On Monday, the Southeast Region Field Athlete of the Year for the 2015 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field season was announced, and the honorable was none other than a Gamecock. Senior high jumper Jeannelle Scheper received the award for her undefeated season.
Scheper has gained this honor for the second straight season and managed to qualify for her last national championship in Oregon, which begins Wednesday. Scheper had been working toward this goal all year, and, come Saturday, she can show off all her hard work one last time.
“It does feel a little bit different because this is kind of the end of the line,” Scheper said. “This is my last season; this is going to be my last time competing at the regionals. And it’s extra special because my training partner and teammate Nakita made it ... I’ve never had another high jumper go with me to nationals so that’s going to be awesome.”
Nakita Gray is a sophomore and will be competing for her first national title alongside teammate Scheper.
Although Scheper finished this season with no mark lower than 6-1.25, she goes through the same thought process in every meet to reach toward the final meet of the season and her career.
"Gotta get through the rounds, stay focused and not make it too much more than it is and just get on to the finals in Oregon.” Scheper said.
In regular season, Scheper took on other honors including U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Field Athlete of the Week and the SEC field Athlete of the Week three times. She also earned the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award and is only the third Gamecock to take this honor. Scheper also had her first career SEC Outdoor title passing 1.96, making the sixth-best jump in collegiate history.
Traveling to Eugene, Oregon, her final shot at a national championship will be at the NCAA championships. Scheper is focused and wants this last chance to be the best in her career.
“I think I just need to get back in the weight room. Fix a few things in my run and go out there and do what we’ve been training to do all year.” Scheper said. “I believe that it should come together and hopefully something special happens.”