Pedro – Jessica Kerns is making up for lost time.

Monday, May 15, 2000

Pedro – Jessica Kerns is making up for lost time. Setting a new high jump record at last Friday’s Ohio Valley Conference track meet might not surprise most people who have followed Kerns this season. But if you’re just picking up her progress this season, you haven’t missed much. You see, Kerns hasn’t been high jumping for very long. In fact, it was only last season she entered the event.

"I didn’t start high jumping until last year when coach (Redgie) Arden asked me to try it. I did pretty good and he said, ‘You’re going to do it,’ " said Kerns.

The new high jump record of 5-foot-2 and 1/4-inch topped the old mark of 5-2 set by Coal Grove’s Trish Walters in 1996.

Kerns made a run at it last year when she cleared 5-foot to win the event at the OVC meet.

But Kerns is clearing more than just a cross bar. She also long jumps, and she runs the 100 and 300 meter hurdles.

Her 16.3 second time in the 100 hurdles was good for first place in the OVC meet. She ran a 52.0 and was third in the 300 hurdles, and she uncharacteristically was second in the long jump at 15-4 1/4, being beaten by teammate Lisa Hacker by 2 and 1/4-inches.

Kerns’ combined success earned her meet high point honors with 26. She has won the high point trophy in every meet this season but one.

But she’ll put the high point award in the background this week as she prepares for the Division II district track meet.

All Kerns is thinking about is how to advance to the regionals. She would like to qualify in all four events, but she is leaning toward the high jump and 100 meter hurdles.

"Right now, I’m doing well in the 100 meter hurdles and the high jump. I feel pretty confident," said Kerns. "I really haven’t thought much about it. I’m just running and getting in shape. Hopefully, I’ll do pretty good," said Kerns.

Although Kerns said she is happy with her four open events, she admitted that "I’ve been wanting to do the 4×400 (relay). But I think this year I’ll just do the four open events,"

Just a sophomore, Kerns knows her berst years should be ahead of her.

"I feel like I’ll get better next year," said Kerns. "I’m going to lift and run."

Kerns said that she helped improve herself by participating in gymnastics and cheerleading. She also advanced in the Junior Olympics in advanced tumbling last spring.

"All that jumping helped me," said Kerns.

The Division II district track meet will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday and noon Saturday at the University of Rio Grande.