NEW YORK CITY - University of South Carolina sophomore Jeannelle Scheper broke the school's women's High Jump record this weekend, on the final day of competition at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational in uptown Manhattan. Scheper, who turns 18 this year, initially claimed the school record just three weeks ago.
The St Joseph's Convent alumnus slowly outlasted a field of 15 in the high jump, and her clearance at 1.80m (5'10.75") made her just one of three women remaining in the event. The bar then was moved to 1.83m (6'0"), one centimetre higher than her previous school record mark. The two-time CARIFTA medallist, St Lucia's only qualifier so far for the 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships, responded by clearing the bar on her third attempt, letting out a cheer that was drowned out by the cheers of her Gamecocks teammates spread throughout The Armory track center.
"I felt really good because six feet has been a goal of mine for a long time," Scheper said. "It gets you closer to qualifying for NCAA's, so I was really happy with my performance."
She is now one of seven women to ever clear 6'0 in the women's high jump in the 11-year history of the New Balance Collegiate Invitational. Scheper's mark puts her in a tie for fourth on the NCAA list this season with only five weekends remaining before bids are handed out for the NCAA Indoor Championships that will be held in Nampa, Idaho. Her steady improvement has her coaches encouraged that Scheper can continue to work hard and earn a berth in the field as just a sophomore.
"I was telling one of my teammates that it really helps when they cheer," Scheper said. "It really helps me. It makes me realize that people are actually paying attention."
Story via USC website.
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