With better than a foot improvement in her triple jump PR and an added measure of consistency, Alyssa Strong became one of the state's top triple jumpers last spring. Photo by Eric Versaw.
Alyssa Strong's Best Marks
Triple Jump: 36-5
100 Hurdles: 15.92
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Tell us a little about the decision for UCCS. What pulled you in to the school and what do you plan to study there?
It was a tough decision to decide where I wanted to spend the next four years, but what drew me in was the location. Colorado Springs is a beautiful place and UCCS is a great school being one of the University of Colorado schools. I plan to study photography there and see where it takes me.
You didn't run track as a freshman in high school. Is there a story about how you came out for track as a sophomore?
I did gymnastics for 12 years, from three years old all the way through freshman year. That's why I didn't go out for track my first year of high school. After I was done with gymnastics, I knew I needed to take up another sport. I had heard ex-gymnasts doing track and I thought it would be good fit so I went out my sophomore year.
How did you come to try the triple jump without going through the long jump first?
There have been a good line of triple jumpers that were also gymnasts at Berthoud which caught my attention. I thought I would give it a try and never got to competing in long jump because of all the other events I was doing.
In addition to triple jumping, you've also competed a lot in the hurdles. Will you be keeping that event alive this spring as well?
Yes, I definitely will. I want to continue with 100 hurdles and hope to make it to state again this spring.
You got over 36 feet several times last spring in the triple jump. Do you have a goal distance in mind for this spring? Will you be working on that in the indoor season as well?
Yes, I wish to jump 38 feet by the end of the season. I will be doing indoor season and have been working hard in the off season and believe I will accomplish this goal.
If you had to pick a highlight moment from your high school career to date, what would that moment be?
I would say it would be our conference meet 2015 season. I was really close to making it to state in 100 hurdles and was determined to do well. I had my best race, getting a PR by almost a half a second and getting a 15.92. Most of my teammates were cheering me and two of our other hurdles on. My hurdle coach had never coached a girl who ran the 100 hurdles in the 15s. I also was first in both hurdles and triple jump and made it to state with that time in hurdles. Conference was really fun cheering everyone on and watching others qualify for state.