Shippensburg University track and field jumper Cody DeBoer, a Montrose area graduate, recently qualified for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championships and earned an NCAA provisional qualifying mark at the Raiders’ first indoor track meet of the season at Bucknell University with a jump of 23-feet, 4.5-inches.
BY KEVIN WOODRUFF
A pair of local graduates are making an early impact on theShippensburgUniversityindoor track and field team.
Lauren Ellsworth, a freshman Lackawanna Trail graduate, and Cody DeBoer, a junior Montrose Area graduate, have both qualified for the post season after the first meet of the season atBucknellUniversity.
Ellsworth, 19, of Factoryville, qualified for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championship as a part of the 4×400 meter relay team that finished at 3:58.11 and in the 60 meter dash with a time of 7.87 while DeBoer qualified for the PSAC Championship and hit an NCAA provisional qualifying mark as well in the long jump at 23-feet, 4.5-inches.
Ellsworth said that she had been training hard to open strong in her college debut, and she was happy with the results.
“I knew I couldn’t come into the meet thinking that it would be like high school,” Ellsworth said. “I wanted to set the tone for the rest of the season, so I just came in and did what I always do and things ended up working out.”
Ellsworth said that in addition to making it to the PSAC championship in those two events, she would like to improve and set an NCAA qualifying mark.
She also noted that it is a goal to make it to nationals in the 400, her main event at Lackawanna Trail. Ellsworth is hoping to run a :56 in the 400 meters.
Ellsworth would also like to secure a spot on the distance medley relay team.
“I just need to keep working hard,” Ellsworth said. “And keep up with speed and endurance work.”
All the while she has to focus on getting her school work finished as an accounting major.
She said that getting used to the college workload was tricky at first, but that she feels its second nature now.
Trainings at Shippensburg for track involved Sunday night weight lifting, Tuesday and Thursday practice from3 p.m.to6 p.m., Monday and Wednesday workouts and Friday and Saturday individual workouts.
“There is a lot more training than there was in high school,” Ellsworth said. “But my high school coach (Mark Johnson) got me in the weight room in my senior year which really helped me coming into Shippensburg.”
DeBoer, 20, of Montrose, said it was great to be able to come out in the first meet and make a strong statement.
“It was an awesome feeling to be able to qualify for PSACs and NCAAs in the first meet. It had been a goal of mine to do it at the first meet so that I would not stress about it as the season went on,” DeBoer said. “Even though it had been a goal, I did not know that I would be able to do it.”
His reluctance in his ability to qualify in the first meet came as a result of shortcomings in his freshman and sophomore years.
DeBoer earned a nod to the NCAA Division II All-America team last season by making a 23-foot, 2.5-inch jump at nationals inNew Mexicolast March.
After such a strong showing in his sophomore year, DeBoer was hoping to tag-up on his success.
“I wanted to show everyone that last year was not a fluke and that I will be in contention for an NCAA title,” DeBoer said. “I actually fouled two jumps that were in the mid-24’s last year. My coach said had I hit the board it would have been over a 7.40 meter jump.”
To make a big statement so early in the season, DeBoer spent much of his summer power lifting.
“I am now able to squat sets of 405 without much of a hassle,” DeBoer said. “This strength will translate into more power on the runway and better height upon take off.”
He has also been working on hang cleans and push press, which are both designed to bring explosion and activate quick twitch muscles.
In order to keep progressing forward this season, DeBoer said he will continue to work on his approach to the board and his speed.
Along with his physical training, DeBoer said he is working on the mental aspect of the sport.
“I need to be more confident in my abilities and not worry about what someone I am competing against is doing,” DeBoer said.
DeBoer said this year he may expand his events and sprint in the 60 meter indoor, and in the spring compete in the 100 meter outdoors.
His goals for the rest of the season including jumping 25 feet in the long jump and make a push for an NCAA title.
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