Nothing left to ponder for LO’s Armstrong
GILROY — The human brain is one of the most complex biological structures known, so complex that Live Oak’s Stephanie Armstrong prefers not to use it while lining up her next jump.
In terms of mechanics, there are a million things to focus on in high jump: your speed, your takeoff point, arching your back, driving your legs, keeping your feet up. Armstrong doesn’t think about any of them.
She doesn’t think at all.
“I can’t be thinking about anything when I jump, or else I’ll mess up,” she said during Tuesday’s practice at Richert Field. “I’m not sure how to not think. It just happens. Not thinking is good.”
You can’t argue with results.
Armstrong has made a killing this spring using only her muscles. The svelte 6-foot junior will make her second consecutive trip to the CIF-Central Coast Section Finals meet in Gilroy’s Garcia-Elder Sports Complex this afternoon, ready to compete with some of the top jumpers in Northern California. Armstrong, Live Oak’s last athlete standing for the 2008-09 school year, can extend her decorated season with a top-three finish — the cutoff for the June 5-6 CIF State Championships in Clovis.
Last season, Armstrong cleared five feet even to tie for sixth place at Section Finals. This time, she hopes to eclipse her personal record (5-2) by three inches. A 5-5 mark will grant her automatic entry to state.
“It helps that she went last year. She knows she can do even better this time,” her mother and coach, Cindy Armstrong, said. “Her goal, obviously, is 5-5. She’s jumped 5-4 twice this year, so it’s definitely possible.”
It is difficult to determine what isn’t possible for Stephanie Armstrong, who is just now getting back to peak shape in the wake of an injury-filled year. First she had surgery in summer to relieve inflammation in her knee — just in time for water polo season — then she had a groin pull and bone spurs to deal with at the start of spring.
“It’s nice to be healthy again, finally,” she said. “It makes it easier to work out and get better.”
Stephanie Armstrong was recovered enough to win Santa Teresa Division and Blossom Valley Athletic League titles in high jump on top of qualifying for Saturday’s CCS Semifinals in two other events: the 300-meter hurdles and 4×400-meter relay. She had to drop the hurdles, though, because it conflicted with the scheduled start of high jump.
“I kind of just went in hoping to jump that day,” she said. “This half of the season has been a lot better. I feel great.”
Hoping to add a few precious inches to her jumps, Stephanie Armstrong tinkered with her approach this week. She moved her launch point closer to optimize her ceiling and practiced running up to the bar at 5-4 and 5-5, so she can get used to seeing it that high.
Stephanie Armstrong will need plenty of confidence today. Unlike most of her top competitors on the apron, Stephanie Armstrong has not cleared 5-5 yet this season.
“That’s her biggest weakness,” Cindy Armstrong said. “I wish she could just close her eyes and block out everything. She’d still be hitting her steps in the same spot every time. Yesterday we ran it, and her mark was perfect.”
That speaks volumes, considering Stephanie Armstrong said she does her worst in practice.
“That’s when I’m thinking,” she joked. “I’m not worried about that for Friday. To do 5-5 is possible. I’ve seen pictures of me a good four inches above the bar. It’s just going to take perfection.”
Stephanie Armstrong will have the advantage of jumping last in her flight behind Presentation’s Emily Sklar, Westmont’s Morgan Rumzie, Saratoga’s Kiersten Dolbec, Gilroy’s Sarah Una Dia and the Aptos duo of Julia McCarthy Nikki Myashita. Each cleared 5-2 Saturday (Stephanie Armstrong took third because she had one miss).
“They’re all going ahead of her,” Cindy Armstrong said. “She’ll know what she has to do, but we want her thinking about something else. It’ll be fun.”
