Photo above by Ted Plunkett
At last year's Virginia Tech Invitational, Nikki Nunn uncorked a personal best mark of 18'11.25" to place second in the event, which built hopes of bigger leaps and potentially state titles in the near future for her.
However, a hamstring injury suffered at the start of the indoor championship season last February though forced Nunn to be on the sidelines for the indoor state championships and still lingered through the spring and hinder her jumping and performance at the outdoor state meet. Nunn had improved her best last spring to a mark of 19'7" in her win at the elite Southern Track Classic along with two other performances over 19 feet, but competing on the not fully healed hamstring injury appeared to catch up with her at the VHSL Group AAA State Championships in Newport News when she was only able to muster a leap of 17'8.25" to finish 8th in the girls' long jump.
(Photo right by Brandon Miles)
Able to heal in the offseason along with physical therapy treatment and strength work for injury prevention, Nunn was able to prepare herself for a strong final year of high school track. Now past the halfway point of her senior year at Manchester High School in Midlothian, Va., Nunn is currently one of the nation's leading performers in the long jump with a recent US #2 19'4.50" this past weekend and looks ahead to the Tech Invite again this weekend as a springboard this time around to good health and state titles in 2010.
Another breakthrough jump and flirting with a 20 footer on a runway at Virginia Tech's Rector Fieldhouse which has treated high school prep jumpers well in the past would make the intense competitor on the track, yet social and friendly off the track Nunn more than happy this weekend, but that is not her main focus for this season. Her top priorities are making sure that she is close to 100 perecent health and ready for the state and national championship meets, so she can showcase her full potential and claim her first state title and earn All-American honors individually.
Interview with Nikki Nunn
MileStat.com: When did you first get involved with track & field and why?
Nikki Nunn: I first got into track from soccer, back into elementary school days. The parents at soccer games talked about how I was always the fastest one out there. So I went out for cross country and track in middle school and have done it ever since.
(Photo left by Jesse Hutcheson)
MileStat.com: When did you first realize that this could be a sport that you could do well and go far in?
Nunn: A meet I attended in middle school held in Louisa was were I knew I loved track and would stick with it until I graduated. It is probably one of the most rememerable meets I have competed in. Our team had a blast competing and getting to know other teams. Our relay teams broke the 4x200 record and In the long jump I jumped a 16'4" breaking the meet record there as well. Everyone was so supportive and it was a great experience to get to travel, visit new places, and meet new people.
MileStat.com: You have narrowed your focus more on the jumps during the course of your high school career. You started out more as a sprinter/quarter miler and top leg on the sprint relays, but now specialize in the jumps. Has the narrowed focus of events helped you in the long jump or do you see benefit out of competing in other events especially on the track?
Nunn: Coach Bowen has focused me more in relays rather than individualized sprints which I think is good team-wise. I think from running the 55 before jumping definitely has effected me in a positive way to fire up my muscles. Years prior, I hadn't ever really ran a 55 so its fun to have a change of events!
MileStat.com: What schools are you currently looking at and how has your college recruiting process been so far?
Nunn: I have visited Penn. State, University of Tennessee, and soon Virginia Tech. The recruiting process is an experience I won't ever forget, I have a great time meeting different people from all over the East Coast and seeing different coaching styles along with athletes that I look up to.
(Photo right by John Herzog)
MileStat.com: You were hampered last spring by a hamstring injury. How tough was dealing with that injury and what did you learn from that experience?
Nunn: Oh I think that was probably one of the worst things to have to deal with especially attending the track meets and wanting so bad to be out there competing. I went to Chippenham-Johnson Willis sport medicine doing physical therapy and then later to strength training to build up some muscle on my little pole legs. I've learned the meaning of ICE!
MileStat.com: With the hamstring injury and disappointed about not doing as well as you wanted at the outdoor state meet, how motivated were you to get back to competing and jumping well this indoor season?
Nunn: I think the most excited thing about entering my senior year beyond the fun senior privileges and field hockey was being able to compete indoors for the chance to be top in the state and have fun with my team and coaches for one final year.
MileStat.com: How much of a relief was it for you early in the season to pop the big 19'2" mark at CNU to give you the early season US #1 ranking and jump over 19 feet again?
Nunn: Coming back and jumping 19'2" was very unreal I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. I was ecstatic that I was able to jump 19 again, but at the same time wondering if I would be able to go any farther than that being I had jumped it so soon. I couldn't complain though (laughing).
(Photo left by John Herzog)
MileStat.com: What impact have your Manchester coaches, Coach Bowen and Coach Walker, had on you?
Nunn: My coaches are one of the main reasons this sport is such a positive influence in my life. Coach Bowen always makes sure all of his athletes are doing well and are well equiped. I have learned from Coach Bowen that hard work, in the long run, never fails and I believe it has shown through his athletes performances over the years. He is a very humorous coach and I will never forget certain instances we have been through. One of the teams personal favorites being "good old Betsy" (our bus). We drove on the highway one time going around 30 miles per hour. It was hilarious to watch the drivers around us, along with Coach Bowen's comments.
Coach Bowen and Coach Walker have worked incredible hard helping me get to the point I have reached and I will forever be grateful for all they have done for me over the years. Coach Walker has been my coach since seventh grade and was who first got me into jumping. On and off the track, she is a great figure in my life and has helped create the components needed in order to be a successful athlete. Both Bowen and Coach Walker will be people I hope to always have contact with in the future.
MileStat.com: What would you consider as your greatest achievement so far in track & field?
Nunn: I believe my greatest achievement so far in track and field would have to be being able to qualify for the national meet and getting the opportunity to compete against athletes of that caliber.
(Photo right by John Herzog)
MileStat.com: You are two different people at a track meet. Very competitive and driven when in actual competition then very friendly and outgoing to your competition outside of the event. How are you able to turn the switch and stop playing nice when competing against your track friends?
Nunn: I love to create relationships with people at track meets because I feel it creates the fun of a track meet. I have to be reminded sometimes, that track meets aren't the place for social events. Being able to discuss the events and other interests of the person adds to the experience. Being able to focus is huge for me especially if I want to compete well. In all honesty I'm not sure how I create that focus, I guess it comes natural in a competitive situation.
MileStat.com: How have you felt about your jumping so far this season? What have you felt you have done a good job at and what do you feel you need to improve or work on?
Nunn: I think this is by far my best jumping season and I am very thrilled to know I still have weeks left in indoor and another season during the spring. I think I have improved my speed through form drills, but I still feel there is a great deal of improvement in both jumping and sprinting.
MileStat.com: This past Saturday you jumped an indoor best and US #2 mark of 19'4.50". How encouraged are you with that mark considering you are one week away from the meet, which historically has produced some great marks in the jumps at Virginia Tech?
Nunn: Its unbelievable. I can't even think of the Virginia Tech meet because of all the excitement it brings! This upcoming week will seem like a century waiting for the opportunity to compete at Tech's facility.
(Photo left by John Herzog)
MileStat.com: The mark at St. Christopher's also ranks you among the top 20 all-time in Virginia High School indoor history in the girls long jump and you had already broke Nicole Kimbrough's school record of 19'1". How do you feel about yourself when finding out that your performances ranks among the best all-time?
Nunn: It's an undescribeable feeling and honestly I can't believe it myself. It would definitely add to the greatest achievements!
MileStat.com: Which place has more chaos: a 4x200 meter relay exchange zone or the Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant that you work at on a football Sunday?
Nunn: (Laughing) Oh that is a close one! Although that exchange zone is crazy I would still have to go with Sunday night football! You don't want to get in the way of crazy football fans.
Photo above by Ted Plunkett
At last year's Virginia Tech Invitational, Nikki Nunn uncorked a personal best mark of 18'11.25" to place second in the event, which built hopes of bigger leaps and potentially state titles in the near future for her.