Jodi Lipp And The Leap - A Interview

Personal Bests:

100 meters: 12.30

200 meters: 25.55

400 meters: 59.38

Long Jump:  19' 0.5"

Triple Jump:  39' 10.05

Splits: 4 x 100 (11.8)

           4 x 200 (25.2)

           4 x 400 (58.7)

MSHSL Record:

2017 3^rd place long jump; 2^nd place triple jump; 9^th place 100; 11^th place 200

2016 3^rd place long jump; 2^nd place triple jump

2015 4^th place long jump; 9^th place 100

2014 6^th place long jump; 4 x 200 relay participants

2013 9^th place 4 x 200 relay

 

What were the first sports you participated in as a youngster and where were you born?

My first sport I participated in was gymnastics when I was 3 years old.  I started track and field in the summers when I was 10.  I was born in St Cloud, MN.

 

What sports do you play now and have you been to state in any other sport besides track & field?

I have been a part of the Tech High School Gymnastics team at the Varsity level for 4 years. As a team we were State Champions in 2016 and runner ups in 2017 and 2015. We also qualified as a team in 2018.  The reason why we did so poorly this year is because one girl had a broken ankle and another sustained ACL injury. I qualified as an individual also in Vault and Bars 3 years, and my highest finish was placing 8th in Vault this year.

I have been on the varsity track & field team since 7^th grade and have been to the state meet every year. I have been All-State 9 times and I also was the St Cloud Times Track and Field Athlete of the Year.  In the summer of 2016 I was a two-time All-American in the long jump and the 4 x 100 relay.  My best performances in the long jump and triple jump rank in the top ten in the history of Minnesota track & field.

 

Who has coached you over the years?

Craig Aycock has been my head coach since my 9^th grade year.  He took over the distance running program but also watches over the big picture for our girls team.

David Knutson is my jumps coach.  He has been with me since the seventh grade.  He has worked closely with a few other coaches and made me the jumper I am.

Melvin Anderson helped me a lot with my sprinting in the summer after my sophomore year.  He also gave me some tips on the jumps.  He coaches the Track Minnesota Elite team which practices three times per week.  It's about an hour and a half drive for me to get there but it was worth it because my sprinting improved a lot after working in that program.

 

Who has been your main competition and helper?

A person I love to compete against and is one of my biggest competitors, is Anna Keefer of St. Michael-St. Albertville. She has now graduated and is competing at University of North Carolina, but we were always there and supported each other.

At meets when we would compete against one another we would help each other out and always support one another. Our mothers, Jill Lipp and Tiffany Keefer, both competed at the division one level and are both coaches. They are buddies so it's always nice to have two eyes and another brain to bounce around ideas with.   

 

Have you had any adversities in athletics?

During my junior year in late March we did not warm up properly, and during a workout where we ran repeat 150s, I took off too fast and pulled one of my hamstrings.  What I did to repair the injury was use lots of ice, get consistent massages from my mother, and rest the injury.  My mom is a physical education/health teacher and is the head basketball coach at St. Cloud Apollo.  I was lucky to have her help me out.  It took me three weeks to get back to running, but afterwards I did not have any relapses so I give a lot of credit to my coaches for that!

 

Can you give a shout-out to a teammate for helping you?

Lauren Steinke and I both got pulled up to the varsity as seventh graders.  We were able to rely on each other as we had to do many scary things with the big high school kids for the first time.  Although Lauren is a distance runner and I am a sprinter/jumper we have been friends on and off the track for many years.  She has been an important person for me.

 

How has your family helped you?

My family is awesome. They are super supportive of me, and have sat through many long and cold hours of track and field. I would most definitely not be where I am or the athlete I am today without my mother, Jill. She is not only my mother, but also my biggest supporter and coach. My father, Alan, and my sister, Jordin, are also my biggest supporters and fans. Without my family, track would not be the same.

 

How do you set your goals?

When it comes to setting goals for myself, I like to set new goals each year. I set goals for each event that are attainable yet challenging.  When it comes to preparing myself mentally I do a ton of visualization. I try not to worry about too many things, and focus on the things that I can control.

 

Tell us a little about the St. Cloud Tech track & field teams?

We have always been kind of a small team.  I guess we might have around 20 girls on the team this year.  But we have had some good individuals.  Last year we had four people go to State from the girls and boys teams.

 

What do you do besides play sports?

Outside of sports I have a nanny job and enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I really enjoy going on random adventures and taking pictures.

After high school I am attending North Dakota State University to continue my education and track and field career!  I plan to major in a medical field.

 

Technique tips on the Long Jump from Jodi Lipp:

For me, having a consistent and fast run way is one of the most important aspects in the long jump. Eating up as much of the board you can is also very important to having a successful jump. Building good habits and learning proper technique at a young age are also key. Having a knowledgeable coach to guide you and be there to correct things that are wrong is a huge benefit.  Being able to practice 2-3 times a week is important to build good habits and consistency. Most important is being passionate about the long jump and always looking for ways to improve.