Abby Jones - 1st at NBON, 5-8.50 Megan McCloskey - 2nd at NBON, 5-8.50
PHOTOS BY PATTY MORGAN
Abby Jones - 1st at NBON, 5-8.50 - Rising Junior - Franklin Area
1. What were your expectations coming into NBON knowing about some of the talented athletes that you would be facing in competition? Were you nervous?
I didn't really know what to expect. I knew there quite a few jumpers that had jumped higher than I, but I just hoped for the best. I was nervous, but my coach always tells me to have fun, so I tried to just do that. (hahaha)
2. What have you been doing since competing in PIAA championships in May? How did you prepare for NBON? Tell us something about your training and did it change in preparation for this meet?
I have been practicing with my coaches by doing sprints and practicing good technique. My training recently includes more sprints and arch-overs, but it is mostly the same.
3. Do you have any favorite rituals or patterns that you follow before a competition? Is there something that you have to do before every meet?
Not really, although I was eating pasta the night before.https://pa.milesplit.com/admin/articles/new
4. How long have you been a high jumper? How did you get started? Can tell us something about the different coaches that you have had?
I started jumping in 7th grade. My brother Nic is a high jumper and got me interested. My brother has been my coach ever since I started and even through the summers. Bill Keely is also my coach, and he started helping me in ninth grade. They both give me so much support and I could not thank them enough.
5. Have you started thinking about life after high school, athletically and academically? Would you like to compete in college or even beyond college? If so, any idea where and how far you would like to go?
A little but. I think I would enjoy competing in college, but I haven't decided that or where I would like to go yet. I still have two more years.
6. What are your plans for the summer/fall until track & field starts again? Will you compete any more before the start of the high school indoor season?
I play volleyball and basketball, so I will be working out and keeping active. I think all the sports I play contribute to one another. I will probably be attending a high jump camp this summer, and I have a club championship invitational at California University too.
7. What is your favorite event (other than high jump) that you like to watch? Do you know someone who is really good in that event? Are there any other events that you would like to try?
I love to watch the pole vault. It scares me, but it's amazing how high they can get. I would be too afraid to try it though, and I don't think my coach would let me because he thinks I would get hurt.
8. Who is your hero on and off the track? And why? How have they inspired you?
Destinee Hooker is an amazing volleyball player and high jumper. She plays volleyball in the Olympics and can jump 6'6"!!! I have always wanted to be like her!
9. What else do you do besides compete in track & field? What's your favorite thing to do? Do you have some hidden talent? Tell us about it.
I play basketball and volleyball too. My two favorite sports are volleyball and track, but I secretly love swimming. I have never competed or been on a team, but I just love to be in the water.
10. Lastly, tell us about your overall experience competing at nationals. Did you do anything else in NC besides compete? What advice would you give an athlete who has never been to a national competition before?
I liked meeting knew people and competing against jumpers I've never seen before because it keeps things interesting. I went to a lake the day before nationals and learned how jet ski. My family and coach and I went tubing and swimming and we also relaxed a little bit before the national meet. I would tell a newcomer to relax and just have fun doing what they love.
Megan McCloskey - 2nd at NBON, 5-8.50 - Rising Senior - Germantown Academy
1. What were your expectations coming into NBON knowing about some of the talented athletes that you would be facing in competition? Were you nervous?
I was really excited about coming to outdoor nationals this year, but I knew it was going to be the best competition I've come up against all year, which was of course a little nerve racking. I've always found good competition to be inspiring though, and usually enjoy the pressure of going up against the best in the country.
2. What have you been doing since competing in PAISAA championships in May? How did you prepare for NBON? Tell us something about your training and did it change in preparation for this meet?
Since my last regular season meet in May (PAISAA championships), I was able to put a lot of good focus into the high jump. During the regular season my focus was spread across sprinting, long jumping, triple jumping, and high jumping, and it was nice to have a month to really concentrate on just high jump. I got to jump more in the past month and do high jump specific conditioning and training, which was helpful.
3. Do you have any favorite rituals or patterns that you follow before a competition? Is there something that you have to do before every meet?
For the most part, I just like to make sure I eat healthy during the days leading up to the meet. When it comes to the day of the competition, I'm a little superstitious like most high jumpers. I always make sure I have my lucky braid in my hair, and do the same routine before every single jump to stay consistent.
4. How long have you been a high jumper? How did you get started? Can tell us something about the different coaches that you have had?
I started high jump in 4th grade. I jumped for my CYO team St. Alphonsus, and they needed to try to score more points for our championship meet, so I figured I'd try the high jump. I wound up loving the event and really focused on it. In 7th and 8th grade I started to take it more seriously and continued my season through AUU and USATF. My Mom and Dad have actually been my main coaches over the past 8 years. My mom has always been great on all the technical high jump and training aspects of track. My Dad does those things too, but most of all he's always been the best at motivating and inspiring me before and during competitions. I've also gone to Coach Mike Pascuzzo a few times every season for good technical work.
5. Have you started thinking about life after high school, athletically and academically? Would you like to compete in college or even beyond college? If so, any idea where and how far you would like to go?
I definitely want to continue with track and field in college. Right now the door's wide open though as to where that will be. I'll be hopefully be exploring all my options and figuring that stuff in the upcoming months, so I'm excited about that!
6. What are your plans for the summer/fall until track & field starts again? Will you compete any more before the start of the high school indoor season?
As of right now, I think I'm just going to be training for a while. I'll probably be participating in some fun summer meets at my high school, Germantown Academy, this summer, but otherwise, no plans for competition right now. This fall I'll be playing high school volleyball with GA and preparing for the 2013-2014 winter season!
7. What is your favorite event (other than high jump) that you like to watch? Do you know someone who is really good in that event? Are there any other events that you would like to try?
When I watch high school meets, my favorite event to watch is probably the 800m. Some of my good friends like Emma Keenan of GMA and also my GA teammate Kerry Lawlor have become specialized in this race and it’s always so much fun to watch. When I watch professional track and field, I have to say my favorite person to watch is Allyson Felix when she runs the 200. She's very graceful. As for events I'd like to try.. I can't say I'd ever be able to see myself doing the mile or two mile but I admire all the distance runners put in every season.
8. Who is your hero on and off the track? And why? How have they inspired you?
My heroes would be my parents and coaches. I wouldn't have gotten anywhere in track or otherwise without them.
9. What else do you do besides compete in track & field? What's your favorite thing to do? Do you have some hidden talent? Tell us about it.
Aside from track and field, I play volleyball in the fall for my school, which I love. I don't really think I have any hidden talents but my favorite hobby would definitely be listening to country music.
10. Lastly, tell us about your overall experience competing at nationals. Did you do anything else in NC besides compete? What advice would you give an athlete who has never been to a national competition before?
I got to North Carolina on Saturday afternoon and picked up my packet from the track and wandered around checking out all of the cool stations they had set up for athletes. New Balance does a great job making sure the meet is all about fun for the athletes, which is cool. I got to watch Emerging Elite high jump which was fun and kept my mind busy to stay away from the nerves. I competed on Sunday and had so much fun. Overall it was another great experience at Nationals.
To any athletes competing at nationals for the first time I'd tell them: Soak it all in. It's one of the most competitive track meets around and it's just cool to be surrounded by such determined and successful athletes. It's like a big party at the end of the year after everyone worked so hard, so enjoy it. Forget the pressure and have a blast!