Bacall Sterling is currently on a record-breaking streak. The sophomore from Chandler, Ariz., most recently hit an automatic NCAA qualifying mark in the triple jump with a jump of 12.3 meters and was named Field Athlete of the Week by the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) last month. She has recently beaten the school record with a score of 3454 for the pentathlon, which she set herself last semester before winter break. The pentathlon is a combination of track and field events that includes five sections: the 60-meter hurdle, high jump, shot put, long jump, and the 800-meter run.

“It feels pretty amazing,” Sterling said. “I was expecting to break my own records just because the first time I did the [pentathlon] and triple jump it was so early in the season. Now with it being later in the indoor season, I’ve been able to get more training under my belt. I’ve also gotten stronger and have gained a lot more confidence in myself.”

Sterling’s favorite event is the triple jump, often called the “hop, step and jump.” She is currently ranked No. 14 in the triple jump and hopes to secure a spot for Nationals by boosting her score and ranking to No. 12. Sterling is also ranked No. 16 for the Pentathlon. With the automatic NCAA qualifying triple jump she already recorded, Sterling needs 3600 points overall in the pentathlon in order to make it to Nationals for both events.

Sterling has been competing in track and field events since high school, where she also played volleyball and basketball before making the decision her junior year to concentrate solely on track and field. Before transferring to CMU, Sterling ran for the Hornets at Sacramento State in California.

“I took a recruiting trip [to CMU] my senior year, and I loved it, but I was stuck on going D1,” Sterling said. “I didn’t really click with the coaches at Sacramento, and I didn’t see myself being happy there for the next four years. I’m super glad I made the decision to come here. You get competition everywhere you go, and we’re in the best D2 conference.”

After graduating from CMU with a degree in Kinesiology, Sterling wants to “keep working with athletes and maybe be a coach for a few years.” She also plans to become a personal trainer or sports doctor later in her career.

To stay on top of her game in preparation for making Nationals, Sterling is planning on eating healthy, making sure her body is feeling right, “getting ice after, stretching, foam rolling, and all that good stuff.” It may be her first year at CMU, but her agenda is set.

“It feels so unreal,” she said. “If I do make it to Nationals I will probably call my parents and jump up and down. I’ll be so happy and excited.”

arildefonso@mavs.coloradomesa.edu