Mercer Breaks Swan Valley Elementary Triple Jump Record

RONAN – Swan Valley Warhawk Rose Mercer broke the Swan Valley Elementary School triple jump record March 31 at the first meet of the season in Ronan, Mont. She jumped 28 feet, 10.75 inches beating the record set by Trinity Hamilton in the early 1990s by nearly two inches.

Mercer had tried triple jump a couple times last year for the first time and she said she was not very good. With the help of assistant coach Dana Conley, she earned the fourth place spot and competed at the Meet of Champions last year.

"I decided to try it again this year," said Mercer who is now an eighth-grader.

Because there was still snow in their long jump pits in the Swan, Mercer's first jumps of the season were at the meet. Conley again gave Mercer pointers between jumps.

Her first jump was 26-11. With the second jump she gained a foot. On her third jump she went 28-10.75. Mercer asked those running the pit to mark it again because she was so surprised she had gone that far.

"It was pretty exciting," said Mercer. "It felt pretty smooth for the first meet. I was just focusing on form and getting it down, I wasn't really concerned about the jump."

It wasn't until the next day that Mercer realized she had broken the school record. She asked coach Danni Parcell to check and it was confirmed. Hamilton's record was 28-9.

"I was pretty excited and thought it was pretty cool since I wasn't even trying to break it, I was just going for it," said Mercer.

Along with Conley's helpful advice at the meet, Mercer said SLE Assistant Coach Erin Lynch also has been very helpful and worked with her on her triple jump when the Warhawks join the Eagles for practice once per week in Seeley Lake.

"I'm definitely trying to beat [my record] and go farther since I will have more time to work on it," said Mercer.