Athletes at the collegiate level devote much of their time to the athletic events they compete in — Florida freshman Taylor Burke is no different, except she has it twice as hard.
Burke plays goalkeeper on the women’s soccer team in the fall, and she is currently competing in the high jump for track and field. At the Alabama Invitational two weeks ago, the first track meet of her collegiate career, she placed fourth in her event.
Burke has been competing in the high jump since the seventh grade. At Medina High School in Medina, Ohio, she won three state championships and she also holds the state’s all-time high school record.
“Taylor Burke opened up in the high jump this weekend, [1.79m/5-10.50], which is one of the top four jumps in school history,” coach Mike Holloway said. “Pretty good for a young lady who spent all fall playing goalie for the soccer team.”
On Tuesday, Burke was named the Southeastern Conference Co-Women’s Freshman of the Week following her performance on Sunday at the Gator Invite. The meet was her second NCAA meet and she took first in her event with a jump of 1.79m/5-10.50.
“Preparing is just like thinking about what coach has been stressing at practice and before the meet ... just thinking about what coach has been telling me and focusing on that,” Burke said. “But when I start my approach, my mind just kind of goes blank.”
She says that when she jumps, she tries to think as little as possible about the act, because then it becomes a more natural process.
Burke will be competing on Friday at the Big 12 vs. SEC vs. Pac-12 Challenge at Texas A&M, and she will have UF’s high jump record in the back of her mind. She hopes to break the record of 1.85m/6-0.75 as a freshman so she can continue to challenge herself to set new ones every year.
Burke has her eyes set on her future in both of her athletic endeavors and is optimistic about where her athletic career may take her.
“Maybe playing in the World Cup or going to the Olympics would be pretty cool,” Burke said “Whichever comes first, I guess.”
