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Girls' athlete of the week By Eric Branch Santa Rosa senior Suzanne Howard is a hurdler -- one of the best in Empire history -- but she isn't limited to her speciality. Howard, for example, also won the North Bay League title in the 100 meters last year and won the long jump in a league tri-meet. "She could do just about anything I asked her to do," Santa Rosa coach Doug Courtemarche said. "She could run the 800, although she'd probably quit." Howard began her senior season with a flourish last week, winning the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles at the 18-team Big Cat Invitational. Howard has the second-fastest Empire time in in the 100 hurdles (14.83) and the seventh- fasest in the 300 (45.57). UC Santa Barbara has offered her some scholarship money and UC Davis is also interested. Howard has reached the Meet of Champions -- the final step before the state meet -- each of the past two years. Now she could be poised to take the next step. Her only stumbling block could be a problem most athletes would love to have: She's too good for the competition. Howard hasn't lowered her personal-best time in the 100 since her sophomore year, a lack of progress that could be tied to a lack of local hurdlers pushing her. "It's definitely a mind game," Howard said. "Each meet it's like 'OK, I've never seen these people, but I'm sure they're fast.' I never want to get on a high horse."
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