Kristen B.

I grew up participating in a summer track and field club every summer. When I first began I was just another athlete beginning my athletic career. As I reached high school I was one of the older ones participating so it became only natural for me to start helping and coaching the younger kids. I would arrive early for the first session to help coach. In the first sessions the ages ranged from 4 to 10. I would go through warm ups, workouts and cool downs with all of the kids. Some days it was just running workouts or circuits on other days I would specifically take children interested in high jump and coach them. Since I could not coach the older children, ages 11-15, because we would train at the same time; I started to meet them outside of those scheduled club practice times. We would meet and I would coach them on high jump specifically. Even throughout my career as a collegiate athlete I would help coach many of the younger athletes, specifically my senior year I help several freshman, sophomore, and junior collegiate high jumpers. I have my ACE personal training license.

I competed at the University of Oklahoma where I was a high jumper. During my time there I received the following awards and honors.
- Dan Gibbens Scholar Athlete of the Year Award (2013-2014)
- President’s Honor Roll with 4.0 GPA (Fall 2009, Spring 2011, Fall 2011)
- All-Academic Big 12 Team (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)
- College of Engineering Dean’s Honor Roll (Fall 2010, Fall 2011, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2013, Spring 2014)
- U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team (2011, 2012,2013)
- Track Representative for OU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (2011, 2012, 2013)
- All-Big 12 Outdoor Conference, Women’s High Jump (2011, 2012, 2013)
- All-Big 12 Indoor Conference, Women’s High Jump (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)
- Finished 16th at NCAA Nationals
-TAAF state high jump champion ( 2002 and 2005)

I don't believe there is one specific of typical session when it comes to a high jump coaching session. Every athlete is different and every athlete needs personalized attention and workouts. My initial session would be to see them jump. From there we would pin point what exactly needs to be improved on. It could be one or five. I would break down the high jump and work on drills and specific techniques that when mastered and applied would improve there overall performance. I have a multitude of drills that have focuses ranging from the approach, curve, penultimate steps, over the bar, take off and more.