Personal Records:
Long Jump - 17-7.5
Triple Jump - 35-9
Class AA State 2016 - 4x100 (2nd), Long Jump (12th), Triple Jump (18th)
What sports did you play in elementary school?
I was born and raised in Mankato. I've been playing soccer since kindergarten and started basketball in 4th grade.
What sports do you participate at the varsity level?
I do soccer and basketball as well as track. All three keep me in great shape all year and I've developed a very strong lower body because of them. I also will be the captain in all three sports for next year!
What other activities have you participated in at your high school?
I have been involved in the Positive Leadership Council (PLC) which takes leaders from each activity and teaches us how to be a good teammate, leader, and role model. I also am in Link Crew which connects upperclassmen to freshmen.
How did these activities help you for track & field?
PLC has helped me learn how to keep a positive mindset and also teach me how to be a leader. Our track team is quite young so other veterans and myself have had to step up and take them under our wing. We have to get them through tough situations as well as push them to be better. Every activity I am involved in makes me a better person and athlete.
You have received how many letters in track & field? Your coach said you have lettered every year since 7th grade
Track letters: 5, Soccer letters: 5, Basketball letters: 3. Soccer Awards: 4 time All City winner, Big 9 All conference 2 times and honorable mention 1 time, All State honorable mention 1 time. Track Awards: 2x All Conference, 2x All Conference Honorable Mention, 1xAll State Award, 2x Academic All State.
Who are your coaches and what do they help you with? Do they do anything special that has helped you as a person and/or athlete?
My head coach is Joy Visto and she is always so positive and encouraging and while she doesn't teach me the mechanics of running or jumping she is a great role model.
My sprints coach is Mary Nelson and she helps me with my blocks as well as relay handoffs and is also just a very motivating person. Coach Visto and Nelson also create the line ups for each meet.
My jumps coach is Billy Visto and he is extremely knowledgeable and technical, I would not be the jumper I am without his help. Both Coach Visto and Nelson were extremely supportive of me this last season especially. I tore my ACL in the fall playing soccer so unfortunately I wasn't able to compete at all this spring but both of them kept me involved with the team and kept me motivated.
Although these are just the coaches I interact with our whole coaching staff at East is full of wonderful people who are supportive of you, even if you aren't in their event group. My former coach Neil Paarmann is also a huge inspiration to me. Paarmann was my coach 7th and 8th grade and had to resign because he had to focus on battling cancer. He continues to battle illness and his strength and perseverance is awe inspiring. He was an amazing coach and always believed in every single girl on the team. You could always hear him yell for you especially when he was yelling his signature "Let's Go!!"
How about your family? Has anyone been a good athlete in the past and served as a role model for you? Are they often at the meets to cheer you on?
My family includes my mom, dad, and older sister Lizzy. My mom ran track at MSU so she is a track fanatic! She and my dad come to every meet and game to support me. My grandparents also come to the majority of my meets and games. My older sister also played soccer and I got to play with her on the varsity team for 3 years. She has always been a big role model to me because of her work ethic and her leadership. I am very thankful to have a family that is so supportive and they really mean a lot to me.
Who among your teammates has inspired, motivated, or taught you how to jump or sprint well?
In 2016 our Mankato East team of me, Emily Altenberg, Hanna Shank, and Emma Baynes were the runners up in the 4 x 100 relay at the state meet! Our time was 48.52 and we finished second to St. Michael-Albertville's 47.28.
Emily Altenburg and Emma Baynes are two teammates that have motivated me and made me a better athlete. Emily and I were always in pretty much in the same events and we always jumped together. We'd go back and forth as far as who would jump the farthest. We trained together and pushed each other a lot. Emma always works hard in practice and pushes everyone to be faster. Emma graduated this year, Emily and Hanna did the year before so it will be very strange to not see any of them at practices.
Who are your toughest common opponents? Where are they from and do you have fun relationships with them?
Some of our tougher opponents include Owatonna just because their relays are always fast. Waconia and Chanhassen are tough competitors in our section as well. Both have great relays and Waconia has good jumpers.
What is it like competing against Mankato West?
The rivalry between the Mankato schools is mostly friendly! A lot of us have grown up playing sports together so we have respect for each other while also being competitive. You always want to win against them but I always try to remember that a game or meet against them doesn't count more than any other meet or game. We do face West in sections but I think it's great to see their athletes succeed as well. Both of us represent Mankato so whenever someone makes it to state it's awesome.
Do you have to share tracks with other teams in Mankato?
Minnesota State University at Mankato now has an outdoor and indoor track. Both East and West have outdoor tracks as well. MSU's indoor track gets used by us for the first two meets of the season, which is a great opportunity for us since normally the weather doesn't cooperate early in the track season.
What is your favorite event? Why? Have you ever considered running long distance?
My favorite event is long jump because I love the feeling of a great jump and PRing. I love how it seems so simple yet has a lot more to it. I've actually always wanted to try an 800, so maybe this year I'll just do one. I don't think my coaches would let me do it seriously though as they value my jumping and sprinting ability
What do you like about Mankato East High School?
Mankato East is a great place to learn and grow. The teachers and coaches there are very passionate about what they do and that makes a great environment. I also appreciate the diversity East has and I think it prepares students for the real world and gives you a different perspective.
What are the beginning techniques for the Long Jump? What is the most important element of a great jumper? Is it speed, jumping ability, technique, or something else? Which techniques are the most important?
I think that beginning technique for long jump includes having a consistent approach and a good landing. The more complicated technique like adding a good penultimate step and a quick step are definitely things you have to learn and don't just start doing.
I think the most important element of a good jumper is just simple athleticism. You can teach technique but you can't teach someone how to control their body like an athlete can. Athleticism includes being strong and fast which are both very important too.
The most important techniques are the approach and the penultimate step. Even if you have an amazing jump, if your approach is off you'll either foul or be so far behind the board it won't matter how good the jump was. The penultimate step is very important because that's what builds power and pushes you up and therefore out. I always think about it as a spring that's loading my legs up. I've experienced days when my penultimate is off and I couldn't perform the way I wanted because of how important it is.
Photo provided by Jenny Vetter
What is the difference in the beginning techniques for the triple jump? Were you scared to try the event at first, and how do people get over that if they do have some fears?
The triple jump is much more complicated and takes longer to get the hang of. Separating the phases and doing one at a time is the best way to begin it. Then once you have learned each phase you can put it together. I wouldn't say I was scared to try it but it was definitely intimidating to me. Having a good coach who knows what he's doing made the transition from just long jumping to doing both much easier. Just taking it slow and making sure you understand the technique in your head before you actually do it can help settle nerves too. I always tell people now that it looks a lot more difficult than it really is.
How did you hurt your knee and what are you doing to rehab it?
I had injured my knee in a soccer game but didn't tear it. When sections came around I wanted to be there for my team, and my knee was feeling a little better so I played, and about 5 minutes into the game I planted my foot and it blew out. As of now I am completely cleared to do anything and everything which is awesome! The whole process took about 8 months, from surgery in November. I had to do physical therapy at least once a week that whole time. I missed both basketball and track seasons.
What should a sprinter and long jumper be doing in the summer to get better for the next school year? Why is what you do important?
Being involved in more than one sport is very beneficial in my opinion because you'll work different muscle groups and therefore be stronger overall. We need to do more than just running in the summer. Playing other sports will help sprinters and jumpers. Getting in the weight room, going for runs, and doing agility drills are also great off-season training activities. It's important to improve in the offseason because then there's no drop off in the beginning of the season. It's always a goal to start at the same place you ended and a lot of athletes don't because they don't put in the work.
How do you improve speed?
You can improve speed lots of ways but I think that having good running form can do a lot. Getting your whole body engaged when running is a big key. It's important to drive your arms straight back when you run. Know what the core muscle groups are and developing them is another important thing.
Doing drills like running downhill will make you have a quicker turnover and therefore faster legs. Taking care of your body is also important for not only improving your self but maintaining the improvements you make. Hydrating, stretching, and eating good food right after a workout will help young athletes a lot more than they realize!
How do you improve leaping ability?
Getting stronger will help with leaping ability the most I think. Your legs are what is propelling you up so the stronger you are the more you can get up.
Do you follow any college or professional athletes?
I don't follow too many track athletes but I enjoyed watching Alyson Felix in the Olympics. I do follow the US Women's soccer team as well.
What are your goals? Do you plan to compete in college? Is there a particular school you have in mind?
My goal for the next season is to jump 18 feet in long jump. I'm mostly just excited to be able to compete again after not being able to. I've verbally committed to play D2 soccer at MSU-Mankato which I am very excited for. I love track but soccer is my true passion and I cannot wait to compete at the college level at such a great program!