If you planning on watching Coral Springs High School junior Viktoria Andonova high jump this spring, you better plan on having some extra time on your hands. The defending Class 4A state champion in the high jump has already cleared a personal best 6-feet, 1-inch in her first meet of the year and often doesn't even start jumping until long after her competition has knocked the bar down for the final time.
"I usually don't start jumping until everyone has finished," says Andonova, who moved to Florida four years ago from her native Bulgaria. "At the bigger meets I usually don't even come in until 5'4 or 5'5."
Unlike most high school track athletes that start training for the season on the first day of practice, track and field is a year round sport for Viktoria. It also happens to be the sport of choice for her family. To say that the Andonova has good genes is an understatement. Her mother Lyudmila is a former world record holder and Bulgarian Olympian, holding the world record for more than two years in the mid-80s. With a personal best of over 6-feet, 9-inches, Viktoria couldn't ask for a better mentor.
"It's nice to have someone so good coaching you," says Viktoria. "I just do what she tells me to."
Viktoria's strict training regimen more resembles a world class athlete than a high school junior. At 6-feet-2 inches, her high school volleyball and basketball coaches have been trying to persuade her to join their teams for years, but Andonova, who says she can probably dunk a basketball, has chosen to specialize in track and field. She currently trains year-round, spending as much as three to four hours a day focusing on her sport.
"I spend a lot of time working on technique. We also do a lot of strength training and plyometrics in practice. I don't do full jumps in practice," says Andonova.
The results of her hard work have been apparent since she burst on the Florida High School scene two years ago. She was ranked No. 2 in the country last season with a jump of 6-feet even and also earned a No. 9 ranking in the triple jump with a leap of 41-feet, 5 ¼- inches. She has plans of improving her personal best this season and has set a goal of 6'3, but would be thrilled to hit 6'2.
"One of my main goals for this season is to be consistent at 6-feet," says Andonova, who doesn't plan on triple jumping until later in the season.
Although she is just a junior, college coaches are already showing plenty of interest in the standout. The letters have been pouring I--and after July 1--her phone will surely be ringing off the hook with plenty of coaches selling their programs. The attention is flattering, but Viktoria is still has no idea what she will do after graduation.
"I have been getting a lot of letters and questionnaires. I have no idea what I am going to do," says Andonova, who plans on majoring in business.
Her goals are pretty simple for this year. She would of course like to defend her Class 4A titles in the high jump and triple jump and break the overall state record in the high jump that currently only ¾ of an inch out of her reach. Viktoria does have high goals for this season, but doesn't plan on rushing anything. She will opt to stay close to home this year, instead of traveling around the country jumping in elite meets.
"I haven't really thought about going out of state. I will do some bigger meets during my senior year. I do plan on continuing to jump in a few college meets."
With a mother that has been competed at the Olympic Games, asking Viktoria about the Olympics only seems natural. She says that she has thought about the Olympics, but again isn't trying to think too far into the future. However, when she receives her US citizenship next year, she knows what colors she will be wearing if she does qualify for an Olympic team.
"I would compete for the US if I qualified for the Olympics."
For now, this humble junior is content just being part of the Coral Springs High School track team. Coral Springs Head Track Coach Brantley Barr couldn't be happier with his rising star.
"She is the hardest working athlete I've been around. Her mother sets up her training and it goes year round. However, it is very systematic with plenty of weights, plyometric exercises, running, drills and technique work," says Barr. "Her work ethic has rubbed off on many of her teammates too. They see what it takes to be a top athlete and if they want to get there, they do the same. She's is also a great student and a super kid."