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IOWA CITY, Iowa — Gillian Urycki is a junior on the University of Iowa track and field team. She specializes in jumps.
During her sophomore season, Urycki recorded her personal best high jump (1.76 meters, 5’7″) at the 2018 Outdoor Big Ten Championships, placing sixth and recording the fifth best jump in Hawkeye history. She also holds the sixth best jump at Iowa with a 1.75-meter jump from the 2018 Indoor Big Ten Championships.
Urycki is a native of Metamora, Illinois, and is majoring in exercise science.
What are you most excited for this year?
“I am excited to travel to meets and compete with the team in the spring.”
What do you want to achieve this season?
“I would like to set another personal record in the high jump and place higher at conference indoor and outdoor than I did last year.”
What is your favorite memory as a Hawkeye?
“My favorite memory was Outdoor Big Ten [Championships] last year. I wasn’t predicted to score any points in the event and had to set a personal record to qualify for regionals. Clearing 1.76 [meters] was my ticket to scoring at conference and qualifying for regionals, so that was exciting.”
What is your best advice for the freshmen?
“Buy into what the coaches say. It can be hard transitioning from what past coaches have said and their way of doing things, but once you buy into the process great things will happen.”
What is the best advice you’ve ever received from a coach?
“I tend to put a lot of pressure on myself before a meet, so the best advice I have received was from my high school coach. He reminded me that track is just something I love to do and not what defines me so just go out and have fun.”
What made you choose to come to Iowa?
“I am from a small town in Illinois, so I knew I wanted to go to a big University and compete against some of the best athletes. Iowa just felt like home when I walked on campus.”
If not track & field, what sport would you play?
“Volleyball because I played all through high school and still love watching the sport.”
What is one thing people do not know about you?
“I can say the alphabet backwards pretty fast.”
When you’re not practicing, what is your favorite thing to do?
“I love watching reality television and reading.”
If you could choose anywhere to live, where would you choose?
“If I could live anywhere, I would live in Greece because I love the movie Mamma Mia and the island it took place.”
How do you feel about pineapple on pizza?
“Pineapple does NOT belong on pizza.”
What is your favorite meal?
“My favorite meal would be a full Thanksgiving meal with extra pie.”
