About half an hour before last Thursday’s Central Coast Sectiontrack and field championships, Jessica Burnham was one of thefew athletes getting in some serious last-minute practice. Sprints,leg lifts, stretches – the works.
And six long jumps later, the Los Altos High senior landed insecond place and qualified for this weekend’s state meet at CerritosCollege in Norwalk. As an added bonus, Burnham notched a personalbest 18-foot-3/4 mark on her final turn.
Heading into the last jump, she stood in fourth place (the topthree jumpers move on to state). “I was kind of mad at myself,”said Burnham, knowing she would need an 18 for third. “Ijust couldn’t get fourth by one fourth of an inch. I thought,’Just go crazy.’ “
That’s exactly what she did, topping her previous best of 17-103/4 and leaping past Kameelah Elarms of Piedmont Hills (18-1/2)and Tamre Livers of Independence (18-0). “I’m completelycontent going to the state meet,” an excited Burnham saidafter receiving her medal. “I’ll try to jump an 18, justto show myself I can jump 18 again.”
To gear up for the CCS meet, last week Burnham trained hard fortwo days and then relaxed on Wednesday. “I mentally preparedlast night, and came out today ready to jump,” she said.
She was also a seventh-place finisher in the triple jump, andearlier in the year took seventh in the CCS 1-meter diving competition.
According to Los Altos track and field coach Todd Wangsness,Burnham “has been an outstanding competitor and team leaderduring her four-year career at Los Altos, and exhibits all thequalities of a true champion: determination and hard work.”
Burnham, headed to UC-Santa Barbara on a track and field scholarshipin the fall, has had to make some sacrifices as well. “Igave up playing soccer for school this season to concentrate ontrack,” she said. “And it’s paid off.”
– Andy Nystrom
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