DARLINGTON - Chayse Hermanson admits she feels like a rookie when it comes to the triple jump.
Two weeks ago, the Darlington junior was being groomed as a top long jumper when she started focusing on the triple jump. The early returns have turned up a hidden gem. Hermanson won the triple jump at the SWAL meet Tuesday with a leap of 31 feet, 4 inches, which was a personal record by four feet.
"It's still new to me," Hermanson said, who helped Darlington finish second behind champion Fennimore, 160.5-129.5. "It feels amazing that I can come out and improve by that much. I still have a lot of work to do."
Hermanson said she's still developing the second phase of the triple jump.
"We work on it a lot in practice," she said. "Hopefully, I can get it down and get further in my jumps."
Darlington track coach Todd Bastian likes the strides Hermanson has made in just two weeks.
"It's nice to see her get beyond 31 feet," Bastian said. "It gets her out there where she can compete in any meet."
Hermanson teamed with Kara Krahenbuhl, Taryn Evenstad and Hannah Huffman to win the 400-meter relay with a time of 53.87 seconds. Krahenbuhl finished second in the 100 (:13.10) and third in the pole vault (9-0).
Shawni Smith took second in the 800 (2:41.32) and Amy Jorgenson was second in the 3,200 (13:15.81). Alix Brandt finished second in the 100 hurdles (:18.08) and Hailey McGowan took second in the discus (105-6).
The Redbirds' 1,600 relay team of Lisa Kreidler, Huffman, Kayla Lange and Elizabeth Mathias finished second with a time of 4:35.82. Darlington's 3,200 relay team of Olivia Wedig, Cheyenne Wolfe, Alison Wedig and Harley Douglas took second with a time of 11:01.32.
Mathias added a third-place finish in the long jump (13-2) and the Redbirds' 800 relay team finished third (1:56.98).
Darlington is looking to contend with Fennimore for a SWAL Conference title.
"When you have talented teams, it brings out the talent in yourselves," Bastian said of a meet. "Our girls have really been coming on. We will give them (Fennimore) everything we can at the conference meet."
Two weeks ago, the Darlington junior was being groomed as a top long jumper when she started focusing on the triple jump. The early returns have turned up a hidden gem. Hermanson won the triple jump at the SWAL meet Tuesday with a leap of 31 feet, 4 inches, which was a personal record by four feet.
"It's still new to me," Hermanson said, who helped Darlington finish second behind champion Fennimore, 160.5-129.5. "It feels amazing that I can come out and improve by that much. I still have a lot of work to do."
Hermanson said she's still developing the second phase of the triple jump.
"We work on it a lot in practice," she said. "Hopefully, I can get it down and get further in my jumps."
Darlington track coach Todd Bastian likes the strides Hermanson has made in just two weeks.
"It's nice to see her get beyond 31 feet," Bastian said. "It gets her out there where she can compete in any meet."
Hermanson teamed with Kara Krahenbuhl, Taryn Evenstad and Hannah Huffman to win the 400-meter relay with a time of 53.87 seconds. Krahenbuhl finished second in the 100 (:13.10) and third in the pole vault (9-0).
Shawni Smith took second in the 800 (2:41.32) and Amy Jorgenson was second in the 3,200 (13:15.81). Alix Brandt finished second in the 100 hurdles (:18.08) and Hailey McGowan took second in the discus (105-6).
The Redbirds' 1,600 relay team of Lisa Kreidler, Huffman, Kayla Lange and Elizabeth Mathias finished second with a time of 4:35.82. Darlington's 3,200 relay team of Olivia Wedig, Cheyenne Wolfe, Alison Wedig and Harley Douglas took second with a time of 11:01.32.
Mathias added a third-place finish in the long jump (13-2) and the Redbirds' 800 relay team finished third (1:56.98).
Darlington is looking to contend with Fennimore for a SWAL Conference title.
"When you have talented teams, it brings out the talent in yourselves," Bastian said of a meet. "Our girls have really been coming on. We will give them (Fennimore) everything we can at the conference meet."
