Going the Distance With Jamie Barbour
5/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Senior/junior Jamie Barbour of the women's track and field team is a prime example of working within a program and progressing each year. During her freshman year the Dearborn, Mich., native had to redshirt both the indoor and outdoor seasons, but now she has managed to surpass her previous hammer throw personal-best of 158-5, by close to 10 feet with a distance of 168-0.
While attending Edsel Ford High School, Barbour displayed versatility by excelling in both track and field and basketball. In track and field Barbour holds school records in both the discus and the shot put and has broken her own records 11 times, she was also a two-time captain and four-time winner of the MVP Field Award as well as a four-time all city, three-time all-conference. In basketball Barbour managed to average 13 points, nine rebounds and three assists per game.
After a morning practice, Barbour took some time out to answer questions about the upcoming post-season, expectations heading into the outdoor season and her most memorable moment in sports.
On the upcoming post-season
"I'm really excited and extremely proud of the team as a whole. We've definitely shown great performances and have improved a lot."
On the triple-crown
"Again, it's pretty exciting, I think we can do it, but it's going to be tough because there are a lot more events to fill in at the Big Ten Outdoors. It would be nice to have a triple-crown, I think we can do it, and all the girls want to do it, so that helps."
On her expectations heading into the outdoor season
"I wanted to do really good in the hammer throw, that's the event I really wanted to focus on. My shot put was a little shaky indoors, so I wanted to improve on that too. So far I'm doing really good, I've PR'd in the hammer already and I'm close to regionally qualifying which is very exciting. Overall it's been a really good outdoor season."
On her favorite hobbies
"I'm into sudoku, it's a number game that's in the Michigan Daily, I like movies and I'm really into basketball (Go Pistons) and hanging out with my friends. I like chick-flicks, comedies and any movie with Luke Wilson."
On her favorite event in the throws
"It sort-of depends on how good I do on the day, but I like throwing the hammer, it's fun to watch too, it's very intense."
On what sport she would like to be on in college other than track and field
"Since I like basketball a lot, I would have to say the basketball team, I love basketball."
On another event in track she would compete in
"I would like be in mid-distance, like an 800- or 400-meter runner."
On her favorite foods
"I love salad, because you can do anything with a salad, because you can put anything in it. Then I love ice cream, I like Mackinac Island Fudge and Superman Ice Cream."
On her most memorable sports moment
"My senior year of high school, I was sidelined because I had knee surgery, and my coached allowed me to start my last game and play for a few minutes so that I didn't end my season on the bench."
On her most memorable sports moment at Michigan
"Winning the indoor Big Ten Championships, here at home. It was very exciting with all the alum, we were very energetic and pumped up for it, it was amazing, and I loved the atmosphere."
On the best advice given to her
"The best advice has come from my parents. I'm really hard on myself and they just tell me to make sure I have fun."
On the people that motivates her
"I would have to say my younger brothers, they're probably my best friends. I have a really good support system from them, I always get calls before, after or during a meet, they leave messages telling me good luck and that they love me. They give me surprises like sending me cards, nice things like that. Kenny (20) goes to Michigan State and Gregory is 13."
Coach Anne Takac's Thoughts:
"Jamie (Barbour) is a really positive person; she works hard and has brought consistency to the spot on the team. She's always positive and happy, she doesn't let things that happen outside of track come and ruin her track day, so that really helps to stabilize the squad. She was really fun to recruit coming out of high school, we used to have really good conversations on the phone and good interactions so I knew that she was going to be a joy to have around on the team."
Contact: Joseph Conrad (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
