Marks, Pederson rocketing to new heights

By BOB VARMETTE

Journal Sports Writer

COMFREY -- What do you think would be the odds?

They would have to be pretty high. But right now, the two best high jumpers in Class 1A in the state of Minnesota are from the same small track program.

How about from the same small high school in the same small town?

Comfrey, population 367, is home to Kyle Marks and Holli Pederson. Marks has the best high jump of the year in boys Class 1A at 6 feet, 6 inches; Pederson owns the girls mark at 5 feet, 5 inches.

As high as the odds were, Pederson and Marks have cleared that bar, too.

"It's pretty odd," Comfrey/Springfield coach Bruce Stresemann said. "It's a big state and we're in Class A. You know, maybe a month from now they won't have the best one. Right now, we're pretty thrilled with what they're doing."

Pederson is amazed.

"It is pretty amazing," said the 6-foot-2 sophomore, who is also an all-conference volleyball and basketball player for Comfrey. "It's pretty surprising that both of us would do as well as we have. It's not surprising for Kyle -- Kyle was good anyway, but this year I've been doing well, too."

Marks' success is less of a surprise. He went to the Class 1A meet last year and finished ninth.

Marks has been even better in 2001. In the high jump, Marks, who also participates in the 110-meter high hurdles, the 300-meter intermediate hurdles and the long jump, has won every meet this year.

He credits his work in the weight room with the improvement, as well as his participation in other sports. And Marks also credits a more aggressive attitude this year.

"I'm attacking it a little better," Marks said. "And I've got more confidence this year. I think being in the other events helps, too. I think it helps me loosen up more. Usually, the high jump is the last event, so I'm pretty loose."

The senior captain made his jump of 6-feet, 6 inches April 27 at Mountain Lake, setting a school record. Tuesday at St. James, he won the high jump with a leap of 6 feet, 4 inches.

Marks had a pretty good all-around day at St. James. In addition to winning the high jump, he won the long jump, and took both the 110- and 300-meter hurdles.

Marks, who went over the 1,000-point mark for his career at the Mountain Lake meet, now has 1,034 points.

With the improvement comes higher goals for Marks. He admits he was just happy to qualify for the state meet last year; this year, he expects to be on the medal stand in the high jump.

"My goals have changed. I'm thinking about winning a championship now," Marks said.

Pederson is thinking about the state meet, too. While her goals for this year are more modest, her opportunities are not.

Five feet, 5 inches won the Class 1A title last year.

Pederson is thinking of the 2001 state track meet as a learning experience -- an experience where she can compete against the best high jumpers in the state. And then Pederson has two more years after this season.

Pederson is no one-jump wonder. She cleared 5 feet, 4 inches once last year, and she's cleared 5 feet, 5 inches in each of her last three meets, winning the event in Pipestone, Mountain Lake and St. James.

Stresemann said it isn't out of the question she could clear 5 feet, 7 inches this year, and the current state Class 1A girls record of 5 feet, 10 inches is within reach by the time Pederson graduates in 2003.

Pederson knows she can get better.

"I need to work on my legs," she said. "The coaches want me to be stronger. I think I've got the technique pretty much down. They said I needed speed, but I worked on that. That's pretty important."

Stresemann smiles when he ponders Pederson's potential.

"She just has unlimited potential," Stresemann said. "I look at some of the things I think she can do. Her dream is to go to college and play basketball. My assistant coach -- Doug Robertson -- told her, 'You should be thinking about track. Five feet, 5 inches is a fantastic jump. You know, you can get a full-ride to some college for track and maybe double up in basketball.'

"I can see it in her eyes. She's got a sparkle. She's really thrilled about that."

Equally thrilled is the school and the town.

"People are fascinated by height and speed," Stresemann said. "Right now, our school is overtaken with height because Kyle and Holli are jumping so well. It's really helped our whole school."