Jessica Devine has four wins in three meets for the Winona State University track and field team.
The scary thing for her opponents is that WSU coach Mason Rebarchek believes there is room for improvement.
“I think her races have been OK,” Rebarchek said. “She has a little work to do on her form, but those numbers are still pretty good this early.”
Included in those numbers is a school record in the 60-meter hurdles, which Devine ran in 9.03 seconds.
Devine knew about the record after the race was over, not because she studies all of WSU’s track records, but because it was a mark she had set before.
“I knew that I broke the record when I was done,” Devine said. “It was my record that I broke.”
Devine is in numerous events for WSU, and Rebarchek said they watch her during the week.
“If she is hurt or tired during the week, it is not uncommon for us to have her in just one event,” Rebarchek said. “We make sure that she’s in the hurdles because she has a great chance of going to nationals
there.”
When Devine is at a meet, one will likely see her downing some Gatorade and Powerbars to keep her energy up.
“Must have orange Gatorade and chocolate Powerbars,” Devine laughed. “They are my favorites.”
Along with her record-time in the 60-meter hurdles and taking
first at the Mankato Open, Devine won the 55-meter hurdles
and the 55-meter dash at the Blugold Open and the 55-meter hurdles at the UW-Stout Open.
“I thought I did fine,” Devine said. “I always pick myself apart.”
Track is in Devine’s blood — she can’t get away from it or the Winona area in the offseason.
Devine lives in La Crosse, Wis., and commutes to help out Winona Senior High School’s track and field team in the summer.
She has a lot to offer high school athletes, being an exercise science major
and with goals of expanding her education.
“I want go to Colorado State for graduate
school,” Devine said. “They have the program I want.”
For a dream job, Devine said she wants to go south.
“I would love to coach at LSU (Louisiana State University)
or Arkansas where track is big,” Devine said.
In its first meet of the season at Mankato, Rebarchek
said WSU had no surprises.
“Nobody did bad, and nobody shocked us,” he said.
Devine won the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.03 — .12 of a second better than her previous school record.
At the Blugold Open, WSU took third place, as Devine won the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.48 and the 55-meter dash in 7.56 seconds.
Nikki Olsen won the 200-meter dash in 26.97 seconds.
“Much like Mankato, we saw what we expected,” Rebarchek
said.
In its third meet of the season at the UW-Stout Open, WSU won four events.
Devine won the 55-meter hurdles again with a time of 8.46 seconds, Lindsey Derby won the 55-meter dash in 7.46 seconds, and Chelsey Brown qualified for nationals in the weight throw with a throw of 52-2 3/4.
“It was good to see her hit that,” Rebarchek said. “I think that was seven feet farther than her previous personal record.”
WSU also won the 4-by-200 relay with a time of 1:46.79.
Sam Lisowski, Kelly Milkent, Nikki Olsen and Nicci Johnson were on the relay team for WSU.
“It was a good overall day for us,” Rebarchek said. “We have to look forward to next weekend, with two meets in two days, which will be a good simulator for nationals.”
Reach Justin at JMagill06@winona.edu