Alyssa Kavajecz made history on April 21, 2016 at a track meet held in Drummond, WI.  It was a bit of an ugly day for competition – rainy, windy and cold – but nothing could hold her back.  Lined up, the athletes worked through a series of moves – jumping up and down, stretching – while they waited for their turn to run and jump over a bar initially set at 4’0″ – starting height for high school girl’s high jump competition.  With her parents looking on and the other athletes who failed to make the bar at 5′ spectating, Alyssa readied herself in the corner of the asphalt pit and made a run for the 5’2″ bar, gracefully soaring over the grey obstacle, leaving no doubt of her abilities.  There was a momentary pause of disbelief before the onlookers gasped and cheered.   That height tied South Shore’s previous record, set by Kris Kavajecz back in 1985 as well as broke Alyssa’s personal best.  Before she set up for her turn, conferenced with her mom “today is the day I jump 5-2,” she reflected.

The bar was raised to 5’3″.  At this point, it was solely Kavajecz competing, her closet rival – Rachel Hudacek of Ironwood – having not cleared the bar back at 5’2″.  Again, Alyssa set up in the right corner.  She leaned back and rocketed forward and with perfect precision, launched herself into the air and cleared 5’3″!    The bar was raised to 5’4″.   For those spectating, there was a sense of deja vu as Alyssa turned on the speed and effortlessly sailed over the bar at 5’4″.  Three years of practice, traveling, meets, competitions and countless hours of training certainly paid off for Alyssa Kavajecz as she cleared 5’4″.  Bouncing back off the mat, however, her facial expression told a different story.  Not one to pause long over victories, Alyssa asked for the bar to be raised again – surely a sign of a well developed sense of work ethic – to 5’5″.  A dreary Thursday at the end of April wasn’t the day to clear 5’5″, but knowing Alyssa, she will continue to train hard and time will only tell just how high she will jump.