A positive frame of mind was all Lehman High freshman long jumper Nikayla Fitzgerald needed Friday to send herself to next month’s UIL state track and field meet in Austin.
By hitting 17-feet, 11-inches in the Region IV, 6A long jump, Fitzgerald took home second place in the event and a spot at state.
While Fitzgerald realizes there is still work to be done, she also marveled at the ability of reaching the pinnacle of Texas high school track in only her first year.
“I’m excited. I know the next two weeks, I’m going to have to really work hard because the girls at state are going to hit 19-feet,” Fitzgerald said. “I’m going to have to be prepared.”
Fitzgerald earned her state spot by overcoming not only a vaunted long jump field, but fatigue as well. Roughly 30 minutes prior to the long jump competition Friday, Fitzgerald took 5th place in the triple-jump competition.
While she was disappointed in the outcome, Fitzgerald also felt her result in the triple jump fueled her motivation to improve. As one of the favorites in the long jump competition, Fitzgerald said she wanted to avoid an air of overconfidence, which she believe happened in the triple jump.
“I felt good going up against my competition,” Fitzgerald said. “I wasn’t overconfident. In the triple jump, I went in with that and it didn’t turn out so good. I changed it up and it worked out well.”
Experience in pressure situations also played a vital role in Fitzgerald’s success. During her time as a long jumper in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), Fitzgerlald said she regularly competed against athletes who were much taller than she was.
“They like to compete and they just helped me because I know how to compete under pressure,” Fitzgerald said.
Armed with the experience, Fitzgerald now plans to work on her skills as the state meet draws near.
That includes improving her jump height, as well as sprinting and leaping abilities.
“I felt like I had that good positivity and thought, let’s go in here (at region) and let’s go to state,” Fitzgerald said.
