No time to sit

Don't let the smile fool you.

On the outside Palatine's all-around track star Jocelyn Kuksa is one of the most gregarious people you will meet, but inside the senior burns a competitive fire.

That fire was burning bright on Friday, April 11 at the Downers North Grove Invite. It was one of the first tests for Kuksa after injuring her left quad early in the indoor season.

And the senior didn't disappoint.

With a constant drizzle pelting the track, Kuksa was busy from start to finish, taking first in the pole vault (10-6) and 300 low hurdles (46.7), placing fourth in the 100 high hurdles (15.5), and capping her day by running the 1,600 relay, which took fourth with Pirates capturing the team title.

The senior scored 26 points by herself, which would have been good for an 11th-place finish.

Not too shabby of a day's work.

"That was huge," said Palatine coach Steve Currins of Kuksa's contributions. "That's a long meet and she was doing it from the beginning until the end."

But it is nothing new for Kuksa, who makes a seam-less transition from one event to another.

"I don't have time to sit around and I wouldn't want it any other way," said Kuksa. "You have to learn how to manage your time. It's really busy at times and warming up one event after another gets tiring, but you just have to go one event at a time and not think ahead."

Kuksa has won 3 state medals, including finishing third in the Class AA pole vault last year. She also has won 4th-place medal in the 1,600 relay (3:55.18) in 2006 and an 8th-place medal in the 1,600 relay (3:58.71) in 2007.

Kuksa was a state qualifier in both the 100 high hurdles and 300 low hurdles last season, and she also hit 17-4 in the long jump and cleared 5-0 in the high jump during the regular season.

"She's a very good all-around athlete, she has so many skills," said assistant coach Chaille Gleason, who coaches Kuksa in the hurdles. "She has tremendous strength, flexibility, and a lot of speed. She's able to make her body go to the position she needs it to be."

Kuksa extended her season last year, once again challenging herself by competing in the Illinois Prep Top Times Multi-Event Championship. She finished third in the heptathlon to Waubonsie Valley's Shakeia Pinnick and Benton's Leah Orley.

Not too bad of company considering Pinnick has already won 6 Class AA individual state medals, while Orley has 7 Class A individual state medals.

"I liked it because I got to do all the events I usually don't get to do," said Kuksa of the two-day heptathlon that featured competition in 100 high hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200 dash on the first day and concluded with long jump, javelin and 800 on the final day.

"It was great competition and it taught me how to compete hard."

A strength program, extra running, and a bit more confidence have elevated Kuksa performance this season.

Kuksa has already broken her own school record this season by clearing 11-6 in the pole vault

The senior is in prime form in the 100 high hurdles (15.1) and 300 low hurdles (44.7) and is an important member for the 1,600 relay.

"Last year I think she really wanted to be an athlete and was working at things," added Currins of Kuksa's growth. "This year she came in believing she was an athlete. She took that step forward. Her thinking now is, 'I am an athlete and I'm going to be a great athlete.'"

Kuksa has also become confident and efficient at managing her time and events.

"She has the approach this year she can handle it all," added Gleason. "Before she might have had a little bit of angst, but now it's like a checklist with her events."

Kuksa is moving up the ladder of Palatine's track athletes and the senior has the potential to add 4 more state medals this season, which would put her in elite company of Pirate athletes.

The senior will be one of the favorites in the pole vault in Class AA, and her pole vault coach John Rossini didn't hesitate when asked if there was still room for growth.

"Absolutely," said Rossini, who thinks she could go a foot higher. "Her speed and strength are her biggest keys and we're still working on things."

Kuksa will be attending Grand Valley State University in Michigan next fall where she will major in physical therapy. She also will be competing in the pole vault and her sophomore year will compete in the heptathlon.

Kuksa comes from an athletic family as her cousin Ryan Diem won the Class AA shot put in 1997 for Glenbard North and is now a starting offensive lineman for the Indianapolis Colts.

"My family has always been supportive," said Kuksa, who was also a 4-year member of Palatine gymnastics and was voted this year's MVP.

"They're successful in everything and I just want to follow in their path." Saturday, Kuksa will be competing in her final Palatine Relays and will be looking to gear up for big finish.

"Tradition," said Kuksa summing up the Relays. "You see all the former athletes come back and it gets you motivated."

On Monday at the Mid-Suburban League West Divisional meet Kuksa got a reprieve from her usual four-event day.

The senior won the pole vault and 100 high hurdles and was walking to the outer edges of the track after finishing second in the 300 low hurdles, her final race of the day.

On the balmy spring day that was quickly turning to dusk, Kuska offered a glimpse of the competitive inferno that was raging deep inside.

"I'm trying to focus as much as I can. I have goals and I'm really trying to reach them. If I don't reach them I know I tried," said Kuksa, who then offered her trade- mark smile while vanishing into the night.