Asia Anderson grew up in an athletic family, with her father being former University of Arkansas and NFL running back Gary Anderson.
"My father was always the person who said, 'If you want something, you have to push yourself to go get it.' Whatever you want, go get it," said Anderson, a junior at Pulaski Robinson.
At a glance
WHEN 1 p.m.
WHERE Cyclone Stadium, Russellville
ADMISSION $7 adults and students
Today, Anderson will compete in four events at the 59th annual Meet of Champions in Russellville. She is entered in the long jump, the high jump, the triple jump and the 300-meter hurdles. Field events begin at 1 p.m. with the running events scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.
Anderson set the 4A record in the triple jump at the state meet two weeks ago. But her favorite event to compete in is the long jump.
"What kid doesn't like jumping in the sand?" said Anderson, the youngest of five children. "It's fun doing that."
Anderson's excellence was on display in the Class 4A state track and field meet May 3 at Nashville. She accounted for 42 of her team's 59 points. The Senators finished second to Ashdown in the team standings, 60-59.
Anderson, 5-9, set the Class 4A record in the triple jump with a mark of 38 feet, 3¼ inches, breaking the previous record by Jasmine Ellis of Nashville in 2009 (37-1). She also won the long jump title with a mark of 17-6.
Anderson finished second in the high jump (5-3), 100-meter hurdles (16.05) and 300-meter hurdles (46.82) and fourth in the 200-meter run (26.77).
Breaking the meet record in the triple jump was not expected by Anderson, who is in her second season competing in the event.
"I had it in my mind, 'I just needed to win this event,' " Anderson said. "I didn't think that I would be anywhere near the state record. It's my second year of ever doing it [the triple jump]. It was a great meet."
Robinson Coach Mike Morrison has seen Anderson's progression from her freshman year to her junior year. Anderson finished second in the long jump and third in the triple jump as a freshman in 2014, but has gone on to win both events the next two years.
"She's gotten better," Morrison said. "There's no telling how good she can be next year. I rarely see that. You usually see folks plateau when they get to their junior year. Kids start to fill out and their bodies can change around that time. Some of them slow down. But with her getting better as a junior, it's great.
"She's committed. She works hard. She's coachable. She's a great kid. She wants to get better."
Sports on 05/14/2016