Sept. 10, 2008

Originally published in the Fall 2008 issue of the Cal Sports Quarterly magazine.
By Tim Miguel

California high jumper Kristen Meister came to Berkeley expecting to study history. By the time her collegiate career is over, she hopes to make a little history of her own, too.

Meister transferred to Cal after a successful freshman year at Davidson, hoping the change would help her achieve her goals of becoming a professional high jumper and Ph.D. recipient in history.

"I have always had the utmost respect for this university, but this last year has made me truly understand how great it is to be a Golden Bear," Meister said. "Cal has challenged me in ways that I didn't think were possible. I have never been in an environment where excellence in the classroom and on the track is the norm. Cal affords me the opportunity to pursue my two passions - history and the high jump - at the highest level. I don't believe that any other institution could help me achieve both of my dreams."

Hoping to become a history professor, Meister's emphasis right now is on American social and cultural history, as well as ancient history. She said her concentration could change because of her love for all different kinds of history.

Meister earned All-America honors at Davidson at the 2007 NCAA outdoor championships, where she placed 11th in the high jump and was the top finisher among the freshmen in the event. It only took her one year to make history at Davidson, as she became the school record holder with a mark of 5-11 1/4. She dominated the Southern Conference, taking both the indoor and outdoor crowns, setting the league indoor and outdoor records and earning Southern Conference Indoor Freshman of the Year notice.

Meister made a big impact for the Bears at the Pac-10 championships last season when she tied the fourth-best mark in school history at 5-10, taking fifth in the competition.

"Everything really began to come together at Pac-10s," Meister said. "At that meet, I jumped my heart out and it really paid off. I was so proud to be able to contribute points to our team's phenomenal finish. Even though I didn't get the marks that I wanted [in 2008], Pac-10s made all the time, energy and work worth it."

As she studies epic moments of time in her history classes, Meister is hoping that she can find her place atop the high jump school record list and earn some historic moments of her own at Cal.

"Next year, I want to pick up where I left off," Meister said. "It is important to me that I score more points for the team at both conference championships, and I truly believe that I will make it to both the indoor and outdoor NCAA championships.

I also believe that I can win at each of those meets. In terms of height, I think that 6-2 is a realistic goal, but I'm dreaming of 6-4 and 6-5. You have to dream big to achieve great things."