For Spruce Creek 2012 graduate Allison Lampert the college signing process was longer than expected, but in the end her new heights ultimately took her to her new home. Lampert, a Suma-Cum Laude graduate had an incredibly consistent 2012 season, just not where she had envisioned it would be. When she arrived at First Academy Orlando for the Golden South Classic that all changed. “The pit was elevated on pallets, so it didn’t seem as high, and her coach Stephon Gallon said it was that psychological visual that ultimately allowed her to clear the bar for a new PR at 5’ 8”. All year long with few exceptions Allison cleared 5’, 5’ 2”, and 5’ 3”, but that one jump that would ultimately break her through that elite barrier just kept eluding her. The one difference at Golden South was that at this meet she was “only” thinking about high jump. Throughout the year her athletic ability made her important to the teams 4x100, and even the 4x400, but this time it was time to focus on the one event that she loves more than all of them, the high jump!
When the bar moved to 5’ 6” Gallon was hoping that the 800 lb gorilla would finally be removed from her back, but on the first attempt the jumping gods still had some fight in them. That was her first miss in the competition, and Allison was clearly on a different level this day. Second attempt at 5’ 6” ended with a thunderous scream from her parents and coach. Next height 5’ 8”, this was a height that she routinely practiced at school with but that was only with a bungee cord, this was the real deal. First attempt a near miss, second attempt same result but in the heat of the central Florida sun this would not be the final blow to a successful day. Third attempt, “Cleared” and her coach went to work immediately texting collegiate coaches from UCF, UNF, and USF and Miami. All of them were now interested in enlisting her talents into their program. USF immediately called and wanted her to visit, then came calls from Miami, and her mom talked to the coach from the University of Georgia, but the one call that she had waited for all along was the one from UCF. “I really love their program, and my mom is an alumni”, and with that one final call her life took a giant leap forward as she visited the school the following week, and immediately jumped at the chance to be a Knight. Allison’s hard work and preparation should be an inspiration to those athletes that just don’t think it can happen, but in the end good things do in fact happen for those that work for them.
Next stop prior to her enrollment in the fall is the New Balance National Championships at North Carolina A&T, and hopefully a trip to the podium as the school’s first female All-American.