A triple jumper's journey to the sand pit flashes by in seconds. In the 40 meter flight down the narrow runway, every moment matters, and a single misstep can spell disaster. For Dallas native Britney Sullivan '18, it's all about visualization and exploding off the board.
"Thinking positive thoughts about flying through the air really helps," Sullivan says. "Mentally, I prepare about a week in advance and concentrate on staying strong and consistent in my jumps."
Picturing successful runs seems to be paying off for Sullivan, who placed 13th at the DIII NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships at Grinnell College from March 11-12. Sullivan's top jump hit 11.44 meters, just shy of her personal record of 11.80. She entered the Championships ranked 10th in the nation, a position she hopes to build on as she focuses on the outdoor season.
An accounting and Spanish double major, Sullivan says that she did not originally plan to pursue track in college, despite serving as the captain of her high school team. After a fruitful long jump career, Sullivan says she was asked to try triple jump during her senior year after her team found itself without triple jumpers. At the encouragement of her jump coach Todd Wildman '09 '10, Sullivan toured Trinity and decided collegiate track was in the cards after all.
On meet days, Sullivan uses music to get in the zone. She says a successful jump is just as much about "the feel" as it is about hitting a good mark.
"It's all about getting that graceful flight through the air, getting high, and extending," Sullivan says. "Sometimes my jumps turn out like that, and sometimes they don't, but I always focus on maintaining throughout the phases."
Though she is only a sophomore, Sullivan is no stranger to national competition. She also qualified for the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Canton, New York where she secured a 19th place finish. She is the first Trinity student-athlete to earn a bid to the Indoors since 2010, when Wildman won the national pentathlon in Greencastle, Ind.
With her outdoor season ramping up, Sullivan looks to role models like sprinter Allyson Felix and sprinter, long-jumper Carl Lewis for inspiration. Fueled by a competitive spirit, she says there is always room to improve and move up in the rankings. No matter what the future brings, Sullivan is certain to be an athlete to watch – arms extended, spikes flashing, and a determined look in her eyes.
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