Below Are A Few Athlete Profiles

Robert A.

Events: HJ, LJ, TJ

Pr's: HJ - 6'0",  LJ - 20'8"  TJ - 43'3"

What Do You Love About Jumping? When you are running to jump, and for the few seconds you are in the air, you feel like you are flying.

How Do You Motivate Yourself? Listening To Music

What's Your Greatest Jumping Achievement So Far?  Jumping over 5'8

What's Something People Don't Know About You?  I didn't choose the jump life, the jump life chose me.


Andrew G.

Events:  All Running / Hurdling, Jumping, & Throwing events that the sport offers

Pr's:  100- 11.63, 200- 22.91, 400- 49.31, 800- 1:54.2, 1600- 4:20.1, 3200- 9:39.3, 5000- 15:42, 110HH- 14.3, 400IH- 54.64, LJ- 20'8, TJ- 41'7, HJ- 6'0, PV- 16'0, SP- 37'4, DT- 121'1, JT- 145'5, Dec- 6579 points

Favorite Jumpers: My favorite jumper is Jesse Williams because he is so precise in his technical work during his jumps.

What Do You Love About Jumping? I love that jumping combines all the elements of track and field into one. It involves speed, strength, raw ability, technical precision, and it is just really fun.

How Do You Motivate Yourself?  What I do to motivate myself before a big competition is just think about my past jumps that were good either in practice or in a previous meet. It helps me visualize what I have to do in upcoming meets and I'm able to put those thoughts into action on the runway.

What's Your Greatest Jumping Achievement So Far? My greatest accomplishment so far in the jumps has been winning the New Jersey Meet of Champions in the Pole Vault. I was not seeded very high in the competition and ended up getting a 18 inch PR to win by 1ft over 2nd place. It is an unusual story that most vaulters won't be able to tell but it speaks to how the sport is and how improvements can always be made, big or small.

What's Something People Don't Know About You?  I do not have an actual pole vault coach besides going to the Flying Circus once in a while and I have just retained the information over the years to help myself in practices and meets. Also, I regularly ride around my town on my 6ft unicycle while juggling just to see the reactions on people's faces.


Jamal B.

Events: HJ, LJ, TJ

Pr's: HJ - 6'4",  LJ - 22'9"  TJ - 47'9

Favorite Jumpers: Phillips Adowu

What Do You Love About Jumping? I love everything about it.  The feeling you get in the air,  when you are coming down the runway, it's just exciting.

How Do You Motivate Yourself? Listening to music, watching videos

What's Your Greatest Jumping Achievement So Far?  I got second in states, but should've won lol.

What's Something People Don't Know About You?  I was a hurdler and 400m runner at one point.


Lu-Aisha C.

Events:  HJ,LJ, TJ

Pr's: HJ, 4'6  LJ - 14'1

Favorite Jumper: Brigetta Barret or Brittany Reese

What Do You Love About Jumping? Everything, but most of all, the quick moment between when you take-off and when you land.

How Do You Motivate Yourself? Listen to music, and watch videos of other jumpers.

What's Something People Don't Know About You?  I can draw really well.


Javier D.

Events:  LJ, TJ

Pr's: LJ - 20'1  TJ - 38 something

Favorite Jumper: Coach Keach… Duh

What Do You Love About Jumping? The competition is different than running events.

How Do You Motivate Yourself? Listening to music

What's Your Greatest Jumping Achievement So Far?  Breaking 20 feet once I hit college.

What's Something People Don't Know About You?  I break dance


Christopher E.

Events: Pole Vault

Pr's: 11 Feet

What Do You Love About Jumping? Jumping for me is stress relieving.

How Do You Motivate Yourself?  Stretch and listen to music.

What's Your Greatest Jumping Achievement So Far?  I cleared 13 feet in practice when I was pole vaulting.

What's Something Interesting About Yourself?  I want to study engineering and computer programming in college and pursue a career in computer sciences.


Penny G.

Events: 55 hurdles, 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles, 400, 100, 200, 4x100 & 4x400

Pr's: 100 hurdles: 15.7 400 hurdles: 67.5 400: 62.3 100: 13.5  55 hurdles: 7.9

Favorite Jumpers: Bubka

What Do You Love About Jumping? It makes me feel like I'm flying

How Do You Motivate Yourself?  I make myself feel like I'm in a dream.

What's Your Greatest Jumping Achievement So Far?  Getting over the bar.

What's Something Interesting About Yourself?  I'm a Norwegian citizen!


Marie J.

Events: HJ, LJ, TJ

Pr's: HJ - 5'4"   LJ - 16'6"   TJ - 36'4"

What Do You Love About Jumping? The thrill and energy I get from trying to get a further or higher distance in just 3 attempts.  The feeling of flying through the air and clearing the bar in the high jump!  The sand.  Even though it gets everywhere!

How Do You Motivate Yourself?  The day before a meet I do light aerobic and stretching, making sure to relax and eat well. The day of my events before I jump I give myself enough time to warm up, get loose, and make sure I have a good mark to jump from.

What's Your Greatest Jumping Achievement So Far?  Placing 1 (Triple), 2 (HJ), 3 (LJ) at MAC's (conferences) this past year. I pr'ed in every event.  My dedication and hard work in practice paid off at the meet.


Darrel Jones

Events:  LJ, TJ

Pr's: LJ - 22' 6  1/2"1  TJ - 50'4 3/4"

Favorite Jumper: Will Claye

What Do You Love About Jumping? It brings out the competitive nature in me. It's like an escape from the things happening around me. When I am jumping the only thing that is important to me is jumping.

How Do You Motivate Yourself? I listen to music to make me relax and I just envision myself jumping far. I picture exactly what I want to accomplish in each phase in my jumps.  I also just repeat the mark I want to go over and over  in my head and that just drives me to get it.

What's Your Greatest Jumping Achievement So Far?  Finally hitting 50 in the triple, and a close second would be being crowned All American.

What's Something People Don't Know About You?  I like to film and edit my own short films and I enjoy editing pictures.


Kalli M.

Events:  PV

Pr's: I pole vault and run the 100 and a part of the 4x1

Favorite Jumper: Mary Saxer

What Do You Love About Jumping? I love that pole vaulting is very unique and that not many people do it.

How Do You Motivate Yourself? Before big competitions I usually watch videos of elite vaulters and also videos of people better than me

What's Your Greatest Jumping Achievement So Far?  So far my greatest accomplishment has been becoming number 5 all time section leader as a freshman jumping 11'3.

What's Something People Don't Know About You?  I started pole vaulting in 6th grade after receiving my 1st degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.


Ivan M.

Events:  PV

Pr's: 14'6

Favorite Jumper: Probably Renaud Lavillenie(France) but Shawn Francis(U.S. Elite) is just awesome.

What Do You Love About Jumping? Definitely the environment. Its not like other antagonistic sports. Everyone wants everyone to do good and get better. We help each other out because we know that our only opponent is the bar.

How Do You Motivate Yourself? I watch a ridiculous amount of pole vault videos and visualize the rush on the way down from a new PR.

What's Your Greatest Jumping Achievement So Far?  Finally getting upside down or "inverted" when i shoot off the top of the pole.

What's Something People Don't Know About You?  I'm secretly a dolphin.


Amber M.

Events:  Hurdles, Long Jump, Discuss, Pole Vault

Pr's: Hurdles - 18.6  LJ - 13'   Discus - 60'  PV - 7'6

Favorite Jumper: I don't know many jumpers but Jen Suhr is definitely an inspiration.

What Do You Love About Jumping?  I love to pole vaulting because it gives me a rush of power that makes me feel that I can accomplish anything

How Do You Motivate Yourself? I am the only girl pole vaulter in my entire school so before a meet I first run with my team to get my blood flowing and warm up a bit. If I have time I will sit, close my eyes and picture myself doing great, clearing something over my goal. I take a while to stretch and relax myself. My coach is also very inspiring when is comes to meets he watches me compete and helps me along the way.

What's Your Greatest Jumping Achievement So Far?  My greatest accomplishment so far with pole vault was starting at 5' and clearing 7' 6" within my first year.

What's Something People Don't Know About You?  A lot of people don't know that i started gymnastics at the age of 3. I also did beauty pageants for 3 years. I am also very artistic.


Rubin O.

Events:  LJ, TJ, HJ

Pr's: HJ - 6'10 1/2"  LJ - 23'5 3/4 "  TJ - 49'7"

Favorite Jumper: Will Claye

What Do You Love About Jumping? Jumping gives you the closest feeling to flying when it's just you and the sand/bar.

How Do You Motivate Yourself? I usually just take the time out and visualize everything that I need to do in the specific events and just put the trust in my training to do it.

What's Your Greatest Jumping Achievement So Far?  Leading the nation at 2 separate times in 2 different events.

What's Something People Don't Know About You?  I did gymnastics for 6 years and I was pretty decent!


Mitchell P.

Events:  HJ, 110 Hurdles, 400 Hurdles, PV

Pr's: HJ - 6'4"  110 Hurdles - 15.6 seconds    400 Hurldes - 59 seconds    PV - 11'6"

Favorite Jumper: Jesse Williams

What Do You Love About Jumping? The reaction I get from other people when I tell them I can jump over my own height.

How Do You Motivate Yourself? Breathing exercises

What's Your Greatest Jumping Achievement So Far?  Placing 6th in Division II at the State Meet.

What's Something People Don't Know About You?  I love physics and callus


Dennis R.

What Events Do You Do?  100m, 200m, Triple Jump, High Jump

What Are You're Pr's?  TJ - 41'11 1/2  HJ - 6'0"

Who Is Your Favorite Jumper?  Carl Lewis, Javier Sotomayor, Usain Bolt

What Do You Love About Jumping?  I love learning all of the physics and physical mechanics of jumping efficiently.

What Do You Do To Motivate Yourself Before A Big Competition?  I motivate myself the night before a competition my watching videos of some of the best high jumpers in history it gives me a sense of inspiration to perform my best.

What's Been Your Greatest Jumping Accomplishment So Far?  Clearing 6' in high jump consistently and break 40' consistently for triple jump.

What's Something People Don't Know About You?  I love music and have played the flute for 8 years and also play the piano, choreograph, and act .


Madeline R.

What Events Do You Do?  I just began my pole vaulting experience so I haven't done any events yet besides pole vault.

What Are You're Pr's?  I think my Pr is 6 or 7ft hah but they didn't tell us at the camp.

Who Is Your Favorite Jumper?  I don't have one.

What Do You Love About Jumping?  It involves using all of my muscles and just with a fiberglass pole, you can jump all the way up to 20ft

What Do You Do To Motivate Yourself Before A Big Competition?  I just started pole vaulting recently so I haven't been to any competitions yet.

 


Brian R.

What Events Do You Do?  Pole Vault

What Are You're Pr's?  8'6 with a bar 10' with a bungee

Who Is Your Favorite Jumper?  Renaud Lavillenie

What Do You Love About Jumping?  I love how it is a completely unique sport that requires true dedication and practice to become good.

What Do You Do To Motivate Yourself Before A Big Competition?  I listen to some music and make sure that I'm mentally ready to compete.

What's Been Your Greatest Jumping Accomplishment So Far?  Being able to turn and get inverted in my jumps which I have not been able to do before.

What's Something People Don't Know About You?  I also ski in the winter and play tennis along with pole vaulting.


Madeleine S.

What Events Do You Do?  Pole Vault, 100mh, TJ, 4x1, 4x2, 4x4

What Are You're Pr's?  PV- 12’4”  100mh-15.8   tj-34’3”

Who Is Your Favorite Jumper?  I know this is incredibly unoriginal for a pole vaulter, but my favorite jumper is the one and only women’s American pole vault record holder, Jenn Suhr. I've met Jenn and her husband maybe two or three times and they are incredibly nice, humble people. Jenn actually caught my step at the Reno Pole Vault Summit last year. I had an Olympic gold medalist tell me my step was about one and a half feet out from my mark.

What Do You Love About Jumping?  I love how pole vaulting takes so much mental toughness. A vaulter can do drills until her hands are ripped but unless she finds the right confidence to run full speed with a stick in her hand and jump she’ll never make a bar. I get to the end of a vault practice and I’m not only physically exhausted but I’m mentally tired from forcing myself to concentrate. I think that’s why so few jumpers end up trying to perfect the vault. If you don’t stay focused in the vault you’re risking more than a twisted ankle.

What Do You Do To Motivate Yourself Before A Big Competition?  The thought of a new PR really motivates me. I try to have a competition with the bar and not the other jumpers. If I think too much about my competition I can freak myself out. That’s why I try to warm up exactly as I would in practice. Like I said pole vaulting takes a lot of mental toughness. If I start treating the vault differently at a meet because I’m nervous, chances are, I’ll no height.

What's Been Your Greatest Jumping Accomplishment So Far?  My biggest accomplishment as a pole vaulter was winning the CT state open title. I had come in second place my sophomore year in indoor, third in outdoor, and second in indoor my junior year. I was definitely gunning for the first place title. I was especially happy because my team won the state title by only three points. It was awesome to know my points in the vault really counted for my team.

What's Something People Don't Know About You?  Most people who know me from track probably don’t know that I also participate in an organization called Post 53. It’s a volunteer, high school run ambulance service for my town. I get to work as a CT licensed EMT. It’s amazing to learn so much medical knowledge and then be able to put it to use helping others.


Denzell S.

What Events Do You Do?  LJ, HJ, 110 Hurdles

What Are You're Pr's?  LJ - 18'5   HJ  5'8"     110 Hurdles - 16.9

Who Is Your Favorite Jumper?  "ill" Will Claye

What Do You Love About Jumping?  I love the rush you get when you pr.

What Do You Do To Motivate Yourself Before A Big Competition?  Listen to music and get into a deep relaxation state.  It kills nervousness.

What's Been Your Greatest Jumping Accomplishment So Far?  PR'ing by 10 inches in the long jump in the first invitation meet of the 2014 outdoor season.

What's Something People Don't Know About You?  I have really good handles in basketball.


Chris W.

What Events Do You Do?  LJ, TJ

What Are You're Pr's?  LJ - 21'1   TJ - 45'1

Who Is Your Favorite Jumper?  It's between Christian Taylor & Teddy Tamgho

What Do You Love About Jumping?  Everyone's reaction when you pull of huge jump.  Especially if it's a PR.

What Do You Do To Motivate Yourself Before A Big Competition?  I actually use videos and music to calm me down.  I get too excited sometimes.

What's Been Your Greatest Jumping Accomplishment So Far?  Placing at indoor Nationals my first time there.

What's Something People Don't Know About You?  I love apples, but it sucks because I'm allergic to them.

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