Getting a jump on the competition
Junior kaly Banks rcently set a school record in the triple jump, then broke it.
Kaly Banks jumps for the school record in the triple jump
In 1988, Sari Lindeman set the girls triple jump record with her jump of 36’2.75. That record has been left untouched for the past 19 years until April 11, 2017, when junior Kaly Banks made history with her jump of 36’5, and then again with another jump of 37’.75.
With so much success in the event it’s hard to believe that Kaly stumbled upon her ground shaking talent by chance in middle school. She simply decided to give it a shot since she was already in long jump and felt like broadening her horizons by trying something new. Only a junior, Banks has already become the best triple jumper in the history of the Cannon Falls Track and Field program.
It seems that Banks’ growing obsession with breaking the school record began last year, as she could often be observed gazing up at the record board with a longing look in her eyes. It wasn’t only her talent that earned her a spot on the board, though. This season Kaly has been working with a local triple jump expert, whom she refers to as “Coach Scott”, to perfect her form. Her efforts paid off at the Stewartville meet, when Banks finally jumped past the threshold into history. When asked how it felt to achieve her goal, the star athlete replied, “It felt amazing! I wanted it so bad that at one point I had it taped to the back of my phone.”
Although it’s easy to think that she’s already reached the maximum extent of excellence, Banks is still only a junior with another season and a half in front of her. “I would love to get the long jump record also. And another goal I’d like to accomplish is to perfect my technique because then I could jump even farther,” states Banks, determination ringing in her voice. With work ethic like hers, who is to say she won’t break the record another five times before she graduates?
As her talent is too great to be confined to high school, Kaly already looks forward to potentially jumping for Bemidji State University in a few years. Stay tuned for more news regarding Kalyssa Banks and her triple jumping success. Clearly she is on the road for a state championship, and ultimately an olympic gold medal.
Besides Lantern, Gina Grosland participates in soccer, dance, track, and BPA. She's made up of 75% water and 25% bad puns. In her spare time she enjoys...
Bryson Felton is a senior photographer and part editor for the Lantern. He is also involved in the school musicals and plays, speech, yearbook, and track....