S-M jumper breaks stereotype
Female athlete of the week
At 5-foot-5, Jacque Peterson probably isn't the prototypical high jumper, but someone forgot to tell her that.
The sophomore for the Staples-Motley Cardinals girls' track and field team holds the school record in the high jump with a leap of 5-2 and her goal this year is to jump her height.
She's headed in the right direction as she won the event at the Frostbite Invitational April 15 with a 5-foot effort. She also won the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes.
The four first-place finishes helped the Cardinals win the meet by 78.5 points.
Along with some of the top distance runners in the state, Peterson and the Cardinals are poised to make a run at the Class 1A state True Team meet.
To get there, Cardinals coach Ryan Beachy wants to put Peterson in the hurdles.
Peterson, who's been on the varsity since seventh grade, would rather do open sprints, but doesn't mind the hurdles since she's done them before.
"I just live to do sports," she said. "I just try to be the best in everything I am in. I'm really competitive."
Peterson's main event is the high jump. Despite a height disadvantage, she has great technique and powerful legs.
"I really have to get some pop to get up there," said Peterson. "I didn't jump that high in the last meet, but I moved it up to try and break the record.
"I really have to run and use all the leg power I have. I'm really small, but I can jump."
"Jacque is a great athlete, she made it to state as an individual in tennis and then also competed with the team down there," said Ryan Beachy. "She's very quick. She's fast, there's not a lot you need to explain other than that."
Other notable efforts:
Softball -- Amanda Carlson, Aitkin, struck out eight and allowed just one hit in a complete-game shutout vs. McGregor.
Beth Rogge, Verndale, was 3-for-3 with a home run vs. Sebeka.
Michelle Honek, Staples-Motley, struck out 11 and pitched a no-hitter vs. Pine River-Backus.
Rachel Carry, Staples-Motley went 2-for-3 with a double, home run and six RBI and 2-for-3 with four RBI and another home run in a doubleheader vs. Pine River-Backus.
Angie Johnson, Wadena-Deer Creek, went 5-for-5 with a triple and three RBI vs. Perham.
Courtney Markham, Pequot Lakes, went 3-for-3 with two RBI, a double and triple vs. Park Rapids.
Golf -- Beckie Loidolt, Pierz, won a Central Minnesota Conference meet at Pierz.