Caffrey Looks to Have Strong Senior Season

AMES, Iowa - Senior sprinter Jenna Caffrey has made quite the impact on the Iowa State track and field program throughout her career as a Cyclone. The Burlington native has placed in Big 12 competition six times in four years at ISU (indoors in 2007, 09, 10; outdoors in 2007, 08, 09). She made an appearance at the outdoor NCAA Championships in her freshman season. She also earned academic All-Big 12 First-Team honors in 2009.

Now in her final season competing with the track and field team, Caffrey looks to train hard and leave everything on the track when the end of the outdoor season comes in June.

"From the time the gun goes off until the time she crosses the finish line she'll give you a hundred percent every single time," ISU sprints coach Nate Wiens said. "It doesn't matter if it's a relay or an individual event."

What makes Caffrey's experience as a Cyclone student-athlete unique is the fact that she's experienced the coaching styles of three different sprint coaches in her collegiate career. Adjusting to new coaches means also adjusting to new forms, workouts, and expectations.

"Each year I started out at a different place than where I'd left off," Caffrey said. "And as hard as it is to deal with things like that, I think it's also made me stronger. I've learned a lot through all of it."

Working with coach Wiens for the last two years, Caffrey has been able to gain some consistency in her workouts and improve her performances on the track.

"Each year before working with Coach Wiens, I've come back starting something new, in a different place than where I'd ended," the Burlington native said. "This year, I knew what to expect. I was able to start off where I ended last year, and be more consistent."

"We understand each other and have a good level of communication," Wiens said. "It's been helpful for her to understand what I'm looking for on the track and then in turn, helping to instill those qualities into the younger team members."

In addition to her impressive resume on the track, the Burlington native is also seen as a leader among the younger athletes running sprints and hurdles.

"(Jenna) is one of our go-to athletes," Wiens said. "You don't have to tell her to assume the role of being a leader. It's just something that she does well. She understands what other people need to hear and see in practice and at the meet to obtain their fullest potential."

Caffrey is set to run the 100-meter hurdles at the Sun Angel Track Classic this weekend (April 9-10) in Tempe, Ariz.