and the 200 during the state sectional last weekend in Columbus.

Carla Thornton, Troup’s coach, said Tigner is committed to doing whatever it takes to succeed.

“She’s put in a lot of work outside of practice,” Thornton said. “She works out with Kane (Bradfield), building that strength. She’s a complete runner. That’s what it takes to achieve greatness.”

Thornton believes the competition Tigner has faced during the season, particularly in a region that includes defending state-champion Chapel Hill, will benefit her this weekend.

“She’s already been battled-tested,” Thornton said. “The last two state champions are in our region, and LaGrange is in our region and has a great program.”

Tigner has been running for 10 years, and the sport means a lot to her.

“I’ve been running since I was 6,” Tigner said. “I just like it, I enjoy it. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t run.”

In addition to her two individual races, Tigner and her three teammates will compete in the 1,600-meter relay.

Troup finished eighth in the state sectional to qualify in that event.