On Thursday, Aug. 8 when U.S. Olympian Chari Hawkins lines up for the 100m hurdles in Paris, her parents will be in the stands watching her compete in the first event of the heptathlon.
The smiles on the faces of Bill and Peggy Hawkins are wide as they talk about their daughter who grew up in Rexburg and graduated from Madison High School in 2010 as a three-sport athlete: track, basketball and volleyball. She especially excelled in track where she was a seven-time state champion in three events: 100-meter hurdles, high jump and long jump. She still holds the record for the 100-meter hurdles at Madison High School.
“When she was young, she started track and she said, “Mom, I want to be an Olympian,” Peggy said.
At the time, Peggy encouraged her to chase her dream. Now, at age 33, Chari is living that dream. During the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Eugene, Oregon, she placed second in the heptathlon with a score of 6456, a personal best.
The heptathlon is actually seven events rolled up into one competition. It includes the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-meter dash, long jump, javelin throw and 800-meter dash. In each event, competitors are given points. The athlete with the most points at the end of the competition wins.
Turning Pro
After turning pro in 2015 following her graduation from Utah State University, where she was a second-team All-American, she competed in the 2016 and 2021 Olympic trials but failed to make Team USA. In 2019, she scored high enough and was ranked high enough to represent the United States in the World Championships in Doha, Qatar. She placed 12th in that competition.
In 2023, she contemplated retiring from professional track and field until the World Championships at Budapest, Hungary, showed her what was possible.
“And she ended up PBing in five of the seven events that she did,” Bill says. “And I looked at Peggy and I says, ‘My heavens, hon, she’s 32 years old and she’s getting better!”
She scored a personal best score of 6,366. Bill and Peggy told her she should give it another year. The advice and training have paid off.
2024 Olympic Trials
During the 2024 Olympic Trials, she was in 2nd place going into the second day of events. The first event was the long jump, which she didn’t do as well as she hoped, dropping her to third place. But she’s been working hard on her javelin throw.
“And to be there was unbelievable,” Bill said, “because the crowd, when they see that javelin going past that 40-meter mark, they all just go, ‘Whoa!’”
Each of her three throws was better than the last. She threw 49.28 meters (161.68 feet), another personal best.
The heptathlon, and its seven events, is grueling in many ways. It is also mathematical. An athlete doesn’t have to place first in every event to win. Chari’s javelin throw put her back into second place and a chance at the Olympics. But the 800-meter event is not her strongest event. She’s also been working hard on her times in that event and knew she just couldn’t lose to Anna Hall or Taliyah Brooks by too much time. She finished the race in 2:14.76, enough for 7th place and a spot on the Olympic team.
“It’s funny, because people that don’t understand the heptathlon saw her come in seventh place and went, ‘Oh shoot, Chari just lost to those other girls.’ It’s about total points,” Bill said.
Chari now ranks 10th in the world for the heptathlon as she prepares for the Olympics. She was unavailable for an interview with BYU-Idaho Radio but did have her parents share a message. She said she’s grateful for the support from everyone.
“Growing up in Rexburg and being around athletics played such a large role in my success. Hopefully, others can see what happens when you have a goal and never give up,” she said.
She also sent this message through her father:
“I am so grateful for the opportunity to represent my country, represent my hometown state and represent where I’m from, Rexburg, Idaho, at the Paris Olympics this summer. I have been working so hard to make everybody proud, I hope that I can prove that if you are willing to make big goals, believe in yourself, and never give up, there isn’t anything you can’t do. Go after what you want … hey … you might just get it.”
You can watch Chari compete on Aug. 8 and 9 in Paris.