The high jump can be broken down into three phases: the run-up, takeoff and bar clearance. After the takeoff, the center of gravity of an athlete follows a fixed path called a parabola. The athlete’s parabolic path should reach the maximum possible peak height as the athlete goes over the bar. As the center of gravity travels along the parabola, the body should rotate around the center of gravity in a way that will allow the successful clearance of a bar set as high as possible. In today’s most popular jumping technique, the Fosbury-fIop, the rotation consists of a "twist" (a rotation around the longitudinal axis of the body) which turns the back of the athlete toward the bar, and what some refer to as a "somersault" (a rotation around a transverse axis) which makes the shoulders go down and the knees go up.
The combination of the “twist” and the “somersault” motions produces a twisting somersault rotation which leads to a face-up layout position at the peak of the jump. Combined with an arched configuration of the body, the face-up layout position allows an athlete to clear a bar set at a height that is near the maximum height reached by the center of gravity. Some high jumpers however, are unable to perform the necessary somersault and/or twist rotations correctly.
Ohio has two D1 lady high jumpers who obviously perform both correctly, understanding the above technique and with that understanding and pure athleticism, have become not only the two best girl’s high jumpers in Ohio, but two of the best in the nation. Taylor Burke , a Medina Senior and Maddie Morrow, a North Canton Hoover Junior, have jumped their way into the National spotlight. OHRunners had the opportunity to interview both girls about their backgrounds, their training, their friendship, their rivalry, their competitiveness and their goals for this year.
2009 Ohio State Championships
1st Taylor Burke 5-09.00
6th Maddie Morrow 5-05.00
2010 OATCCC Indoor Championships 2010 Ohio State Championships
1st Taylor Burke 5-09.00 1st Taylor Burke 5-11.00
2nd Maddie Morrow 5-08.00 2nd Maddie Morrow 5-10.00
2011 New Balance Nationals 2011 OATCCC Indoor Championships
1st Taylor Burke 5-10.75 1st Maddie Morrow 5-11.00
2nd Maddie Morrow 5-.08.75 2nd Taylor Burke 5-10.00
Following is our interview with Taylor Burke. It is the first of our two interviews highlighting these two outstanding athletes.
Taylor Burke
Senior, Medina
Personal Bests
• High Jump 5-11
• Long Jump 16-3.75
Photo by Connie Roys
OHRunners: Taylor, you have verbally committed to the University of Florida to continue your education and track and field career. You are the current New Balance Indoor National champion with a jump of 5-10.75, the two time defending Ohio State Outdoor Champion, jumping a PB of 5-11.00 last year and the runner up at the recent OATCCC Indoor Championships with a jump of 5-10.00. What were your first experiences with Track & Field? How old were you and were you always directed toward High Jump?
Taylor: I started jumping in seventh grade for my middle school team. My mom was a high jumper in high school so she encouraged me to try it out. I ended up winning the middle school state championship in eighth grade, jumping 5' 7''.
OHRunners: Do you participate in any other sports or activities?
Taylor: When I was younger, I tried every sport imaginable: I played soccer, basketball, track and field, lacrosse, volleyball, and even did some gymnastics (gymnastics was one sport that I ended up giving up very quickly). All four years that I have been in high school I've been a varsity three sport athlete; soccer, basketball, and track. I was actually recruited by Division I schools in all three sports but I’ve ended up dropping basketball to play soccer and high jump for Florida. I am a goalkeeper in soccer and was lucky enough to be named a High School All-American and Ohio's player of the year this fall.
OHRunners: The weather this Spring in Ohio so far hasn’t been the best for T&F. You recently won the Mansfield Mehoc Relays with a jump of 5-08.00. What are your expectations for this outdoor season?
Taylor: I think something to expect this season is hopefully a six foot jump. I've really worked hard this off season and I'm really hoping all of it pays off. This year is a lot about preparing for college. I need to be ready to compete in the SEC at such a high level. I'm looking forward to the competition.
OHRunners: Maddie Morrow of North Canton Hoover placed 2nd to you in last year’s D1 State Championship with a jump of 5-10.00. She was 2nd to you at New Balance Indoor Nationals with a jump of 5-9.00 and out jumped you at the Ohio Indoor Championships with a jump of 5-11.00. As competitors, you are Ohio's premier jumpers. How would you categorize your relationship with Maddie? (Photo by Connie Roys)
Taylor: Maddie and I are definitely good for each other as far as competition. I think having each other there to compete pushes both of us to jump higher at each meet.
OHRunners: You work a couple of nights a week with Mike Caza, a former Canadian Olympic jumper. What type of specific workouts are you doing with Mike? How long have you been working out with him? What benefits have you seen in your performance? Are you working specifically on vertical leaping strength or is he helping you with actual jumping technique as well?
Taylor: A typical workout with Mike can vary, it depends what time of the year it is. In the off season it consists mostly of lifting and speed work. During the season, it is all about my technique and approach. Working with Mike has been very beneficial and since I have been going to Mike, it has shown in my results. He is a great guy and an even better high jump coach. Mike has jumped at such high levels he can really get into my head and knows what I am thinking. Sometimes it is a good thing but at other times it is not. ;) haha Mike works me hard and expects a lot out of me, which I love. I have been going to Mike since 7th grade and I owe a lot of my improvement and success to him.
OHRunners: Describe your typical workout week when you have a competition on a Saturday? What do you do Monday – Friday?
Taylor: A typical week for me is pretty light during the season. Monday, I usually go to Mike to jump and tweak some things just to get into my usual routine.
Tuesday, I usually do a light running workout designed by my high school coach, Phil Brewer. I usually run hard on the curves and soft on the straights emphasizing the curve in my approach.
Wednesday, I typically get a light lift in so that I keep strong throughout the season.
Thursday, I go to Mike again and do some short approach jumps to fine tune everything for the weekend. I get a motivation talk from him and it always gets me psyched to jump.
Friday, I just warm up and loosen up my muscles and stretch out.
OHRunners: What is your warm up for a meet? One, when you know that you will not be challenged by the competition and two, when you know that Maddie or another good jumper will be at the meet?
Taylor: My warm up for each meet is always the same regardless of who is at the meet and regardless of what level I will be jumping at. I run two laps and get some high kick, high knees, etc. and some approaches in. I like to scissor kick once and jump once before the meet.
OHRunners: Do you visualize each jump during a competition?(Photo by Connie Roys)
Taylor: Visualizing is something I do in every sport. Mike preaches about visualizing to me all the time. You have to see yourself make the perfect jump in your mind before you can actually have your body do it.
OHRunners: During a competition, how do you and your coach interact in terms of at what height you will begin jumping at and in making adjustments as the height increases? i.e. corrections on your approach, on the take- off, in the air, bar clearance and in twist and rotation?
Taylor: Phil Brewer, my high school coach, is actually the one on the sidelines at meets with me. Brew is a great coach and he knows his stuff about high jump. We always decide together on which height to move too and what feels comfortable. Usually when I come off the pit I can tell what I did wrong and Brew always has something else he’s noticed and together we make a great team, making adjustments if necessary.
OHRunners: What type of approach do you use? Typical curve or "J" approach? How many steps do you have in your approach?
Taylor: I use a typical "J" curve approach with 8 steps. 4 straight steps and 4 curved.
OHRunners: Describe yourself as an athlete? What makes Taylor tick? (Photo Courtesy of Victor Sailer, Photorun.net)
Taylor: As an athlete, I am a competitor and a gamer. If you challenge me to anything whether it be a National Championship or racing to the mailbox, I am going to give it my all and not settle until I've won. No matter how many times it may take me. The fact that I am a gamer makes me even more competitive. In practice, I'm not competing against anyone in track, but as far as soccer and basketball are concerned, I am always competing. I’m up for any sort of challenge that you give me.
OHRunners: I know this Spring will be exciting, as you challenge the 6’ mark. In Track & Field, there are times, distances and heights that seem to be markers to achieve. That 6’ height for High School ladies High Jump is one of them. The OHSAA D1 State Record is 6-01.00 set in 2000 by Chrisitina Estrict of Cleveland Collinwood. 6’ is the goal, but is a new State record in your sights?
Taylor: Ever since I've been a freshman I have had my sights on the state record. Hopefully I can get over that 6 foot bar and eventually make my way up to the state record. It is definitally reachable, with some good weather and on the right day it can happen.
OHRunners: Thanks Taylor. I’m definitely looking forward to watching you jump this Spring and to the competitiveness and excitement that we should see in the D1 competition. With your attitude and confidence, I sure that you will be looking back at that 6’ mark this year.