Bitburg junior aiming high

A year ago, Bitburg junior Kristen Willeford was in the center of big-time prep sports, high jumping in big-school sectional qualifiers in the Illinois prairie across the river from St. Louis.

That’s Jackie Joyner-Kersee country, and the competition reflected it.

"I’m used to Illinois competition — girls who could jump 5-[feet-]6, 5-7, 5-8, 5-9," Willeford, 16, said by telephone Tuesday. "In my sectional, there were three girls who could go that high."

This year, Willeford finds herself in a season-ending competition that contains just one jumper who can go that high.

Herself.

Willeford thrust herself into that group by clearing 5 feet, 6 inches Saturday, an all-time best in DODDS-Europe. However, because the school system recognizes marks as records only when they’re established in the European championships, the official mark still belongs to Drisana McDaniel of defunct Hahn High School, who jumped 5-5 in 1993.

While many might think it’s unfair to deny someone a record for a mark set in an official, sanctioned meet, Willeford’s cool with it.

"I’m not complaining about not having the record," said Willeford, who cleared a personal-best 5-8 in practice the previous week. "I’ve got it in my mind."

Willeford’s coach, Brian Bent, thinks the 5-6 is just the start.

"She almost got 5-10 in practice," he said. "Her ankle was bugging her a bit on Saturday."

Although it seems a sore ankle would have to unnerve a jumper, Willeford’s cool with that, too.

"My ankle’s OK," she said. "It happens every once in a while when I exercise too much. I won’t freak out about it."

The competition might. One week before the European championships, they know they’re jumping for second place.

Willeford opened the season by outjumping her closest competitor by just two inches on a rainy day at Ramstein. She then won her next three meets by six-inch margins, practically the equivalent of Earth-to-the moon distance in high jumping.

Willeford’s progress this season has confirmed her theory about overcoming the loss of stateside competitive pressure.

"I figured I could get better if I worked hard," she said about coming to Germany. "The only problem is that the mats I use here get dust in my eyes. I probably should get some goggles."

Hard work’s been the watchword.

"In the offseason, I do cheerleading," Willeford said. "They’re pretty hard-core about cheerleading here. My muscles have never been so tight."

In season, it’s sprinting, stretching and "dynamic running" — exaggerated runs with very high knee lifts or making one’s heels kick one’s backside.

And lots of jumping.

"For me, it’s how much energy I can get going in practice," she said. "Sometimes, the coach will tell me to stop, but I’ll say, ‘No, coach, just one more.’ "

Bent usually assents.

"I’ll be honest," he said. "I’m not big in the high jump. She came in with all the skills. My coaching is to point out small things. I’ll say, ‘You’re not popping,’ that sort of thing."

Look for that pop next week in Europeans, where Willeford expects to compete in her specialty, plus the long jump, 100-meter run and the 4x100 relay. She’ll be an underdog in those last three, but heavily favored in the high jump.

"It’s my favorite event," said Willeford, who wants to become an Air Force nurse. "It can help me get into college."

And, perhaps, into the DODDS-Europe record book at last.

Willeford’s high marks

Bitburg junior Kirsten Willeford has entered four high-jump events in her first season in Europe. Here’s how she’s climbed the ladder as she surpassed the official DODDS-Europe record of 5 feet, 5 inches last week:

Date	Site	Willeford	Runner-up
March 28	Ramstein	5-2	5-0
April 18	Ramstein	5-2	4-8
April 25	Mannheim	5-4	4-10
May 2	Lakenheath	Did	not enter
May 9	Bitburg	5-6	4-10

Game of the Week

What: Marymount girls at Naples soccer
When: 11:30 a.m. Saturday
Where: Wildcat Field
What’s at stake: Region IV championship

Doesn’t get any bigger than this — two 5-0 teams, one of them the defending European Division III champion, clashing for the 2009 American Schools in Italy League title — right?

Wrong, according to Marymount International School of Rome coach Stefano Ianonne, who led the Lady Royals to that European crown last year. To the Lady Royals, it’s just another day in the park, kicking the ball around in the Italian sunshine.

"Regarding Saturday against Naples, we only expect to play a game," he said. "We simply enjoy playing soccer. We do not focus on the outcome, either ASIL or European. We focus on our performance as a single player and in particular as a team."

Among the players suiting up for Marymount on Saturday are All-Europe first-team forward Elena Carrarini, a junior who averaged a goal and two assists per game as a sophomore, and fellow forward Martina Diana, who has four- and six-goal outings to her credit this season. Their production has allowed Marymount to outgun the opposition 22-2 so far this season, but it’s no big deal to Ianonne.

"There are no important players to mention," he said. "Our strength is the team effort."

Even so, Carrarini and Diana demand a response from the opposition.

"I think we are going to stick with our traditional field layout strategy and leave the field open for motion," Joy Bork said. "The first few minutes will be watch and see, get an idea of how they flow on the field first, then see if we have to modify to meet any challenges, which for sure will include both of these girls."

Bork singled out three of her players who’ll be important to any Naples success on Saturday.

"I think our key players this weekend will be center midfielder Haylea Witz and forward Demi Holbrook," Bork said. "I also think that center mid Sheridan Farrell will be a great asset this weekend with her speed and her ability to move that ball."