Arianna Passeri, Class of 2019 - Rosemount High School
What are all your personal records? What State Meet competitions have you been in, and what were your results?
Long jump- 18' 0.25", 5th place State finish 2018
Triple jump- 37' 3.75", 8th place State finish 2016
100m- 12.47, State qualifier 2016
4x100m relay- 3rd place State finish 2018
How did you first get involved with track, and what other sports have you done?
I've done gymnastics and track my whole life. My parents put me in both sports pretty much as soon as I was old enough. I loved competing in all-comers meets with my dad and sister in the summer.
What is your favorite or most memorable competition you've ever been in?
The last 4x100m relay with my team at State was definitely the most memorable race I've ever ran. We were seeded 8th going into finals and ended up finishing 3rd. We also re-broke the school record that we had set at conference. It was so much fun being on a team with them the whole season, we were able to achieve many of our goals and make a ton of great memories.
Tell me a standout memory that is athletics-related, but not competition-related.
Some of the sprinters and jumpers had a big bonfire and camp out outside. A lot of my best friends and teammates were there and it was a great team bonding experience.
Who are some of your favorite athletes to compete against (either teammates or from other teams)?
Faith Robinson and Taynian Walgrave, I've been competing against them since I was little and they've always pushed me to run faster and jump further every time I compete against them. Shae Buchman, my teammate who just graduated last year was also someone who I loved working out with during the season and off season.
Who are some people that have been most helpful to you in your athletic career, and how have they helped you?
My dad was my primary coach in the beginning for track and for all of gymnastics. When I joined the high school team in 7th grade the Hatleli's (all three of them), and coach Anderson were very helpful and I owe a lot of my success to their coaching.
Who might we find cheering for you at competitions?
Out of all the meets I've ever competed in, my parents have been to just about every single one. Even at the small meets they might have been some of the only people in the stands, but they are always there to cheer me on.
What is a challenge, or challenges, you have had to face as an athlete?
Injuries are something that I've had to deal with in both sports, gymnastics and track. Jumping, especially when we're stuck indoors, can be a lot of pounding which can be hard on your ankles and shins. Knowing how much your body can handle can be the hardest part.
What are your main goals for this track season?
I want to go to True Team State with my team and maybe win a True Team State title. Also I want to jump 19 feet in the long jump and break our school record, 38 feet in triple jump, and run in the low 12's in the 100m.
What are you and your teammates looking forward to the most this year?
We have a lot of talent this year in all of the events so we are excited to see how far we can go when we put it all together.
Do you have any post-graduation plans?
I'm going to do track at University of Mary, Bismarck.
When not doing anything track-related, what might we find you doing?
Hanging out with friends and my family, rollerblading, hammocking, coaching gymnastics
What advice would you give to younger athletes, or athletes just starting out?
You're not going to be successful if you don't put in the work on your own time. Off season training is very important. I think being a multi sport athlete definitely helped me become a better jumper.
Do you have any specific jumping advice or tips that you would like to share?
Both long and triple jump, are very technical events. Listening to your coaches corrections will help you jump further if you focus on what they tell you to do.
