Ankeny Centennial junior Jaeden Pratt is the defending Class 4A state champion in the long jump. She placed sixth in the event with a jump of 16 feet 1/4 inch at the Hawkette Invitational on Thursday, helping the Jaguars to a third-place finish in the eight-team field.
Pratt is a multi-sport athlete who has earned all-state honors in both basketball and volleyball. She has verbally committed to play basketball at Illinois State.
Here is some inside info on Pratt:
How is the season going thus far?
The season is going pretty well. We’ve had a couple of meets, and I’m just getting back into the swing of things. The 4×100 relay team that I am on hit the (Drake Relays) Blue Oval standard this past week so that’s a positive!
Did you take some time off after basketball season, or did you jump into track right away?
I took about a week off from basketball, which was spring break week. That (following) Monday I returned to track.
Does your conditioning for basketball make for a pretty easy transition into track, or is it still a challenge to get into track shape?
I could tell I was still in basketball shape, but there is a difference between track conditioning and basketball. I’m still getting back into the groove of track conditioning.
Do you think it will take you awhile to find your groove in the long jump, or can you pick things up pretty quickly as far as your technique goes?
I’m hoping I’ll catch up to where I left off last year with long jump. This year is definitely technique-oriented. I’m hoping that I pick up quickly and get back to jumping how I’m used to.
Do you feel any added pressure as the defending state champion, or does that just give you the confidence that you need to perform when you have to?
Being a state champ definitely puts a target on my back for this season, but that was last year. This year is totally different. There are many girls who are jumping very well, and it pushes me as an individual as well.
Which running events do you think you’ll focus on this season?
This season I’ll be focusing on the 4×100 for sure, and the different relays that I am in. I’m hoping to keep good splits/times throughout the season!
What are your goals?
My goal this season is to stay healthy with having AAU basketball on the side, and to keep getting faster and correcting my jumping technique.
I know your basketball teammate, Mya Crawford, talked you into going out for track last year. Did you try to talk her into going out this year?
Mya was in a situation this year with basketball that didn’t allow her to do track. She will be traveling a lot for her tournaments.
Is basketball the sport that you’ll concentrate on the most over the summer?
I will definitely be focusing on basketball this summer with my AAU team, Kingdom Hoops. I’ll be getting myself ready for the high school season and for my following years at Illinois State.
Have you watched a lot of March (and April) Madness?
I have watched a lot of games.
What was your reaction to the basketball court for the NCAA women’s regional games in Portland having the incorrect 3-point lines?
My initial reaction when I saw the 3-point lines was from the start of the game when they showed the court you could tell that they were majorly different. Many people who haven’t played basketball may seem like it isn’t that much of a change, but all of the situations you’re put in and the reps that you do leading up to big games is a huge deal.
