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Michelle Cotharin is taking aim at the school record in the high jump.
By JAMAL THALJI, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 10, 2002
NEW PORT RICHEY -- Michelle Cotharin needs an exorcist. Or maybe not.
Before spring break, the Ridgewood sophomore couldn't attempt a high jump without awkwardly crashing into the bar. But after spring break, whoever it was gliding effortlessly over the bar didn't look like Cotharin.
Whatever happened to Cotharin over the break, Ridgewood coach Sue Vien said, she doesn't really mind.
"She went from sitting on the bar to actually flying over the bar," Vien said. "It was like someone possessed her overnight."
Not that anyone is complaining. Cotharin's leap of 5 feet, 2 inches at last week's Class 3A, Region 3 meet earned her second place and a berth in today's state meet at Coral Springs.
"I'm very excited about going," Cotharin said. "What I really want to go after is the school record."
That record is 5-6, set by Jamie Luikart when she won the region title in 1997. The last state title won in the county was also the high jump, by Ridgewood's Shawna Luikart with a leap of 5-4 in 2000.
Vien sees that kind of potential in Cotharin, who is already a key cog in the Rams' conference and district-title machine. Cotharin's events include the triple jump, 800, 4x400 relay and 4x800.
But right now, all her attention is on the high jump.
"I think a lot of my performance problems was that I just didn't understand how to do it," Cotharin said.
"Michelle was a late bloomer as far as high jumpers," Vien said. "It was halfway through the season, and she had some God-awful form, and when we came back from Easter break, it was like all of a sudden someone possessed her body. This beautiful high jumper came out of nowhere."
What makes a perfect jump?
"You have to have the right mark (on the runway)," Vien said. "You have to have the right steps. You have to run up to the pit strong. You have to plant your foot strong and you have to get over the bar right."