Laura Gjerde

Class: Senior Hometown: Shawnee, Kan. High School: Louisburg HS

Last College: Johnson County CC Height: 5-2 Event: Pole Vault

2006 Outdoor: Finished 14th at the Big 12 Championships with a jump of 11-5.75 feet ... Also cleared 11-5.75 at Kansas Relays, where she finished eighth, and Tom Botts Invitational, where she finished fifth ... Placed second at Tulsa Duels with a jump of 10-6.

2006 Indoor: Competed in Pole Vault ... Recorded best performance of season at Big 12 Championships, finishing15th by clearing 11-7.75 ... Placed 18th at Tyson Invitational, clearing 11-6.50 ... Finished 12th at Husker Invitational, clearing 11-4.50 ... Placed fourth at Jayhawk Invitational, clearing 10-11.75 ... Cleared 10-11.75 for a fourth-place tie at KU/KSU/MU Triangular ... Placed 10th at Arkansas Invitational with vault of 10-11.75... Also cleared 10-11.75 at K-State All-Comers, good for sixth.

At Johnson County CC: As a sophomore, was the runner-up in the in the pole vault at NJCAAs ... Repeated as the outdoor champion in the pole vault ... Named team MVP for the second straight year ... Named to the honor roll ... As a freshman, was the runner up in the pole vault at the NJCAAs ... Outdoor NJCAA Champion ... Named team MVP for her efforts.

High School: Won state in the pole vault as a senior ... Finished second in the state as a junior, third as a sophomore and eighth as a freshman ... As a sophomore, was named the Gatorade Will to Win Athlete of the Year ... Lettered all four years in volleyball, basketball and track ... Member of the National Honor Society ... Was her school's student council president ... Holds her high school's record in the pole vault and the 4x100 ... A member of the honor roll ... Recipient of the KC Scholar Athlete Award.

Personal: Born July 17, 1984, in Shawnee Mission, Kan. ... Parents are Craig and Amy Gjerde ... Majoring in exercise science (pre-dental).