New attitude helps Bak excel in long jump
By Jerry Giese Journal sports writer | Posted: Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Kinsey Bak added a new approach to her long jumping this year.
A smile.
Bak's new attitude about the event helped her set a school record of 17-10 late last month at the War Eagle Conference track meet in Sergeant Bluff. It may have been hard for the Hinton senior to smile through the rain at last Saturday's Class 1A regional meet in Lawton, but she did so anyway, qualifying for the 1A state meet with a 16-9 effort.
"I used to get so serious about the long jump, I'd never crack a smile," said Bak, the Sioux City Journal's Siouxland Athlete of the Week and a four-time state participant who's ranked second in the long jump heading into the state meet, trailing only defending state champion Jennifer Jorgensen of Southeast Webster-Grand, who sailed 17-3. s"(Assistant coach Jayson) Vande Hoef came back this year after missing last year and he told me to smile. He wants to see me having fun instead of putting so much pressure on myself. I do my best when I'm having fun."
The 18-year old daughter of Dirk and Amy Bak of Hinton also advanced to state in three other events. She follows 100-meter dash qualifier Abby Hageman, a junior, in the 4x400 relay. The foursome, which also includes sophomore Mackenzie Small and junior Brandi Schindel, has the third best qualifying time, 4:13.53.
Bak is ranked seventh in the 100 hurdles with a qualifying time of :15.74 that netted her a third-place finish at Lawton. She finished fourth in last year's 100 hurdles in :15.56.
Bak also runs the leadoff 200-meter leg on the distance medley, a quartet that also includes freshman Ashton Moody, freshman Shawnee Miller and Schindel.
Veteran Hinton Coach Mark Wilson's team is entered in nine events and Bak is a threat to score high in at least three, topped, of course by the long jump. She placed fourth at last year's 1A state meet with a 17-00.50 leap and is undefeated in the event, outside of a 16-0.25 showing at the Drake Relays that netted her a 15th-place finish.
"She has been a lot more consistent this year with her jump style and her approach to the board," said Wilson. "The thing Jayson has worked her the most is her form and hitting the board accurately. She doesn't count steps. If you count steps, you'd be missing other things. I'd say if you have the speed down, you don't have to count."
Vande Hoef, a native of Rock Valley, Iowa, is in his fourth year working with jumpers from the Hinton girls and boys squads. He's the younger brother of Darwin Vande Hoef, who won the 1989 Class 1A state high jump with a 6-10 effort, then jumped over seven feet at Iowa State.
"In the beginning of the year, (Vande Hoef) had us start at the board, then run backwards," said Bak. "He counted steps for us. The middle of the season, my steps got weird.
"I always picture myself getting a good foot on the board. Then I take off. I pump my arms fast and I jump behind the board. I keep my feet up the whole time. The last two steps have to be the quickest."
With that in mind, she's shooting for an 18-foot jump this weekend. The Simpson College track and volleyball recruit scratched at 18 feet at the WEC meet.
"I know I have it in me," said Bak. "I'm confident. I've got good speed and good spring off the board. I have to remember, don't look down."
Bak tells Small the same thing. Small was the regional runner-up at 16-5, an effort that ranks fifth heading into the state meet.
"We give Mackenzie a hard time because she hasn't won the long jump this year, she has always been second," said Wilson. "She figures it's her turn next year.
"Kinsey and Mackenzie help each other. They watch the board for each other. They talk about their flaws and tell each other about it so they can make changes."
Counting this weekend, Bak has qualified in 13 state events in four seasons with the Blackhawks.
"When we first start the season, Coach Wilson gives a speech about how our regular-season track meets are practice to get to state," said Bak. "That's his No. 1 goal. We've pleased him because we have a lot of people going.
"I feel like I'm blessed, being on this team. The girls on this team are my best friends and it's awesome to have athletic girls running together. I've got a jumps coach, a hurdles coach (Amy Brighton) and a head coach who tells me what my times are and what I need to do to get better. I've been blessed with everything."
SPECIAL MENTION
Boys Track
Sam Radke, Galva-Holstein: The senior had wins in the 100 (:11.12) and the 200 (:23.32) and ran the leadoff leg in the first-place medley relay (3:47.36) at the Class 1A district meet.
Girls Track
Kaysi Byers, River Valley: The junior established new school records while winning the 3,000 (11:32.06) and placing second in the 1,500 (5:31.59) in the Class B division of the Hinton Invitational.
NOTE: Nominations (from coaches only) can be directed to the Journal's sports department at 1-800-397-9820 (extension 4206).
A smile.
Bak's new attitude about the event helped her set a school record of 17-10 late last month at the War Eagle Conference track meet in Sergeant Bluff. It may have been hard for the Hinton senior to smile through the rain at last Saturday's Class 1A regional meet in Lawton, but she did so anyway, qualifying for the 1A state meet with a 16-9 effort.
"I used to get so serious about the long jump, I'd never crack a smile," said Bak, the Sioux City Journal's Siouxland Athlete of the Week and a four-time state participant who's ranked second in the long jump heading into the state meet, trailing only defending state champion Jennifer Jorgensen of Southeast Webster-Grand, who sailed 17-3. s"(Assistant coach Jayson) Vande Hoef came back this year after missing last year and he told me to smile. He wants to see me having fun instead of putting so much pressure on myself. I do my best when I'm having fun."
The 18-year old daughter of Dirk and Amy Bak of Hinton also advanced to state in three other events. She follows 100-meter dash qualifier Abby Hageman, a junior, in the 4x400 relay. The foursome, which also includes sophomore Mackenzie Small and junior Brandi Schindel, has the third best qualifying time, 4:13.53.
Bak is ranked seventh in the 100 hurdles with a qualifying time of :15.74 that netted her a third-place finish at Lawton. She finished fourth in last year's 100 hurdles in :15.56.
Bak also runs the leadoff 200-meter leg on the distance medley, a quartet that also includes freshman Ashton Moody, freshman Shawnee Miller and Schindel.
Veteran Hinton Coach Mark Wilson's team is entered in nine events and Bak is a threat to score high in at least three, topped, of course by the long jump. She placed fourth at last year's 1A state meet with a 17-00.50 leap and is undefeated in the event, outside of a 16-0.25 showing at the Drake Relays that netted her a 15th-place finish.
"She has been a lot more consistent this year with her jump style and her approach to the board," said Wilson. "The thing Jayson has worked her the most is her form and hitting the board accurately. She doesn't count steps. If you count steps, you'd be missing other things. I'd say if you have the speed down, you don't have to count."
Vande Hoef, a native of Rock Valley, Iowa, is in his fourth year working with jumpers from the Hinton girls and boys squads. He's the younger brother of Darwin Vande Hoef, who won the 1989 Class 1A state high jump with a 6-10 effort, then jumped over seven feet at Iowa State.
"In the beginning of the year, (Vande Hoef) had us start at the board, then run backwards," said Bak. "He counted steps for us. The middle of the season, my steps got weird.
"I always picture myself getting a good foot on the board. Then I take off. I pump my arms fast and I jump behind the board. I keep my feet up the whole time. The last two steps have to be the quickest."
With that in mind, she's shooting for an 18-foot jump this weekend. The Simpson College track and volleyball recruit scratched at 18 feet at the WEC meet.
"I know I have it in me," said Bak. "I'm confident. I've got good speed and good spring off the board. I have to remember, don't look down."
Bak tells Small the same thing. Small was the regional runner-up at 16-5, an effort that ranks fifth heading into the state meet.
"We give Mackenzie a hard time because she hasn't won the long jump this year, she has always been second," said Wilson. "She figures it's her turn next year.
"Kinsey and Mackenzie help each other. They watch the board for each other. They talk about their flaws and tell each other about it so they can make changes."
Counting this weekend, Bak has qualified in 13 state events in four seasons with the Blackhawks.
"When we first start the season, Coach Wilson gives a speech about how our regular-season track meets are practice to get to state," said Bak. "That's his No. 1 goal. We've pleased him because we have a lot of people going.
"I feel like I'm blessed, being on this team. The girls on this team are my best friends and it's awesome to have athletic girls running together. I've got a jumps coach, a hurdles coach (Amy Brighton) and a head coach who tells me what my times are and what I need to do to get better. I've been blessed with everything."
SPECIAL MENTION
Boys Track
Sam Radke, Galva-Holstein: The senior had wins in the 100 (:11.12) and the 200 (:23.32) and ran the leadoff leg in the first-place medley relay (3:47.36) at the Class 1A district meet.
Girls Track
Kaysi Byers, River Valley: The junior established new school records while winning the 3,000 (11:32.06) and placing second in the 1,500 (5:31.59) in the Class B division of the Hinton Invitational.
NOTE: Nominations (from coaches only) can be directed to the Journal's sports department at 1-800-397-9820 (extension 4206).
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