Molly Tumanic

Setting a university record is an achievement in itself, but breaking two in one season, one which stood for 22 years, is nothing short of extraordinary.

Senior Ashley Nelson set new Blugold records in both the 100-meter dash and long jump during this year’s outdoor track season. Her long jump record of 18 feet, 7.75 inches, set during the UWEC Open April 17, broke a record that is older than Nelson herself.

This is only Nelson’s second year on a collegiate track and field team. She joined UW-Eau Claire’s track team after transferring from UW-River Falls her junior year.

Nelson, who was also on the gymnastics team, transferred after the gymnastics program was cut from River Falls.

Now, she competes in long jump, triple jump, the 100-meter dash and the 400-meter relay. She said she joined out of nostalgia for her high school track days.

“I always wanted to go out for track in River Falls, but got hurt,” Nelson said. She suffered a bone bruise in her knee during her time with the Falcons.

After finishing her Blugold gymnastics season last year, she joined the track team as a jumper and sprinter.

Coach Tracy Yengo said Nelson’s newness to collegiate track brings unpredictability to how she has performed this season.

“She only did track last year,” Yengo said, “so it’s hard to know what to expect.”

But Nelson has impressed the whole team this year, consistently improvements in jumping and sprinting, Yengo said.

“She’s fun to be around, easy going and hard working,” Yengo said, attributing Nelson’s success to her overall athleticism.

Nelson said she thinks her technique improved.

“It’s been easier this year because last year I was just re-learning everything,” she said. “This year I can improve on that.”

Nelson said one of the things she improved was her take-off in the long jump.

“Long jump was really hard because I used to stutter my run,” she said.

Nelson credits gymnastics with helping her to correct that problem by practicing runs to the board in vaulting.

Her teammate, senior Katie Miller, said gymnastics also helps Nelson condition during the winter.

“She’s in such good shape,” she said. “(Gymnastics) probably helps.”

This year, Nelson has had no problems with her long jump. Her record is the second-longest distance posted in NCAA Div. III track this season. It is also the fifth best in the nation for all levels.

In addition to provisionally qualifying for the NCAA nationals in long jump, Nelson has provisionally qualified for triple jump with a distance of 37-2.5.

She said she hopes to increase the distance by one or two inches to secure a spot at the May 27-28 championships in Decatur, Ill.

Nelson broke her second Eau Claire record at the St. Thomas Invitational last weekend in the 100-meter with a time of 12.38 seconds. She said she had set a goal of breaking the record after she saw how close she had gotten at the UWEC Open.

Nelson will have one more chance to qualify for nationals at the WIAC Outdoor Championships held at Eau Claire’s Simpson Field this weekend.

She said she would like to drop her time in the 100-meter to the 12.2 range for regionals, and is aiming to place in the top three in all her events.

Yengo said Nelson’s determination will help her perform well this weekend.

“She definitely wants to be high up on the podium,” she said.

As for nationals, Nelson said she is just excited for the experience.

“I want to go and jump my best,” she said. “I would like to get All-American status, but as long as I jump how I want I’ll be happy just being there.”