Taking One Final Big Leap Lakeland Senior Jamison Getting Ready To Defend Her State A-2 Triple-Jump Title

Amber Jamison isn’t bored anymore.

The Lakeland High senior track standout has spent the last three months getting ready for the next two weeks.

The wait couldn’t be over soon enough.

“I haven’t really forced myself to be dedicated this season, but as districts and state get closer I’ve become a lot more intense,” Jamison said.

Jamison is gearing up to defend her A-2 state title in the triple jump and compete in the long jump and relays. So far this season, she hasn’t had to be at her best because of the lack of area competition in the jumps. That will change soon.

“There are some good jumpers in Southern Idaho,” Jamison said. “I’ve always jumped better in situations where I had to step up my focus.”

The pressure on Jamison is greater this year for a pair of reasons. First, she’s the reigning state champ and has made defending her title the key to her season. Also, this will be the last high school competition for one of the finest female athletes in the region.

Jamison was named the Intermountain League volleyball player of the year despite playing on a mediocre team. Next year, Jamison will attend North Idaho College on a volleyball scholarship. She was also a starter on the Hawks basketball team.

“Once track ends it’s all over for high school and then I’m on to a whole different level,” Jamison said.

Equalling Jamison’s uncertainty over the future are the feelings of Lakeland track coach Lee Libera. Jamison’s graduation will leave a big hole that Libera isn’t quite certain he can fill.

“For the last four years, she’s been a big point-getter for us at every meet,” Libera said. “You would need five kids to match what she can do for the team herself.”

Libera said Jamison has been essential to the team because of her ability to compete wherever the Hawks needed her. Along with her jumping ability, Jamison has been a fixture on the relay teams and occasionally runs open sprints.

For Jamison, though, it hasn’t always been easy.

“I enjoy track, but volleyball has always been my favorite sport,” Jamison said. “I love the jumping but I’m not too wild about running.”

Jamison said she has always enjoyed track because it’s more laid-back than volleyball and basketball. Once she’s on the runway, though, it’s all business. Because of the long winter, she’s had little time to work on the triple jump. For the last month, she’s tried to make up for the lost time by concentrating solely on the triple. Jamison has been placing traffic cones on the runway in practice where she wants to hit each of the three parts of the triple.

“She hates to lose, so I wouldn’t bet against her repeating at state,” Libera said.

Last year at state she jumped 35 feet, 11 inches on her first attempt and won by almost a foot. Jamison said she wants to break that mark this season.

“I ripped my first jump last year which was really a surprise, but I want to go over 36 (feet) this year,” Jamison said.