TUCSON, Ariz. – Tiana Bonds sat down with ArizonaWildcats.com to discuss the meet of her life. The meet of her life came right after her high school graduation at the Great Southwest meet in Albuquerque, N.M.

Leading up to this meet Bonds knew she was going to compete at a high level to achieve some of her goals. "Going into the meet, and all season really, I had a certain confidence about me," Bonds said. " I had No doubts, no fears, and felt nothing could stop or frighten me. I would achieve my goals because why wouldn't I? I decided I would, so I would. In my mind it was truly that simple."

Bonds competed in the heptathlon, 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles at the meet and had a few goals in her sight that she was determined to accomplish. "I wanted to be top-five nationally in the 100-meter hurdles, while also running the best time in the country in the 300-meter hurdles. I wanted to be the best in that event, and run it under 41 seconds."

Bonds joked about what she called her "perfectionistic personality" she has on the track.

"If you know me, when I set goals I do everything I possibly can in my power to achieve them," she said.

During her senior season of high school, Bonds had achieved one of her goals in the 100-meter hurdles. She was still in the 41 seconds mark in the 300-meter hurdles though, so she went looking for advice.

Her next phone call before the Great Southwest meet went to Coach Fred Harvey. Bonds had signed with Arizona a few months before and didn't have a hurdles coach before, so coach Harvey was the guy to call. Coach Harvey reviewed some video and recommended Bonds should make one switch.

"He told me to go over the second hurdle with my less dominant leg, and I knew I could do it. I trusted him and always have trusted him since then," Bonds said.

Fast-forward to the meet and Bonds had already put on a show in the heptathlon and 100-meter hurdles. She garnered a new personal best in the heptathlon at 5,256 in her fourth ever multi competition that was second in the nation at the time. The next day Bonds competed in the 100-meter hurdles and finished just a tenth of a second behind the fastest girl in the country. Later that day Bonds would get the last opportunity of her life to run the 300-meter hurdles.

"I wanted it more than anything in the world." Bonds said. "I knew I could accomplish it."

Bonds had her mother, her best friend Sydney and coach Harvey all in attendance. She made the switch her coach had told her to make, that she had only practiced twice before.

"I came across the finish line, without even thinking of the other girls competing next to me and immediately looked to see the time on the clock."

The clock finally flashed a time of 40.90 seconds, Bonds had not only broken the 41 second barrier, but she had ran the fastest time in the country and remained so for that whole year.

"I'll never forget the feeling of pure joy in accomplishing my goal, the feeling that nothing in the world could stop me, and simply being so unbelievably proud of myself for what I had done," Bonds said. "It would never be taken away from me. I loved that I made Coach Harvey, Sydney, and most importantly my mom proud."

Bonds is now in her junior year here at the Arizona and is ready to compete at the highest level in the hurdles again. After switching training groups several times, retiring from the heptathlon, and switching lead legs for hurdling she has worked up some new goals that, as we know, she will be determined to accomplish.

"I want to make it to nationals and PR in the 100 and 400-meter hurdles." Bonds said. "I am determined to renew that confidence that sparked my drive in high school, I know it's in me and I can't wait to really get going in this outdoor season."

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