Sadie McMullen: Valor Christian To Wyoming

Q) Talk about the recruitment process - what other schools were you looking at, and how did you come to choosing the University of Wyoming?

I started talking to schools a few weeks after the 2019 state meet. My top five schools were the University of Wyoming, University of Nebraska, Michigan State, Liberty Christian University, and Colorado State University.

At times it got stressful, but then I remembered that I only get to go through this process once, so I should enjoy it and make the most of it. I chose Wyoming because I really like Coach Howe, the jumps coach, and he has had a lot of success with his jumpers. I like the Western culture and small town feel of Laramie, and the students and athletes were all very welcoming.

Q) What do you plan to study at Wyoming?

I plan to major in Kinesiology and Exercise Science and earn a minor in Nutrition. I hope to one day coach track and field or go into personal training.

Q) What event do you see yourself focusing on at Wyoming?

I see myself really focusing on long jump. It has always been my favorite event. I am also hoping to run in some relays. I have really enjoyed running on our team's 4x100, 4x200 and sprint medley relays..

 Q) You've had success in the 100 on over to the long jump, which event would you say is your favorite, and why?

The long jump has always been my favorite. Even before I started track, I loved to jump in between my running strides. I love the feeling of flying through the air.

I enjoy the 100 as well. I feel like the work I do training in sprints really helps me build my speed for the long jump.  I would say that I enjoy relays more than the open 100. I love the team camaraderie of the relays.

Q) You made a massive improvement over the past year in the long jump (18-3.5 to 19-9.5) what would you say attributed to such an improvement?

Going into my sophomore season, I had to change a lot of techniques to my runway, take off, hang, and landing. Because we were changing so many things, I began to overthink everything and my long jumps did not look like long jumps.

I remember my coach telling me that it was going to be really hard to learn all of these new techniques, but as soon as I could apply just a few of them, I would go far.

I started improving a little bit at the end of the year but then an injury took me out of  state. Going into my Junior year, my coach and I were able to improve my jumps and I started going far. I feel like I still have a lot to improve, but I have a good runway now. The experience of changing my technique really taught me how to trust the process, be patient, stay out of my head, and trust my coaches.   

Q) The first long jump result we have on you on MileSplit is a 14-3.25 at the Fort Collins Track Club Winter Kickoff in early January of 2016 - what do you remember from this competition?

It was one of the last meets held at the CU Boulder Balch House and it was freezing! I was going back and forth between the long jump and the high jump, and my coach called me the "Flying Board" in the high jump.

Coach Kula was very excited that I won the long jump, and encouraged me to keep working hard. All of the girls on that track academy team are still some of my closest friends and teammates. We found a video of that meet, and my long jump technique consisted of running and jumping. That was it!

Q) What got you interested in track and field in the first place? 

I have always loved to run as fast as I can. I had to keep up with my older brother. I was the kind of girl who loved to race the boys at recess. I started USATF track when I was nine, but didn't start running or jumping competitively until I joined the Valor Track Academy in 8th grade. 

Q) Could you share any goals you have for your senior year?

This year I would like to consistently exceed 20 feet in the long jump. I would like to capture the 5A state title again, and shoot for the state record of 21-1. I would like to get down to 12.00 seconds in the 100.

My freshman year, there were a lot of seniors who took really good care of me, pushed me, and guided me through my first track season.  I want to do the same for my younger teammates as well.

Q) What would your favorite high school moment be?

While there are a lot of good memories from high school, one of my favorites was getting baptized by my head coach and our distance coach on our home track after the Holy War meet. It was amazing to be baptized by my coaches and be surrounded by some of my closest friends and parents.