Undercut by shin splints, Live Oak senior bows out in state
prelims
CLOVIS — Stephanie Armstrong’s obstacles at the CIF State Championships went beyond the high jump bar that seemed to dance in front of her Friday in breezy Clovis.
The Live Oak senior was hampered by the hard surface of Veterans Memorial Stadium, a nightmare for Armstrong’s nagging shin splints. She needed to clear 5 feet, 6 inches — one inch lower than her personal-record height — to make the cut for Saturday’s final heat but bowed out disappointedly after three close misses.
If there was any consolation for the reigning Central Coast Section champion, she ended her prep career at 5-4, a mark she strove for as early as last spring.
“She couldn’t even do that a year ago. This year, she did 5-7,” Armstrong’s coach, Patti Coulter, said Monday. “To have the frustration of missing graduation and not being at 100 percent is a lot to ask for any athlete. She should be proud of what she’s done this year. I know I am.”
The average female high jumper improves by two inches each year in high school, Coulter said. Armstrong upped her PR by five inches this spring and was close to clearing 5-8 at the May 28 CCS Finals.
She went to state hoping to tie the Live Oak High School record of 5-10.
“A jump like that would have been incredible; you’re talking about an improvement of almost a full foot in a year,” Coulter said. “Stephanie’s capable of going 5-10, and I know she will later in her career.”
Armstrong, who, prior to state, won all of her flights this spring, has signed a Letter of Intent to compete at Cal State Long Beach under partial scholarship next year. One of her teammates will be Coulter’s daughter, Janelle.
“Long Beach has a great program. They’re going to turn Stephanie into a wonderful jumper,” Coulter said. “She was competing at the top level for the first time ever this year, so she’s only going to get better.
Armstrong tied for the 12th-best mark in prelims but was awarded 13th by virtue of misses. Eleven out of 29 jumpers cleared 5-6 Friday to advance.
Thousand Oaks senior Lydia French won a jump-off Saturday to take top honors at 5-10. Second place was split between seniors Ashley Smith of Millikan, Alexis Walker of Pasadena and Tara Richmond of Poly. Gilroy’s Sarah Una Dia, the only CCS jumper who made the cut, did not record a height Saturday.
Armstrong is on vacation this week and was not available for comment.
