Boamah-Acheampong looking to reach new heights for Scots
By Brian Questel
May 3, 2011
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The College of Woosters regular track season is winding down, but sophomore Abena Boamah-Acheampong is hoping to keep hers going a little longer.
The North Coasts indoor high jump champ has her sights set on the outdoor championships, which will be competed May 6-7 at Oberlin College. While she hoped to add the outdoor title to her resume, her big goal is to secure one of the automatic spots in the NCAA national championships, which will be held May 26-28 at Ohio Wesleyan University this year.
Boamah-Acheampong cleared 5-5 this season, April 23 at Kenyon, matching her top performance as a freshman. As Wooster head coach Dennis Rice noted, it is Boamah-Acheampongs ability to rise to the occasion that makes her tough to beat.
Its not necessarily about the height, but the opportunity to challenge yourself to win, said Rice. She won the indoor NCACs and then the All-Ohio Championships on a typical spring day this year in pouring down rain. It was a bit of a challenge.
For some of our meets, the weather has been brutal. Abena jumped 5-5 and it was raining and stuff. She was comfortable for whatever reason and jumped 5-5. The week before she jumped 5-1 to win the All-Ohio.
I think shes able to really focus and understand the importance of big meets. Thats the key to her success. She understands championship meets. She hasnt jumped equal to her high school mark (5-7), but shes capable of jumping that high. She understands the NCACs and All-Ohio Championships and the importance we put on those meets as a staff. She wins, regardless of height. She can get up for big meets... We put an emphasis on championship meets – it doesnt matter what you jump, a win is a win. Its not the height that matters.
Boamah-Acheampong reached the NCAA provisional standard with her 5-5 effort at Kenyon.
Shes tied with a bunch at 11th place on the national rankings, said Rice, who would like to see her add a minimum of another quarter-inch to that height to help her secure an automatic berth.
Were going to Denison (where she did go 5-5.25) and then we have the conference meet, said Rice. Following that we go to Allegheny College, but it depends on where she fits after we get past May 14 or if we need to go. If were going into nationals with a good height, then well take the weekend off before nationals. If not, there is a meet in Chicago we can attend.
Winning or not, Boamah-Acheampong was happy to get that 5-5.25 mark.
I was pleased with that now were getting to the end of the season, said the sophomore from Pickerington. Hopefully Ill get my PR of 5-8. I was happy to get the 5-5 now, but I was definitely happy to win for the team.
Boamah-Acheampong was weathered the weather this season, and shes succeeded in part because of practicing regardless of the conditions.
The weather at All-Ohio was pretty bad. It was like jumping in a hurricane, she laughed. We practice when its raining so when we go to meets we know what to expect instead of taking days off. Even though it was rainy, I felt a lot of power.
Im getting things together now. My approach and things are coming together really well.
Even though her 5.5.25 mark buys her a little space on the NCAA lists, Im hoping to keep on getting better, get a lot of good jumps and good heights, she said.
I learned a lot of good things last year dealing with the stress of classes and finals, she said. Now I know how to prepare, I know coach better and the team is close and were pushing each other.
