Carroll: Women high jumpers elevate their game; Jerome sets HJ mark; Joe PRs 110s

4/5 At Waukesha. A sunny day with temps in the mid-40s and mild winds made for a good day on the track. Had a number of PRs and revisions to our top 10 lists. Started off with very good performances by Jerome and Mike in HJ. Jerome made 6-8.75 to win the event and had a couple good attempts at 6-9.75. Jerome's jump improved on his former outdoor record that he shared with Brian Main and equaled the conference outdoor mark. He also was named NACC male track and field athlete of the week for his performance. Mike jumped 6-2.75 for 3rd.

The women's high jumpers also had success. Mollie leaped a PR 4-11 (#3 all time) and finished tied for 7th in a tough field and had very near miss on her final attempt at 5-1. Kasey also got a PR, jumping 4-9 (#5 all time). Alex PR'd, too, clearing 4-7. Madeline also made 4-7.

In the high hurdles, Joe ran a PR 15.42 in prelims. In the final, he came from behind to win in 15.79. Brad finished 4th (PR 17.87/18.02). In the women's highs, Holly ran 17.15/16.94 for 4th (#3 all time). Mollie ran 18.43/18.98 (9th). Annika ran 20.37/21.18 (11th).

In 400H, Joe had trouble from the outset and ran 59.24 for 3rd. Logan was right behind, running a PR 59.45 for fourth, tying Brian for #5 all time. Mike improved to 63.25 for 6th. Nate ran a PR 74.18 for 7th. For the women, Holly nearly missed the race but ran in Jana's spot that she vacated after getting hurt in the 100H. Holly ran a PR 70.61 (#2 all time). Kasey ran 79.65, Annika 1:26.84 (#8 all time).

Complete results

Mike hits a good bridge here.

Alex could use a little tighter rotation here and can get it by driving the lead knee higher. If the knee here was as high as the bar the wrap around the bar with the lower legs would be tighter.

Holly with good position and trail leg pickup coming off the hurdle.

This shot clearly shows the problem Joe has been working to solve -- dragging that low trail leg knee off the hurdle. The hurdler to his left has his trail leg in much better position. It's where Joe is trying to go. Often good in practice, the trail leg typically reverts to this weak position, reducing the amount of force it can apply to the track. Heel on trail side is nicely tucked, but the knee should be much higher than shown here.

Kasey makes this one but could possibly go higher by holding the bridge a bit better (as Mike above). Folding at this point places the back of the legs dangerously close to the bar, and likely would knock the bar off at higher heights. A prolonged bridge -- with a resultant landing on shoulders -- would offer a bit more room behind the legs because the hips would remain higher.








Mollie makes a great attempt here at 5-1 and might have made it if she had inverted instead of folding to level off. Similar situation as Kasey where folding puts the back of the legs close to -- or on the bar.