Tuesday, Jun. 30, 2009

Pressure raises bar for Hemann; Central sophomore is Class 1A track and field athlete of year

Pressure brought out the best in Central High School sophomore Jena Hemann during the 2009 track and field season.

Competing in four events at the IHSA State Track and Field Meet in Charleston last spring, Hemann got a not-so-gentle reminder how much pressure she was under as she prepared for the finals of the Class 1A high jump. She had won the state title in as a freshman.

"One of the IHSA meet officials came up to me and said, 'Ya know it's not very often that we have recurring champions in this event.''' Hemann said, laughing. "I'm like, 'oh great.'''

Hemann responded by jumping 5 feet 8 inches to win her second straight state title and the third title won by a member of her family.

Older sister Jessica Hemann won the Class A state title in the high jump in 2007. Their parents are Lori and Curt Hemann, of Breese.

"It was good to keep it in the family,'' said Hemann, who also won junior high state titles in the high jump in both the seventh and eighth grades.

"I guess the jump of 5-8 was a good jump. It was so hot and muggy that day and usually for some reason, I feel like I jump better, at least in the high jump, when its a little chillier.''

But for Hemann, the high jump title was just part of the story as she put on a performance for the ages at O'Brien Stadium.

Hemann placed second in the long jump and triple jump and was third in the 100 meters. The lone Central entry, Hemann finished with 33 team points which was good enough to lift the Cougars to a second place finish in the team competition.

For that accomplishment, Hemann has been chosen as the News-Democrat Class 1A track and field athlete of the year.

Hemann scoffs at the idea that the Cougars' second place trophy is hers.

"It was nice and while I'm happy we won it, it is just a trophy,'' Hemann said. "Alot of people have come up to me and said that its my trophy. I'm like no, that's not the case, because we are a team and they (my teammates) were always there for me.''

Hemann's effort impressed Central coach Greg Kruse, who in two years has gotten used to seeing his sensation do remarkable things on the track.

"Jena had a great day. She set new school records in the long jump (18 3 1/2 ) and triple jump (38-1) and we thought she had a chance in the 100," Kruse said following the meet. "But after jumping three events, I was just happy she finished, because after jumping three events, I didn't know if her legs would hold out or not.

But Hemann's legs did hold up, thanks in a large part to the weight-lifting program at Central High School.

"I think one of the big differences this year was that I was a lot stronger,'' Hemann said. "My freshman year, I really didn't know the weights and what I should be lifting in terms of pounds. We weren't really going at it too hard. We were just kind of learning how to do them.

"This year we were working with the weights all summer long. I knew the weights and so I could lift harder and stuff.''

Hemann's top high jump of the season came at the Bi-County Meet in Columbia where she jumped 5 feet 10 inches.

Hemann would have made 5-11 that day except for one thing -- her hair.

That's right, her hair.

"I almost had 5-11 at the Bi-County meet, but I hit the bar with my hair, Hemann said, smiling

"The first and third jumps were not that close. But the second jump I was over the bar but I leaned back too soon and nicked the bar hard enough with my hair. That's OK, though. You win some and you lose some.''

Hemann said she has several goals to accomplish in track and field before she graduates in 2011.

"Four state titles the same year would be nice, but I've got to win two first before I start thinking about winning three or four in the same year. It's really not a goal. But it would be nice,'' Hemann said. "My goal is to just do my best. The one goal I would like to get is the state record in the high jump and that's 5-11.''