For the past four years, Cali Essick has been rewriting the record books on the track in Branson.
Essick is making her name known at the national level as well before she continues to soar in the SEC..
Cali Essick is Branson’s track and field Swiss army knife.
“Honestly, we could put Cali on any event on the track and she would probably set a new school record. We could put her in the 400 (meter dash), we could put her in the 800 (meter dash), I bet we could run her in the mile,” Branson track and field coach Kevin Blackwell said.
Cali shows her skills in the short sprints, holding the school records in the 100 and 200-meter dash, but it’s the jumps where she really flies.
“I feel more confident jumping because I’ve been doing long jump since I was 8-years-old,” the Branson senior said.
Cali has soared to school records in the long jump before taking on a new challenge.
“Last year my dad said, ‘hey you should just try triple jump,’ so I tried it,” Cali said. “I was really good, and I got better at every meet and I’m a state champ.”
Not only did she grab a state title, but she recorded one of the longest jumps in state history.
“She works hard, she perfects everything she does, she’s going to work at something until she gets it exactly right. She’s going to go above and beyond what’s expected,” Blackwell said.
Cali is also a national champion in long jump, the event she plans to continue next year at Mizzou.
“For her, I believe the sky is the limit, I think she can do whatever she sets her mind to,” added Blackwell.
Cali says her mind is set on more than just college success.
“I feel like I can go far in the long jump, like the Olympics,” she said.
However, before she reps the Tiger black and gold, or the red, white and blue, she’s ready to embrace one last ride as a Pirate.
“Just to have fun and hopefully break more records,” said Cali.
