Svoboda aims for perfection

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BY RON POWELL

As a freshman, Howell standout shot putter Jenny Svoboda is ahead of her time.

She's still three years away from high school graduation, and Svoboda is already seriously discussing her career options with her track coach Robin Groene.

"I want to teach and coach basketball," Svoboda said.

And what about coaching track, the sport Svoboda excels in? "I'd get too mad at the kids. I'm a perfectionist," Svoboda said.

Her performance in the shot put ring also belies her age and explains her perfectionist attitude. She moved into fifth place on the state's girls all-time charts with a put of 48 feet, 5 inches April 20 at the Wisner-Pilger Booster Club Invitational. That Class D state record is second on this spring's state charts behind the 49-7 registered by Omaha Burke junior Michaela Wallerstedt.

Wallerstedt's 49-7 is second on the national charts this spring, while Svoboda's 48-5 is fifth. Svoboda's effort is ¼ inch off the national record for high school freshmen.

Freshmen aren't normally associated with all-time chart marks in the shot put, an event that emphasizes strength, maturity and flawless form that comes from years of practice. The top two athletes on the shot put all-time charts - Becky Beachler and Teri Steer - achieved their marks as seniors. Beachler's state record is 52-9 ¼.

Neither entered the all-time charts until their junior year.

"I realize it's unusual for a freshmen to be where I am, but it's not a big deal," said Svoboda, who competes for the Cornhusker Flyers track club program in the summer and works with Schuyler track coach Dave Gibbons. "I still want to improve. There's a lot of goals out there to keep me motivated to work hard."

Svoboda's personal best coming into the season was a 46-11 last summer in a meet at Pawnee City. She finished second in the national age group meet last summer behind Wallerstedt. Although the two won't compete head-to-head this spring, Svoboda keeps close tabs on what Wallerstedt is doing.

"I compare what we're doing every week," Svoboda said. "It's nice having someone like that out there because it makes you throw farther when you have competition."

Groene said Svoboda has been consistently between 45 and 48 feet all season. He said Svoboda's athleticism (she was on the varsity volleyball and basketball teams as a freshman), strength and technique have made her into an elite shot putter that colleges are already starting to recruit.

"She has that farm girl strength and the foot work that comes from playing those other sports," Groene said. "She came to us with all the tools of a great shot putter. Jenny is extremely knowledgeable about technique and she's always talking about the little things she needs to correct."

Reach Ron Powell at 473-7437 or rpowell@;journalstar.com.