Hren achieves All-State distinction

Recommend

Comment

Email this article

Print this article

Get news alerts

RSS Feeds

Share Digg Mixx Linked In Facebook Twitter Delicious

East Hampton’s longtime high jump champ Emily Hren, a senior, competed in her last high school meet in the New York State Championship at Cicero-North Syracuse High School last weekend.

Hren placed fifth in Division I and placed eighth overall in New York State with a 5-foot-4-inch jump. She didn’t defy expectation or win the top spot, but ultimately she achieved her goal of an All-State distinction and performed well, Bonackers head track coach Bill Herzog said.

“It went about as well as expected,” he said, adding, “She made it to the podium.”

Sara Palmer, a high jumper from Schuylerville, retained her title as New York State champion this year with a 5-foot-8-inch jump.

Lady Bonackers head track coach Diane O’Donnell and assistant coach Yani Cuesta are Hren’s primary coaches, but Herzog has been at her side throughout her high school career and he joined her at the state meet. He said Hren didn’t really have problems at the 5-foot 4-inch height, but she missed her first two jumps because her heel tapped the bar. The problem has been ongoing and Herzog and the young track star have been trying to work it out.

“Her form was good,” the coach said. He said Hren hit the bar on her first jump at 5 feet 5 inches, almost got over but kicked the bar on her second jump and got even closer on her third jump, only to just tap the bar with her heel as she fell toward the mat.

Herzog said she may have done better, but Hren had very little sleep on Friday night before she competed on Saturday. He noted that her fellow athletes were up late and making a ruckus in the room because they had competed on Friday and were finished with the meet. “It really messed her up a lot,” Herzog said. “She’s very ritualistic with what she does.”

Hren will still leave high school track with her head held high.

“Our goal was to get to the podium,” Herzog said, adding, “She was certainly pleased with the results.”

Had she made the 5-foot-5-inch jump, he said Hren would have advanced one place in both Division I and the Federation. The Federation includes competitors from all schools, public and private, in the state.

“It was a long season,” Herzog said. “I think she did very well.” He said Hren has primarily competed by herself at most meets and it’s been a tough and lonely endeavor. Despite those challenges, she made the state meet five times and was named All-State three times during her years at East Hampton. “It’s been a fabulous run, it really has,” Herzog said, noting that she is an excellent athlete in numerous track events, but she really excels at the high jump. “Emily competed in a lot of events over the years,” he said.

Hren is studying chemical engineering at the University of Chicago next year and Herzog said she will be jumping for the school. “The next phase of her life begins when she goes to college,” he said. Herzog explained that Hren seems happy to be finished and ready to move on.

In college, Hren will likely continue to excel, according to Herzog. He said that she will do well working with other athletes at her level and they will push each other to new levels of success. Herzog refuted the idea that athletes reach their prime in high school and noted that East Hampton “undertrains” its athletes in order to keep them strong and in a position to continue growing in college.

“I want the kid to last,” he said, explaining that pushing students too hard may take away their desire or interest in their sport and possibly make them burn out early. “It has to be fun,” Herzog said, acknowledging that track isn’t the most exciting sport available. “There’s no glove, there’s no stick, there’s no ball,” he said. Despite that, some kids find their strength and enjoy the challenge.