Blazei working on high jump
Junior helps Martin Luther finish in 2nd
When it comes to the high jump, the most consistent thing is the inconsistency of it all.
“High jump in particular is so much finesse, but there is also so much power to it,” Martin Luther high jump coach Mike Loveless said. “Like hitting a baseball, I think it’s hard to get it the same every time.”
But just as some hitters make it look easy at the plate, the Spartans’ Brooke Blazei has developed a knack in the event that has made her a two-time state champion and a top performer in the event so far this season.
Saturday she cleared 5 feet 4 inches to win the Chris Wilson Indoor Invite at Milwaukee Lutheran. It marked the third time she has cleared at least 5-4 this year.
“I’m just getting back into the swing of things in the beginning of the season and getting my mark down and my steps down,” she said. “That was pretty good today. Not my best, but it was OK.”
Blazei set a school record and personal best of 5-7 at Whitefish Bay’s Lois Wolf Invite on March 21, a jump that would rank at the top of the state honor roll if posted. She also cleared 5-5 that day.
On Saturday jumpers were allowed just four attempts. Blazei cleared 5 feet to start, then went up to 5-2 and 5-4. She missed her final attempt, which came at 5-6.
Blazei also won the 400 meters in 1 minute 6.52 seconds and was a last-minute addition to the 1,600 relay, which she helped post a second-place showing in 4:38.26.
Eventually she’ll add the triple jump to her repertoire. She qualified for the state meet in that event last season, taking 12th with a mark of 33-11½
Her early season focus, however, has been tightening up her approach for the high jump.
“In the off-season I went to a few camps, and that’s definitely helped,” she said. “I always want to get my steps down and my form down and make sure I have a clean jump every time. I’ve been working hard in practice, and I think it’s been paying off pretty well.”
Blazei progressed steadily over the previous two years.
As a freshman, she improved her season best by 3 inches to win the Division 2 title at 5-5. It was her third effort of better than 5 feet. Last year she equaled her then-personal best of 5-6 at the sectional after first clearing the height in early May. She went 5 feet or better at least nine times last season and was 5-4 or better at least six times.
Blazei
Still it took a high jump camp just before the start of the season to help straighten her out.
“She’s looking good,” Loveless said. “I think she’s gotten stronger. She works hard in the off-season. She’s a three-sport athlete, and she does a lot of the speed and strength training we have in the summer.”
Blazei, who also plays volleyball and basketball, helped Martin Luther finish second at the seven-team meet.
Port Washington won the title with 85 points, five better than the Spartans. Freshman Katie Erlandson won the 3,200 (14:12.44) for the Pirates’ only victory. The team also got secondplace showings from junior Abeba Sullivan in the 800 (2:35.30) and 1,600 (5:42.95).
The only double individual winner on the girls side besides Blazei was Milwaukee Lutheran freshman Ja’Cey Simmons, who beat Wauwatosa West standouts Cheri’A Adams and Mercy Ndon to win the 55 in 7.38 and later took the 200 in 26.44.
The only double individual winner on the boys side was another freshman, Drake Reese of Oconomowoc. He won the 55 (7.04) and 400 (57.02).
Milwaukee Lutheran claimed the boys title with 871⁄ points, followed by Port Washington with 71. The Red Knights swept the relays and got individual victories from junior Jurrone Petry (200), junior Isaac Siegel (800), senior Donovan Rathell (high jump) and senior Aaron Dorley (long jump).
Port and Milwaukee Lutheran move on to the North Shore indoor meet this week. The girls run Wednesday at Cedarburg; the boys are scheduled for Thursday at Milwaukee Lutheran.
Martin Luther doesn’t have an indoor meet in the Metro Classic, so Blazei will head to UW-Whitewater to compete at the Wisconsin Track and Field Association state indoor.
“One of the hard things with her is to not put too much pressure on her, winning state freshman and sophomore year,” Loveless said. “So we try to think in terms of getting better. . . . I think she’s got more in her because she’s stronger this year.”