Personal Statement
I have been competing in track & field meets since I started walking. As a matter of fact, I won my first 400 meter dash before I could even walk. My dad, who was a track & field athlete in college, refused to let my twin sister, Mattie, and I lose in a Pee Wee Run where he pushed us in a jogger stroller when we were just 10 months old. It's been a unique experience growing up with a twin sister and going to summer series track meets together before we were even old enough to participate on a school team. When we were younger, we participated in all of the events (from the 50 yard dash and long jump to the 400 and softball throw). Our parents kept all of our ribbons and logged our PRs as we improved our times and distances each year. I suppose that's how I fell in love with track & field. I enjoy the thrill of competing not only against others, but also against myself. There is nothing like setting a new personal record.
I began competing for the school track & field team as a 7th grader. I still enjoyed the sprints and horizontal jumps as a middle schooler, but I decided to use my gymnastics background and tried pole vaulting also. With just a handful of practices and one meet each season, I was able to qualify for the junior high state meet in both my 7th and 8th grade years, and I set our school record and earned an all-state medal as an 8th grader by clearing 7'6". After attending a Bell Pole Vault Camp (with former world record holder Earl Bell coaching), I improved my personal record 18 inches as a freshman by clearing 9'0". I work with my school coach, Eric Postma, and my club coach, Chris Zoeller.
I hope to be able to improve by 12-18 inches each year during high school, so that I might be able to realize my dream of competing in the pole vault on a collegiate track & field team.