Southeast Missouri State jumpers reaching new heights

When Matt Koelling took over as the jumps coach at Southeast Missouri State University fresh out of college, he never imagined he would help put the program, and the jumps team in particular, on the map.

Now in his fifth season at the helm of the Redhawks jumping squad, Koelling attributes his success to becoming a successful recruiter. He admitted it wasn't easy at first, but once he found a few of the right athletes right in his own backyard, the rest just fell into place.

"I've been pretty lucky. We've had a couple really good guys come from this area. Like I've had Blake Smith from Jackson, right across the highway, and Chris Martin is here from Cape [Central]," Koelling said. "I've really tried to recruit Missouri and the surrounding states. That's mainly what I look at. Just starting here has really helped. This was my first job, so I think I've gotten better over the years at recruiting. Then, once my kids started doing well, it was easier to attract better kids as well. We've done well here and because of that better, talented athletes are starting to want to come here. We're also winning conference championships, so that helps, too."

Since coming to Southeast in 2011, Koelling has helped 13 athletes win Ohio Valley Conference championships in their respective events and had 13 more earn runner-up honors. His athletes also have broken six school records.

Nine of the 12 current jumpers on the Southeast team that hosted its only home indoor meet of the season on Friday at the Student Recreation Center are from Missouri

Koelling is a former Emporia State triple jumper who finished 12th at the 2008 NCAA Division II Outdoor National Meet and ninth at the 2010 NCAA Division II Indoor National Meet.

"I was a jumper, so I know that high when you win and hear everybody in the crowd and the rest of the team cheering you on. That's my goal for them," Koelling said. "Sure it's nice to get some recognition for helping these guys out, but it's not like I wait for it and need it to get my job done. At the end of the day, all eyes should be on these guys because they put in the extra work and the extra effort to be some of the best jumpers and sprinters around."

Southeast won all but three events at the Redhawks Invite on Friday and defeated visiting Memphis in the men's and women's team standings.

Southeast Missouri State's Reggie Miller works his way over the bar during the high jump event at the Redhawks Invite indoor track and field meet Friday, Feb. 20, 2015 at the Student Recreation Center. (Glenn Landberg)

Southeast's Reggie Miller dominated in the high jump, beating out two of his teammates and a Memphis athlete with a winning jump of 6 feet, 10 3/4 inches. It was one of the more amazing feats for Miller, considering he had not trained in the event in more than six months.

"I actually felt pretty relaxed and confident. I've been sick for the last four days and that was my first time jumping a bar in probably eight months or something," said Miller, who had been focusing strictly on triple jump this season until Koelling asked him to fill in on high jump ahead of the conference meet. "I have to do high jump to score points for us at conference, help the team get another championship, so we had this meet here to help me get prepared, kind of dust off the cobwebs and things like that before conference."

Koelling said he never doubted Miller would be able to perform at a high level.

"We hadn't been practicing high jump at all this year. We've kind of just been focusing on the triple jump, but that just shows what kind of athlete he is. He can come out here and jump," Koelling said.

Miller has won five OVC championships, made two appearances at nationals and holds the school record in the indoor high jump at 7 feet, 1/4 inch.

"He could be a world-class triple jumper, I believe," Koelling said. "He's working on his speed, which is the only thing he really needs, and eventually I think he'll get there. He's a 7-foot plus high jumper, too. Pretty much whatever he sets his mind to, he's going to be good at."

Miller took a day off from the triple jump due to a hamstring injury he has been battling, but Koelling said he will be ready for the event at the conference meet. which begins on Friday.

Southeast's Blake Carter and Smith saw success in the long jump.

The seniors finished 1-2, respectively, and have long been regarded as the jump team's leaders.

"They're big-time leaders. They push each other every day in practice. It helps to have them both together," Koelling said. "I kind of joke with them, too. I tell them, 'I might just recruit Blakes from now on,' and it's because those two guys have got that certain attitude that you need in this sport. Those guys in the long jump and the sprints, they're really big for us."

Smith, a Jackson graduate, has the best jump in the OVC this season and is currently ranked 22nd in the nation. The top 16 jumpers will advance to nationals.

"Blake Smith, he's a national qualifier long jump guy, and he's the fastest guy on the team. So the speed correlation is a big part of both of the jumps," Koelling said. "And then we just try to get strong, too. You have to be able to handle a lot of triple jumping and just with your take-off in long jump. To have strength on that plant leg is huge for anyone who is serious about either of those two jumps."

Southeast Missouri State's Chris Martin prepares for the triple jump event during the Redhawks Invite indoor track and field meet Friday, Feb. 20, 2015 at the Student Recreation Center. (Glenn Landberg)

Martin rounded out a successful day for the Southeast jumpers with a first-place finish in the triple jump.

Koelling said the triple jump is one of the hardest events to master in the sport, but Martin has what it takes to be a top triple jumper in the nation.

"Triple jump, that's my main event. That's what I did in college, so I've done hours upon hours of study on that. Like even in high school I loved it too," Koelling said. "Triple jump is probably the most technical event that I can think of because there are so many things that go into it. Really, the main things that we focus on in the long jump and triple jump are just speed. Speed is the number one thing, and Chris really fits that."

The Central graduate and Southeast sophomore went to nationals last season. Currently, Martin has the 13th best jump in the nation. Koelling expects his jump to hold up for the remainder of the season and sees him being one of the best one day.

"I knew he had a lot of potential. I think he thought he was a little better than he was. Getting to this level I think he kind of realized it, and he put in a lot of work," Koelling said. "He's gone along with my training. Pretty much anything I say goes with him. He's PR'd by about five feet in triple jump so far and he's only a sophomore. I think he might PR by another foot or so this year, so by the time he's a senior he might be a world-class guy."

Carter said he needed to see Martin's work ethic before he was convinced he could be a contributer.

"It's kind of one of those things where you can't really judge somebody's talent. You have to see how hard they work and how it is because anybody can come in here and say, 'I can do this and that,'" Carter said. "But what impresses me is how hard you're willing to work to get better. It really doesn't matter what you've done getting here. It's about getting here and going to that next level. He's proven that he's a hard worker, and he's working hard to get to that next level. So that's what's impressed me the most about him."

Southeast Missouri State's Alexander Anderson competes in the long jump event during the Redhawks Invite indoor track and field meet Friday, Feb. 20, 2015 at the Student Recreation Center. (Glenn Landberg)

One contributing factor to Southeast's success has been an emphasis on the strength of the athletes.

Before Koelling ever got interested in track, his passion was strength and conditioning. He is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and will graduate with a Master's degree in strength and conditioning in May.

"That definitely helps us a lot, that he brings us that knowledge. And on top of that, every year he's trying to get better and perfect it," said Carter, who added that strength and conditioning in practice has made him faster. "So he's always coming at us with something better, more intense and more explosive. So I mean, it's great to have a coach with that background."

The men's team will try to defend their indoor OVC title this weekend while both the men and women will enter the outdoor season as the defending OVC champions.

"I love where we're going and everything we accomplish every year and in every meet," Koelling said. "This is a dream come true to be with a winning program like this, and I don't see it ending anytime soon."