By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
Jessica Lee was a versatile athlete on the track while she competed at Montgomery High School., Now a junior at Quinnipiac University, Lee has turned her focus into the hurdle events, which has resulted in quite a leap in her performance., This past winter season Lee won seven titles in the 60-meter hurdles, including the championship in the ECAC championship meet, where she became the school’s first female indoor ECAC track champion., “I had an amazing winter season,” Lee said. “I could not asked for a better season. I think i have gotten more comfortable and confident in the hurdles. I didn’t always run them in high school. Once I got more serious about the hurdles it was easier to be confident and compete in the event., “In high school I did everything. In college I have been able to focus on just one thing and that has been helpful.”, Lee still runs the 200 meters and 60 meters indoors, as well as the 4×100 relay outdoors. But her focus in college has been the 60-meter hurdles, where she finished in 8.42 seconds to win the ECAC title. Lee also won the event at the MAAC and New England Championships this winter., What made her season all the more impressive was that she turned in her best time of the season in her only loss of the season in the 60-meter hurdles. Lee clocked an 8.35 at the Armory Track Invite, finishing fourth in the event., “I lost the one race at the Armory Track Invite but that was against schools like Ohio State and South Carolina,” Lee said. “It was a personal best, so I can’t be too be upset.”, Lee’s crowning moment was the title at the ECAC meet, where she finished 10th last year. She has made steady progress each year of college but took a huge leap forward this winter., “It is a very technical event and it takes a while to get comfortable with the technique,” Lee said. “I am hoping to continue my progress forward this spring. I’m trying not to set too high of a goal this season. I’m going to focus on the championship meets., “Freshman to sophomore year I felt like I made a little leap. Sophomore year to this year I’ve probably dropped three-tenths of a second off my time, which in sprinting is a lot. It’s brought me to a whole different level.”, Lee spent a lot of time in the offseason working out on her own while she was home in Montgomery, often getting over to work out in Princeton., “I did a lot of work over the summer and in the fall, which helped a lot,” Lee said. “By the time the season started I was already ahead of where I left off after last season. That helped make a difference.”, Lee is looking forward to her spring season with the Bobcats, which begins April 1-2 at the Colonial Relays, which will be held at William & Mary. She and Quinnipiac are both making strides forward., “It is a growing program,” Lee said. “It was originally mostly a distance school. But the class last year and mine and upcoming and more focused on sprints and field events. I am grateful to be part of a growing program like this.”
