2009 Flyin' Frog Preview: Jumps
1/12/2009 12:00:00 AM
Jan. 12, 2009
FORT WORTH, Texas - With the TCU Track and Field Program set to open its 2009 campaign Saturday at Texas Tech, GoFrogs.com gives readers an exclusive in-depth look at another event area this winter ready to shine.
2009 Indoor Preview: Jumps
TCU returns plenty of talent and experience in the jumps this winter and will rely on a mix of seniors and underclassmen to produce both in the Mountain West and nationally this winter.
Senior Neidra Covington returns for her senior season after having an outstanding 2008. Covington closed out the 2008 indoor season, earning All-America honors in both the long and triple jump. The St. Petersburg, Fla., native, soared 20 feet, 5 inches to place ninth overall in the long jump at nationals. She followed that up by leaping 42 feet, 9 ½ inches in the women's triple jump to finish eighth in her flight and 14th overall in the event in Fayetteville.
Overall, Covington won the conference championship in both the long and triple jump last winter. She successfully defended her MWC crown with an NCAA automatic leap of 44 feet in the triple jump and by doing so broke her own school record in the event, while posting the fifth-best mark in MWC women's championship history. During the outdoor season, Covington earned runner-up honors in the championship division of the women's triple jump at the Penn Relays, soaring 43 feet, 3 3/4 inches. Her regional qualifying mark broke her own school record and was the third-best leap in MWC history. The junior should be poised to have another stellar season in 2009 as she leads a rather young jumps unit.
"We expect big things out of Neidra this year," said jumps coach Jeff Petersmeyer. "She came into this season in great shape and has looked really good in practice, so we are hoping she can once again be an All-American in both events this season."
Sophomore Amber Anderson also returns for the Flyin' Frogs in 2009 and could push for all-conference honors this winter after having solid workouts all fall. Overall, Anderson posted a top mark of 39 feet, 11 1/4 inches at the Mountain West Conference Indoor Championships in the triple jump and should improve on that immensely this upcoming season.
"Amber has worked a lot harder this year then she did last season and I think that will help her a lot in 2009. I am looking for her to be a solid conference-level athlete and hopefully do some good things for us in the triple jump," said Petersmeyer.
Whitney Gipson could make an immediate impact for TCU in her first year in the program after being named a three-time all-area sprinter and jumper at Birdville High School. Overall, she posted a top leap of 19 feet, 10 inches in the long jump and a personal best mark of 40 feet in the triple jump, while placing second in both the long and triple jump at the 2008 4A Texas State Championship.
"Whitney is going to get her feet wet this season and should do some good things for us," said Petersmeyer. "Her technique needs to improve a little bit, but I think she has made some strides in that area and will get better throughout the year."
On the men's side, TCU will have to replace two-time All-American Jonathan Jackson, but the cupboard is far from empty as the Purple and White will rely on two underclassmen to lead the men's jumps this indoor season.
Jeremy Kline, a sophomore from Michigan, should help ease the loss of Jackson this winter after placing seventh in the high jump at the Mountain West Conference Indoor Championships. He also competed in the long jump during the indoor season, collecting seventh-place honors at the Arkansas Invitational. Finally, Kline should improve upon his success last spring in which he placed fourth at the MWC Championships in the long jump.
"Jeremy comes back and is looking really good," said Petersmeyer. "He thought too much last outdoor season and that kind of hurt his performance, but now he is doing really well and just jumping. He is somebody that can long jump really far for us and score for us at conference."
Freshman Richard Knotts will look to make an immediate impact for the Horned Frogs this winter after an All-American career at Nimitz High School in Houston. Knotts, who earned two All-America honors in the long jump during his high school career, placed second at the 2008 Texas 5A State Meet with a leap of 23 feet, 10 inches. He also holds the Texas 5A Region III long jump record with a leap of 24 feet, 8 inches.
"Richard Knotts was one of the best jumpers in the country last season coming out of high school and we have switched him from the hang to the hitch kick. It's a hard transition for anyone to make and I think he has done well with it, but its not quite polished. He has about 70 percent downloaded, so there is still some information that has to come through and be processed," said Petersmeyer. "He is one of the best workers we have in that group and I think he will do some big things for us during his career here."
In the multi-events, Meaghan Peoples returns and could push for All-America honors in 2009. Peoples comes into this season having crushed her previous school record in the women's heptathlon at the Mountain West Conference Outdoor Championships. During the outdoor season, she placed fourth overall at the Penn Relays in the 400-meter hurdles, clocking a seasonal-best time of 1:00.56, while also being a member of the women's 4x400 unit that won the Penn Relays and Horned Frog Invitational.
"Meaghan Peoples should do some big things for us in the hurdles and the multi-events. We think she can be a national qualifier for us during both the indoor and outdoor season, so hopefully she can finish her senior season off on that note," said Petersmeyer.
TCU will open its 2009 indoor season on Saturday at the Texas Tech Invitational.
Other 2009 Previews
THROWS PREVIEW
Players Mentioned
