Oklahoma State University Athletics
Maria Berggren
April 11, 2003 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
The sophomore triple jumper, a Sáve, Sweden native, had a memorable year in her first year of competition and she only needed two jumps to do it.
Her first opportunity to silence the freshmen critics came in the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships in Lincoln, Neb. Berggren could feel the butterflies in her first opportunity, and it caused her to the step over the line. She was able to relax after that and her next jump was a good one, and this one counted for a distance of 40 feet, 0.5 inches. That was all she needed to sikence her doubters.
Her one big jump landed her in the finals of the triple jump competition where she failed to improve her mark, but still took home an impressive fourth place finish.
This experience at the Big 12 meet could turn out to be very valuable when the young Swedish athlete gets a chance to perform in even bigger meets down the line. If she is topping 40 feet as a freshman, than she has three years to work on increasing that distance.
Berggren got another opportunity to showcase her talents at the Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Columbia, Mo. The coaches still were not expecting a big performance from her, even after her stunning performance in Lincoln just a few months earlier.
Berggren equaled the jump she had at the indoor meet and took home the eighth place medal.
Berggren more than exceeded expectations in her freshman season and has turned the unexpected into what will now be expected from her.
