Armstrong the leading high jumper in section
MORGAN HILL — In time, Stephanie Armstrong could become one of the most sought-after athletic trainers in the country.
She plans to major in kinesiology at Cal State Long Beach, and, though that will help her achieve her ultimate career goal, Armstrong already has ample experience treating injuries. The Live Oak senior has dealt with them for as long as she’s been in high school.
It began with hip and knee issues freshman year, and continued with knee surgery sophomore year, a stress fracture that forced her to retire from sprints and hurdles in 2009, and shin splints to keep her company senior year.
“It’s a relief to have the serious stuff out of the way finally,” she said Wednesday. “I kind of miss running.”
Watching her compete today at Garcia-Elder Sports Complex, an untrained viewer might not guess anything was ever wrong with Armstrong. She has held the best mark — 5 feet, 7 inches — in the section for two months now and is the overwhelming favorite to place first in her third high jump appearance at Central Coast Section Finals.
Slender and strong at 6 feet tall, Armstrong was unmatched Saturday in semifinals. She needed two jumps to make finals at 5-3 — her typical warmup height.
“Sometimes, she warms up then waits two hours before her first jump,” Armstrong’s mother and coach, Cindy, said. “That makes me nervous, thinking she won’t be ready to go, but then she’s up and ready to go in no time.”
Armstrong has not downplayed the competition. She plans to go all out even if she clinches first place early.
The meet record is 6 feet.
“I want to jump until I can’t go anymore,” Armstrong said. “My goal before the season was to go 5-10. I want to do that this weekend if I can. This week can’t go by soon enough.”
In an event so mentally meticulous as high jump, Armstrong’s toughest opponent is herself. She struggled to keep her head clear in past trips to CCS but still flirted with making the top-three cutoff for state. Armstrong tied for sixth (5 feet) in 2008 and for fourth (5-2) in 2009.
“I feel more confident than ever this time around,” she said. “If I get it in my head that I’m not going to get over, I won’t make it. I’m not going to let that happen.”
On top of working with her mother, Armstrong trained with high jump specialist Patti Coulter at Aptos High this spring. Armstrong’s PR has improved by five inches.
“Her approach is faster now. She’s learned how to plant and drive straight up with her solid foot,” said Coulter, who coaches Aptos jumpers to CCS regularly. “She used to try too hard and try to do everything at once. Now, she’s found her zone.”
Coulter will have two of her students in the final flight today in Armstrong and Aptos sophomore Nikki Myashita. Those two fed off each other during practices.
Should she qualify, Armstrong will be tested at the June 1-4 state meet in Clovis. The Southern Section has produced several jumpers who have cleared as high as 5-11 3/4 this spring.
Armstrong is not looking ahead, though it’s difficult not to.
“I’m really calm in big meets,” she said. “I don’t get nervous at all, especially since I’m healthy. Everything’s fine except my shins.”
NOTE: Today’s CCS Finals meet begins with field events at 4 p.m. Track events follow at 6.
