Jumper battles back from adversity

by Steph Woody
Staff Writer

If you ask Michelle Borsz what the greatest obstacle she has overcome in her life is, her humble response would be the bar she high jumps over every day at practice.

The bar stands 5 feet, 6 inches from the ground - quite an impressive height — but a mere hop compared to the actual highs and lows she has experienced throughout her track and field career.

Life is good for Borsz these days. This past weekend, she jumped a personal best 5 feet, 8 inches to bring home a victory in front of the home crowd at the McDonald's Invitational.

"This year, 5'8" has been right out of reach for so long," Borsz said. "It was a big deal for me."

But things have not always been so good.

As a high school sophomore, Borsz developed injuries in both of her calves because of the extensive amount of long distance running she had done in cross country and track. The chronic pain developed into a case of emergency compartment syndrome and Borsz immediately had to undergo surgery to correct it. Her doctor was apprehensive.

"He said that if I couldn't have the surgery right then, I might not be walking normally," Borsz said.

After the surgery, Borsz had an allergic reaction that caused the tissue in her leg to swell, and she required another operation. Because of the surgeries, she was unable to run cross country and was forced to concentrate on the high jump. The concentration proved to be worthwhile. Borsz qualified for the state meet in the high jump all four years in high school.

"I missed a few years of distance running, and that's when I started focusing more on jumping," Borsz said. "It worked out for the better."

She decided to continue her athletic career at Ohio and accepted a scholarship to high jump, but struggled her freshman and sophomore years — she didn't clear 5 feet, 6 inches until the end of last season.

But this year is a different story. After clearing 5' 8", she seems rejuvenated.

"Finally, I feel like I've pulled out of the slump," Borsz said. "I've come around and now I'm able to contribute to the team."

Borsz credits her success to the hard work she put in during the summer. She trained five days a week with a combination of weight training and plyometrics.

"Coach Banton always emphasizes the importance of summer workouts," Borsz said. "But I really made it my focus. It came to a point where I just decided if I'm going to make it happen, put in the extra work. I think it's fair to say it paid off."

Ohio track and field coach Elmore Banton said Borsz is consistently focused and ready for competition.

"Michelle has really come around this year and she's much more mature," Banton said. "She's become a competitor. She's really focused on what she has to do and get ready for."

Tom Horst, Ohio's high jump coach, said he has noticed a difference in Michelle.

"She's just gotten into college shape," Horst said. "She's always been a good jumper. It's just that when you come into college, everything goes back to square one and you have to begin again. With the training we do and the repetitions in practice, she's back to where she was before and she's moving up."

Aside from achieving a personal record this season, Borsz said she has enjoyed having fun with her teammates. She also had the opportunity to see Olympian Marion Jones, one of her role models, in person at the Raleigh Relays.

"She's the epitome of female track athlete," Borsz said. "Just to run into her at a meet down in North Carolina stands out in my mind."

Although she has only one season left at Ohio after this one, she intends to make the best of it.

"Next year, my goal is to place top-three in the MAC," Borsz said.

Horst said Michelle has great potential.

"She is extremely tough and single-minded," Horst said. "She's very particular with her focus. Focus is being in the moment and she's very good at that."

Although she loves being part of a team, individual fulfillment also is worthwhile to Borsz.

"There is a certain satisfaction in pushing yourself and seeing what you're capable of," Borsz said.

Borsz, a psychology major, said she intends to get a master's degree in clinical social work.

"You deal with pain and adversity all the time in sports," Borsz said. "I think I can use my experiences to help others."