Being invited to the NCAA Div. III Indoor Track and Field Championships for one event is a huge honor for any track and field athlete.

Junior Jen Stafslien was invited to the big dance held at Kachel Fieldhouse at UW-Whitewater to compete in three events – the 55-meter hurdles, the long jump and the triple jump.

The soft-spoken athlete gave a tour-de-force performance at the competition, placing in the top 10 of all three events. Stafslien’s top finish came in the long jump, where she placed third with a jump of 18 feet, 3 inches. In the 55-meter hurdles, Stafslien sprinted her way to a fourth-place finish with a time of 8.36 seconds. She brought home a ninth-place finish in the triple jump, leaping 37-3 1/4 feet.

Head women’s track coach Tracy Yengo said Stafslien’s abilities are unique.

“At our level, to find someone with so much talent is unusual,” she said.

Competing in nationals wasn’t always easy for Stafslien. She said she was quite scared to go to nationals a year ago.

The journey to nationals helped build tension as well, she said, because it involved a long plane ride to New York.

Adjusting to the atmosphere of a national competition was overwhelming, she said.

Security guards heavily monitor national competitions, Stafslien said. She found that out at an event in New York when the security guards escorted other jumpers onto the track. Stafslien was forced to wait off to the side until a member of security could bring her to the event.

“Basically, it meant I had less time to do run-throughs,” she said.

This year, Stafslien walked into nationals with her head held high.

“I was much more confident,” she said. “When I’m nervous, I don’t do as well. Confidence is huge for me.”

As an added confidence booster, Stafslien had a comfort level with UW-Whitewater’s fieldhouse, after competing there for an indoor conference meet her freshman year.

Stafslien said she is fond of the venue as a jumper because it has wooden boards.

“I think they give you more of a spring,” she said.

While at the event, Stafslien found herself getting into her zone.

“If I can remember my race, it’s usually bad,” sge said. “Your mind isn’t thinking about what you’re doing ’til it’s done (when you do well).”

Even with the confidence Stafslien depends on for success, Yengo said she rarely let’s it show.

“She’s probably the most humble athlete I’ve ever coached,” she said. “You wouldn’t think she’s a fierce competitor. She’s very unassuming and more subtle. She strives to excel within.”

The close of the indoor season means a major shift the feel of competitions.

During the indoor season, there is no concern about weather, Stafslien said.

“With indoor you know you can’t blame anything else (for the way you perform),” she said.

With the outdoor season quickly approaching, Stafslien said she looks forward to participating in a fourth event, the 1,600-meter relay.

“It’s fun to be on a relay team,” she said. “You’re running for other people (besides yourself).”

The hardest aspect of the event for Stafslien is finding endurance.

For now, she said she plans to keep training for the upcoming season, alternating track-specific practices and weight lifting.

Women’s track and field opens its outdoor season on April 3 with the Norse Relays in Decorah, Iowa.