Talk about turning the tables.
Starting the season slow, sophomore JoLyn Owen has turned the season into one she will never forget.
Owen, who a week ago was named the co-field performer of the WIAC championships, looks forward to her first trip to nationals.
“It was awesome actually, things just seemed to click,” Owen said. “I was able to gather in the energy from everyone else around me and it was fun.”
Owen will join senior Jessa Luebke who will compete in the weight throw, and sophomore Shelby Demos in the high jump and 55-meter hurdles, to compete in the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championship at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, this weekend.
Leading the Warhawks in three events in the conference tournament, Owen won the pentathlon with a school record 3,353 points.
Going into Day 2, she saw no signs of slowing down. She finished second in the high jump, 5-4.25, while finishing seventh in the long jump, 16.525.
“She definitely brought her A game and the next day, with a limited amount of rest she ended up taking second in high jump and then took seventh for long jump,” head coach Josh Ireland said.
With the way she performed at the conference championship, Owen has now built some confidence along with higher expectations for nationals.
“I was kind of surprised, I didn’t expect conference to go as well as it did, but if I do as good as I do in conference, I feel like I have a good shot to be an All-American,” Owen said.
Participating in more than five events in a meet can be difficult because it takes a lot of energy. The pentathlon has five events: high jump, hurdles, shot put, long jump and the 800 m.
Owen also participates in the open high jump and the open long jump, so gaining energy between events is key.
“I definitely get really tired, I try to keep my energy up in between,” Owen said.
“I try to lay down, although I don’t think that’s what you’re supposed to do,” Owen added with a laugh.
“Before I do events, I try to talk to people and get pumped up, or if I get nervous I start asking questions with people. I try to stay positive mentally too and that helps out.”
Ireland knows Owen could do well at nationals, because she is a tough athlete.
“She’s competing with the best of the best and I think with her being a natural competitor that’s going to push her to do things she probably never has done before,” Ireland said.
“She has a good attitude and is a hard worker, I think were expecting good things from her for nationals.”
