Jess Kloss Article (NJ)

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http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/s ... 41505e.htm

Kloss ready to grab pole vault spotlight


Friday, April 15, 2005

By KEVIN CRANSTON
Courier-Post Staff



Jess Kloss knows all too well how it feels to put out a great individual effort and still come up short.

The Moorestown High School senior cleared 12 feet in the pole vault last track and field season and wasn't even the best in the state. In fact, Kloss wasn't even the top vaulter in South Jersey.

No matter how well Kloss jumped over the past two seasons, she always seemed to be overshadowed by former Shawnee standout Danielle O'Reilly, a two-time Meet of Champions winner.

But that won't be the case this spring.

O'Reilly is now at the University of Arkansas and it's Kloss' turn to assume the title as South Jersey's, and maybe even the state's, best vaulter.

"Danielle had her time," Kloss said. "With her gone, it gives me a chance now."

Moorestown coach John Denning agrees.

"This should be her year," he said. "For the past couple years, it has been Jess and Danielle leading the way in the pole vault. But with Danielle not around, the door is open for her."

Last spring, Kloss, who has made a verbal commitment to Princeton University, won Group 3 sectional and state titles and cleared 11 feet to finish second in the Meet of Champions to none other than O'Reilly.

This past indoor season, she competed in several meets at HIP Athletics in Mount Laurel, where she cleared 12-0 a few times.

Since then, Kloss has been working on her speed down the runway and perfecting her turn once in the air.

Denning says if Kloss can improve in these two areas, some big-time clearances will be within reach. "She wants to get a shot at 13-0 and I think if she can get the turn down, she can get it," Denning said.

Although clearing 13-0 would be nice for Kloss, she admits it isn't her main focus. Instead, she wants to vault 12-0 or 12-6 every time out.

"I really want to be more consistent this year," Kloss said. "To do that, I need to improve my technique."

Helping Kloss with her technique is first-year Moorestown assistant Curtis Clarke, who pole vaulted for West Deptford.

"He vaults with us and he really understands where we are coming from," Kloss said.

"I've never had a pole vault coach before, so I think the same person watching and critiquing me will help."

Kloss, who hasn't competed since the winter, will jump for the first time this season Saturday at the West Deptford Relays. In addition to the pole vault, Kloss also does the long jump and triple jump. "It will be interesting because I'm still messing around with poles," Kloss said. "I would like to clear 11 in the first meet. I'm hoping to make a smooth transition from my smaller pole to a bigger one."

And just as Kloss will make the transition from one pole to another throughout the season, she will also make the transition from being the one that's doing the chasing to the one being chased.

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http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/ ... 00338.html

Kloss caps career in grand fashion
By MARK ZIMMARO
Burlington County Times



SOUTH PLAINFIELD - She saved her best for last.

Jessica Kloss wanted to do something special on her last day of jumping for Moorestown High School. Kloss nailed a season-best 12-footer in the pole vault to take second place in the Girls Track and Field Meet of Champions yesterday at South Plainfield High School.

Kloss' vault tied Kristen Hafford of Warren Hills for the best vault of the day but Hafford won on the tiebreaker of least misses. However, both athletes broke the Meet of Champions record and will share that prestigious honor.

"I went into it thinking that this is my last high school jump," Kloss said. "I guess it gave me something extra. Early on every jump was a battle. But I am really excited to have a share of that record."

Kloss' early battles at the lower heights may have cost her the title, but her steady improvement throughout the afternoon put the pressure on Hafford until the end.

"I didn't think I would be able to hit 12 with the way the day started," Kloss said. "But I was feeling good later on. I felt I was steadily getting better as the meet went on."

Kloss, who will attend Princeton University next fall, had hit the 12-foot mark once this year but it was during the winter track season. After working hard all season, Kloss will have some down time over the summer.

"I don't get to practice as much as all the other girls," she said. "Over the summer I only get to pole vault about once a week. I just wait until the season starts to really get moving."

POLE VAULT: 1. Kristen Hafford (Warren Hills) 12-0; 2. Jessica Kloss (Moorestown) 12-0; 3. Julianne Toto (Middletown South) 11-6; 4. Cassie Wong (Ridgewood) 11-0; 5. Robin Friedman (Hillsborough) 11-0; 6. Melissa Gale (Millville) 11-0.

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http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/ ... 05767.html

Jessica Kloss
Moorestown
Pole vault, Senior

Intelligence, athleticism, desire; Jessica Kloss has it all. And then some.

Kloss, a former gymnast, came onto the scene in the pole vault as a sophomore for Moorestown and quickly became one of the best in the area hitting the 10-foot mark. By her senior year she was the best, nailing 12-feet during her last meet of the year - the Meet of Champions.

"Jess knows how to compete," Moorestown coach John Denning said. "She is aware of the competition around her and knows how to mentally prepare herself when its time to step up her performance."

Kloss, who is bound for Princeton this fall, matched the top height (12-0) in the MOC but finished second on a tiebreaker less than a week after taking third in the Group 3 state finals. Kloss' list of accomplishments on the year included a victory in both the Burlington County Open and the South Jersey Group 3 sectionals.