Geneva’s Briza acclimates to long jump

GENEVA – Kailie Briza rides equestrian away from the long jump pit, and finds both pastimes rely on a keen awareness of one’s space and surroundings.

It’s a good frame of reference to have, but Briza hasn’t tapped into it much during her Geneva track career. Jumping with a horse had come naturally. Leaving her own feet was another story.

Briza, a junior, is bound for this weekend’s IHSA Class 3A State Meet in Charleston despite just two seasons of jumping under her belt. Geneva assistants noted her hurdling background last spring and recruited her to the long jump, where she has worked to show she belongs.

“Last year I had no clue what I was doing. I just kind of jumped and hoped for the best,” Briza said. “This year it’s more knowing what I’m doing wrong or if I’m doing something too much. I know what I’m talking about a little more now.”

Briza jumped 16 feet, 2 3/4 inches at last week’s Hoffman Estates Sectional, a distance that puts her about 2 1/2 feet behind the top-seeded long jumper, Homewood-Flossmoor senior Abie Ehimwenman.

She knows much of this trip will be about experience, and stockpiling it for a hopeful medal run next spring.

Then-jumps coach Mandy Croy spotted Briza’s jumping potential before the 2010 season. Larry Streeter, a former Illinois high school and Indiana University standout, has been especially beneficial as jumps coach this spring, helping Briza understand technique and jumping mechanics better than she could have expected.

“This year I knew what I wanted to do and what direction I wanted to take,” Briza said. “I wanted to dedicate myself more this year than I have previously and make a run at state.”

Following through on that goal surprised Briza, she admits. Her sectional jump did not meet the listed state qualifying standard, but she still advanced as one of the top two finishers in the sectional.

Her jump marked an improvement from the week before, when she cleared 16-1 to win the inaugural Upstate Eight Conference River Division title.

“She’s shown a great work ethic and an ability to catch on quickly and make easy transitions,” Vikings head coach Peter Raak said. “She’s a hurdler as well, and a lot of times hurdlers have those strong legs and that’s worked out very well for her in the long jump, too.”

Briza has jumped on the varsity level but largely has hurdled in the 100 and 300 as a JV competitor. She predominantly has been a sprinter and hurdler since first taking up track as a Geneva Middle School North seventh-grader.

This weekend, she figured to take renewed interest in the pole vault. Because the vault and long jump area are side-by-side at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium, Briza will be able to hang out with Vikings senior Erin Kluck, a state qualifier for the second straight season.

Both athletes were close by at Hoffman Estates last week, as well.

“We can’t have our coaches on the field with us, so having a teammate is definitely a plus,” Kluck said. “Supporting each other and being right by each other’s side is very good.”

AREA STATE QUALIFIERS
CLASS 3A
Geneva
Kailie Briza, Jr., long jump
Erin Kluck, Sr., pole vault
Liza Tauscher, Sr., 3,200 meters
Taylor Wickware, Sr., 800
Tess Ehrhardt, Sr., 1,600
Rachel Hammond, Sr., 1,600

St. Charles East
Laney Deckrow, So., high jump
Kelsey Gentry, Jr., 100
Britney Williams, So., 400
Annie Martines, Jr., 300 hurdles
4x400 relay

Batavia
Haleigh Theuerkauf, Jr., shot put
Rachael Spalding, So., 3,200
Bari Robinson, So., 800

St. Charles North
Meridith Beird, Sr., pole vault
Sydney Stuenkel, Jr., 1,600

CLASS 2A
Kaneland
Brooke Patterson, Sr., pole vault
4x800 relay
Lauren Zick, Fr., 400
Andie Strang, Sr., 1,600

Rosary
Grace Petry, Jr., long jump
Sara Nyaeme, Fr., triple jump
4x800 relay
4x100 relay
Amy Kus, Sr., 100 hurdles
Anna Deufel, Sr., 100; 200
4x200 relay
4x400 relay

Burlington Central
Katie Trupp, So., pole vault; high jump
Autumn Conn, Jr., pole vault
Caille Thomes, Sr., high jump
4x800 relay
Kayla Wolf, So., 800
Alexa Tovsen, Jr., 400
Markelle Turk, Sr., 1,600
4x400 relay

St. Francis
Katy Garcia, Sr., high jump; 300 hurdles
4x800 relay
Kelly McShea, Sr., 1,600

Aurora Central Catholic
Jenna Koerner, So., 800

CLASS 1A
Aurora Christian
Taylor Knauf, So., pole vault
Alyssa Henzel, Jr., discus
4x100 relay
Sarina Oleson, Jr., 3,200; 1,600
4x200 relay
Mackenzie Bollinger, So., 400