In the Spotlight: Claire Kieffer-Wright
4/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Michigan freshman Claire Kieffer-Wright is something rare in today's college athletics landscape: a two-sport athlete. In addition to being a high jumper for the Wolverines track and field program, she is also middle blocker on the U-M volleyball team, which recently finished the ROTC Challenge. Kieffer-Wright is a California native, and with the Wolverines heading back to the Golden State this weekend, she took some time to sit down with MGoBlue.com and discuss the volleyball team's recent conditioning stint, an exciting trip back home and her hopes of once again clearing the bar at six feet.
On reflecting on her freshman year as a whole, from the fall with volleyball until now ... "Looking back, it did go by fast. Twenty-five percent of my college career is already over, and that is a little scary. It is also really cool to know that I am on my way to doing great things. In terms of school, I learned that I need some new study strategies and really compartmentalize my time better so I can focus on school. I am taking spring classes, so I am going to be able to focus on that in the weeks coming. It was a great freshman year. Although we did not make the tournament in volleyball and I was not able to go to NCAA Indoors, overall it has been pretty good. I am looking forward to the rest of the outdoor season; there is nowhere to go but up."
On the ROTC Challenge the Volleyball team recently completed ... "It was hard for me to balance full hours with both sports. It was every Wednesday (for four Wednesdays), and I did not know that was happening until it came, so it was kind of an interesting surprise for me. I am not going to say I loved it, but it definitely was not a waste of time, either. It was a great experience and we are all better for it. Those guys took a lot of time and energy to plan and execute what they did for us. It was all about work ethic, but there was a lot of mental stuff too, like being able to stay tough and communicate well; those were big key points that they hit on. When the going gets tough, who is going to step up and communicate their message clearly? Who is going to be the clearest thinker? Things like that. For our spring activity, they usually do something fun like diving or playing football, but we did something different this year. We got to do some pretty fun things though, and it was interesting to go through that process with all those girls. We will be able to look back next year and know that we all went through this together."
On her memories of jumping six feet for the first time in high school at Mt. Sac Relays ... "I was a junior in high school, competing against some pretty good jumpers at the time. There was Vashti Cunningham, who is now a junior in high school with an American high school record, competing against me as a freshman at that time. She and I were both attempting to clear 6-0 ft. at the same meet. She went first, and I went right after her (in the progression); it was just us two. We both missed our first attempt, but I was close and I could feel it. The other jumpers who were out but were watching were telling me 'You were really close!'. She went on her second attempt and missed, and it was time for my second one. I remember telling myself so clearly 'You have this. You almost cleared it on your last one.' I went and I cleared the bar, and I remember hearing my mom just screaming from the audience, her and my two club volleyball coaches, and there is a great picture of all three of them after I cleared it. You can see them in the background on video. I remember someone congratulating to me, and after I saw Vashti miss her third attempt, she congratulated me too. It was a pretty special day for me. I had broken Amy Acuff's meet record for high school at the time, so it was a really cool experience."
On her excitement to return to warm, California weather to jump this weekend ... "I am very excited. (Irvine) is an hour from my house; all my friends are all super excited to come see me jump and I can't wait to go see them when we get there. When I (jumped at) Cal it was warm and sunny and everyone said it was too hot, but that is my element. I ended up winning that meet, so I think there is something about being born and raised in California that makes me jump better in that weather. I experienced it every day of my life so it is good to go back to that. I am excited to get to Irvine."
• Previous Spotlight: Sarah Zieve
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