After competing in the triple jump for more than five years, Agata Kosuda will use her experience at Iowa State and in Poland at the NCAA Championships on June 9-12.

The soon-to-be 20-year-old will be jumping at the national meet after she achieved her season’s best in the triple jump (42 feet) at the outdoor Midwest Regionals.

Kosuda’s career-best triple jump, 43-2 1/2, did not happen at Iowa State. It happened when she was in high school in Poland. Kosuda has experience in big meets in Europe — she has competed in the Polish National Championship, World Youth Championships and the European Junior Championships.

Kosuda had to get used to a different training season in the United States compared to that in Poland.

“The seasons are at different times. The American collegiate season is done next week, and in Poland it is just getting started,” Kosuda said. “I jump in late May ’til September there. I like the Poland season better because I am used to it and the American season is new to me.”

Jumps coach Ron McEachran said the Polish season might benefit Kosuda.

“Some of the training for Poland’s season has affected her,” McEachran said. “After jumping in Poland in June and July, she will need a little rest. But competing and jumping will be a plus for her.”

Even though she will be going back to compete in the Polish National Championships during the summer, Kosuda said she doesn’t have a shot at making the Olympic team this year.

“You have to have a high enough qualifying mark to make the Olympic team in Poland. I need to improve by a meter of my personal best to have a chance; maybe in four more years,” she said. “Also, Poland’s standards of getting to the Olympics are very hard. Poland does not have a lot of money to take a lot of athletes.”

After competing all over Europe, Kosuda — a Lublin, Poland, native — decided to bring her athletic abilities to Iowa State.

“Other universities sent letters from their athletic departments, but Coach [McEachran] sent a personal letter about his experience and why he wanted me at Iowa State. That was really nice. Sometimes I miss Poland, but I enjoy what is happening here,” Kosuda said. “Also, I knew Daniel [Kaczmarczyk], and I like to go somewhere where I know somebody. He just makes it feel comfortable.”

McEachran said he has coached other Polish athletes, and when he heard about Kosuda, he wanted her to be a Cyclone. McEachran said Kosuda is adjusting to Ames just fine.

“For her, at first, it was just not Poland,” McEachran said. “[Ames] was just a smaller town than what she was used to. But now she tells me that she wants to continue to live in the United States after school.”

Teammate and fellow jumper Kaczmarczyk, also a native of Poland, said there is a big difference between competing in Poland and the United States.

“In Poland, you want to do well and strive to do your best for your country,” Kaczmarczyk said. “Over here, you jump for your school and for points.”

Kosuda expects to see and achieve many things at the NCAA Championships.

“First of all, there are going to be a lot of good people there,” Kosuda said. “This is a big meet and a great opportunity for me to improve. I just want to jump far, and if I jump correctly, it’s going to be far. That is just what I will concentrate on, making the top 12.”

Kaczmarczyk said Kosuda will do well at nationals.

“This is going to be her first nationals, so this should be a good experience for her. She is ready to jump all right. If she jumps technically well, she will make the top 12,” Kaczmarczyk said. “[Nationals] will be tough since there will be a lot of good jumpers there.”

Jumps coach Ron McEachran said Kosuda has been jumping farther lately.

“She had a season’s best at the regional meet. She had some fouls that were longer, but we hope to get that all worked out,” McEachran said. “I think that she is ready to jump far at this meet. Maybe farther than she has ever jumped.”

McEachran said the triple jump is very technical.

“[The triple jump] is a hop-step-and a jump. First you land on your left foot, the right, back to the left, and then you jump,” McEachran said. “She had a tendency to get her foot out in front. Now she is maintaining her momentum.”

McEachran said there will be 28 other athletes in the triple jump at nationals.

“After the first three jumps, the top 12 then advance,” he said. “Then after those 12 take three jumps of the triple jump, the top nine move on to finals. If she jumps around 43 feet, she might have a chance to be in the top 12. She is capable, but she has to do her best in the three jumps [of the triple jump] at the NCAAs.”

Kosuda will start competing Wednesday at the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas. The Championships will continue through June 12.