Anna McCartney '15 sets school record in Girls' Track

At the start of a Girls' Track practice last week, Wilbraham & Monson Academy Coach Paul Ekness asked Anna McCartney '15 to stand up.

Anna did so, although reluctantly because she didn't know why she was being singled out. Coach Ekness, though, had good reason to single out Anna.

Anna set the school record in the triple jump in a tri-meet at Williston Northampton School, and then went even farther three days later in a home meet against Cushing Academy.

"I'm pushing at it," Anna said. "I want to set it so it will be hard for other people to beat it in the future so I can keep it for a while."

Anna jumped 31 feet, 8 inches, at Williston before leaping 32 feet against Cushing. The previous mark of 31-4 was set by Diana Martinez Bordiu in 1996.

"I've been jumping significantly farther than last year," Anna said. "I've been making progress."

Anna started triple jumping for her school in the Bahamas. The competition on this year's WMA team, notably Shea Clarke '16, has pushed Anna into getting better.

"I did long jump, which is easier," Anna said. "I was introduced to triple jump by my coach in the Bahamas. I have long legs so she thought I would be good at it. At first I really didn't like it but after a while I got used to it and I thought I should stick with it.

"Last year I was the only girl who did triple jump so I didn't have much competition or anyone to push me. But this year I'm trying hard because we have people in triple jump."

Anna said she loves triple jump, and by loving it she's willing to come out of her comfort zone in order to be successful.

"You have to have a lot of guts to do triple jump," Anna said. "You can't be afraid to grunt and do things to your body that don't feel comfortable. You have to be into it and like it. If you don't like it you will give up and not try. You have to love it."