VIDEO: HPHS Senior Inches Toward New Heights

Most people probably didn't see her coming. 

 High School's Jaclyn Rose spent the last two seasons on the Giants junior varsity high jump squad. Her highest jump entering her senior season was only 4 feet, 10 inches and she only cleared 4 feet, 8 inches at the Central Suburban League (CSL) indoor meet earlier this spring.

But after clearing 61 inches at last Friday's CSL North conference meet and winning the high jump title, Rose is only two inches away from qualifying for state.

"Now that I'm literally this close to getting it, it's unreal," Rose said after her winning jump the prior week.

She will look to clear a height of 5 feet, 3 inches at Friday's Buffalo Grove Sectional, the same height she was so close to clearing on three occasions at the CSL meet.

"There's not much you can do once you get to that high height," Rose said.  "It's just a lot of little things: making your speed a little bit faster; making your curve a little bit tighter; making your jump a little bit straighter instead of leaning into it. 

"It's all these little things that you have to put together to make that one perfect jump," she added.

To hear how Rose has gone from junior varsity to a possible state qualifier in one short year, click on the video link above.

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