Newman Catholic sprinter among state's best
WAUSAU – Julianne Barkholz began her preparations for this spring shortly after the WIAA state track meet ended last June.
Barkholz had just missed the podium at La Crosse, finishing seventh in the girls 200 meters in Division 3 competition. She resolved to have a different finish to the season in 2017.
“I really took my summer serious and was at the track almost every day for an hour or two,” the Cardinals sprinter/jumper said. “Then (in the fall) after volleyball practice, I would come out to the track, too.”
The extra work has paid off.
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Barkholz, a junior, won four events — the 100, 200 and 400 meters and long jump — during the Marawood Conference South Division meet on Monday, and entered the week with the top-ranked times among Division 3 girls in both the 200 (26.01 seconds) and 400 (58.84), according to wisconsintrackonline.com. She also has had a season-best performance of 17 feet, 2 inches in the long jump and has cleared 9-6 in the pole vault, both of which rank in the Top 10 in Division 3.
There are just over three weeks left in the prep season, and Barkholz is focused on a return to the state meet, which will be held June 2 and 3.
“I feel a lot more confident in my performances (this season),” said Barkholz, who also was a member of the Cardinals volleyball team, which won a fourth straight Division 4 state title in the fall. “I want to make a name for myself and want to have a state title. Once you are up there (on the podium) and have won a state title, no one can take that away from you. I’d really like to get one of those.”
Barkholz recently sat down with USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin to talk about her strong spring and her future goals, among other topics.
To what do you credit the most to the success you are having this spring? I really take advantage of practices, and on the weekends, my free time, I’ll come to the track and do a couple extra starts. I know it can make all the difference.
You have put up some solid times and distances that you have put up this spring. Do you ever look at where you rank compared to other athletes in Division 3 or the state in general? I just look at my times and try and to improve them. I don’t care where I’m at (in the rankings), I just want to improve my (performances). I don’t care what times other girls are running because it’s not going to help me get better. I just want to focus on my times. There aren’t really (athletes) that I measure myself up to, but there are ones I like competing against (during the season). It’s good to lose once in a while because it motivates you to get back (to work) and get stronger and quicker. It humbles you as well.
There are some pretty phenomenal track athletes who have come through Newman, both boys and girls. Do you look at the girls program records and does that motivate you at all? There are a couple (records) that I would like to take down. The 400 is really one that I would like to get and then either the pole vault or long jump, possibly. We have some great records (with the girls program). The 200 was the previous (Division 3) record that was broke by (Columbus Catholic’s) Alexandra Hutchison (in 2015). Our record is 25.14 (set by Kristen Barr in 2004) and I would like to run in the low 25s this year.
How do you deal the pressure in the track postseason as the meets get bigger leading up to state? Being involved with volleyball (in the fall) really helps with that. I take everything out of volleyball and try and transfer it over to track and vice versa. Volleyball is so competitive and just the intensity of it makes you ready for track. Even going to state (in volleyball), that experience with the pressure, the fans and energy really helps at state track. When you are sitting in that white (event staging) tent all by yourself, you can be like "Oh, gosh."
Do you typically get nervous before an event? No, I am usually pretty relaxed. I just know as long as I go out and give my best, that's all I can do.
Is there any event you would like to try that you haven't done in track yet? I think triple (jump) would be a really cool event, but I will stick with what I have for now.
Tim Johnson: 715-845-0731, or twjohnson@gannett.com; on Twitter @timmyjo11
JULIANNE BARKHOLZ
School: Newman Catholic
Year: Junior
Sports: Track and volleyball
Family: Mother, Dawn; father, Al; sisters, Sarah and Rebecca; brother, Jonathan.
Favorite subject: Pre-calculus
Favorite TV show: “Prison Break”
Athletes who are inspirations: (US track athlete) Allyson Felix and Newman Catholic volleyball teammate Mariah Whalen
Pets: Two rabbits named Truffles and Reeses