In a high-stakes tri-meet against the University of Maine and the University of Vermont, Tanner who is from Baltimore, Md. tied Dartmouth's record in the 60-meter hurdles, with a time of 9.02 seconds on Jan. 15. The previous week, she won the 400-meter dash and helped her 4x400 relay team win first place at the Dartmouth Relays.
Her efforts helped the Big Green to its first Relays victory since 2007. Tanner also acted as a key figure in defeating both Maine and UVM with large margins.
Tanner's performances have impressed her teammates, including men's track and field co-captain Tyler Ford '11. Ford has competed with Tanner for the past four years.
"Every year, to watch [Tanner] improve and just shatter records that have existed for a while is so great, even when it's her own records she is breaking," Ford said. "It makes being on the team really exciting and it's impressive to watch her build a legacy that will be around for a long time and challenge other Dartmouth athletes for years to come."
Tanner not only devotes her time to track, she also holds an on-campus job at Jones Media Center, serves as an undergraduate advisor and is a new member educator in Delta Delta Delta sorority. Despite these other commitments, her time as a member of the track team has been the "most rewarding part" of her time at Dartmouth, Tanner said.
"No matter how much I complain about the workouts I'll admit, it has happened I really, really love it," she said. "One might call me obsessed."
Tanner currently holds the Dartmouth record for the 400-meter hurdles event with a time of 59.04 seconds, and achieved the second best time in the 400-meter dash in College history. Tanner was also a member of the 4x400 relay team that set a record with a time of 3:49.78 in 2008, later besting this record with a time of 3:48.41 at the 2010 Penn Relays.
Tanner said she appreciates her success this season, especially after overcoming a "dismal season" last year.
"I had a rough time getting back into track last indoor season after my off-term needless to say, I was kind of out of shape," she said. "When you're used to doing well, not doing well becomes unacceptable. I told myself no matter how much it hurt, I would get back to where I needed to be before the year ended, and by mid-outdoor I had, and this year I've already improved even more."
Elizabeth Garland '13 who was also a member of the 4x400 relay team that broke the Dartmouth record last season said that Tanner's leadership abilities, along with her track performances, are what make her a standout captain.
"Last year, as a freshman, it was really good to have her because she took me under her wing," Garland said. "She was a role model for me and was a big part in my success last spring. She not only cares about how she is doing, but really wants everyone to succeed."
Women's track and field coach Sandra Ford-Centonze who is now in her nineteenth season as head coach said Tanner has "a very strong impact on the team."
"She has a very strong work ethic, which was part of the reason why she was chosen as captain," Ford-Centonze said. "Her ability to help motivate the other kids is also really important. They see what she has been able to accomplish and how she has gotten better over her career. They see that and see what is possible with the work and focus she puts in."
Ford-Centonze said Tanner's focus is especially notable, and has a spillover effect on the rest of the team.
"She is a good leader in that sense," Ford-Centonze said. "She is someone that will push herself beyond her limits and will also push her teammates as well."
Tanner will next compete with the women's track and field team at the Multi-Event Meet in Cambridge, Mass., on Jan. 27-28, and the Terrier Classic in Boston, Mass., on Jan. 28.
Staff writer Kelly Hanen contributed to the reporting of this article.
