To call Skyler Bomba a track and field specialist is something of an understatement.
The Hudson, New Hampshire, native has always been in perpetual motion since her early days on the Alvirne High track team, competing in a multitude of events.
Currently a junior at Merrimack College, Bomba recently put the finishing touches on another all-star caliber campaign. Whether she's lifting off in the pole vault, earning airtime in the long jump, or mastering the triple jump, this versatile athlete is finding success in each respective arena.
"I'm excited to push myself this summer to be in the best shape I can for next season," said Bomba, 21. "And leave it all out there on the track for my last year."
This past weekend, Bomba competed at the New England Championships at Bryant University, earning invites in the pole vault, long jump and triple jump. While no stranger to such an excessive workload, she opted to compete in two of the three events.
"That decision was made because I had the best chance of scoring points for the team in the pole vault," said Bomba. "And (my coaches and I) thought it would be best to put all of my focus into that one event on Friday, rather than run back and forth from the pole vault and long jump."
Bomba scored sixth place in the pole vault on Friday, clearing 3.65m, earning All-New England Team honors. The following day, she was back at it, placing 17th in the triple jump with a mark of 11.23m.
"I'm very happy with how the pole vault went and was very close to reaching a personal record height," said Bomba. "The triple jump didn't go as well as I hoped, but I went out there in the 85-degree weather and did the best I could after a very long season."
Giving it her all on the track is nothing new for Bomba, who was unstoppable at the George Davis Invitational on April 23 at UMass Lowell. The junior had a day full of personal bests at the event, earning three in a span of 15 minutes, before adding a fourth about an hour later.
From the pole vault (3.65m), and long jump (5.54m), to the 100m hurdles (15.82) and triple jump (11.15m), Bomba ran the athletic gauntlet with relentless precision. Not only were these career highs, but all four put her in at least the top-three in school history.
"It is very rare for me to just do one event on a given meet day," said Bomba, who is currently majoring in nursing with a minor in bioethics. "At the Davis Invitational, along with about every other meet, all my events overlap. Because of this, I am constantly running around the track trying to check in, warm up, and take my jumps or run all at the same time."
As a multi-event athlete, Bomba knows how important it is to know the meet schedule beforehand and coordinate accordingly.
"One thing I've learned over the years, with the help of my father and coaches, is to slow down and breathe," said Bomba. "That walk back and forth from each event is the only recovery and rest time that I have, with no time to spare in between."
When it comes to switching her spikes for each event, she credits her teammates and coaching staff for helping her make each appointed round.
"I've been doing three or four events in a given meet since I was in high school," said Bomba. "Running around to all my events is nothing new to me in college. however, I did pick up some new events this year. I also compete in the heptathlon and the pentathlon, doing up to seven events within two days."
Born and raised in Hudson, Bomba was a competitive gymnast for 15 years before stopping in her sophomore year of high school due to injuries. It was there when she first turned her attention to track.
"My father did the decathlon in college at UNH," said Bomba. "He encouraged me to try it and helped me train for the 100m hurdles."
In her sophomore year of high school, Bomba started off with the high jump, 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles. Standing in at 5-foot-11, her coaches thought those events would best suit her. However, one event proved to be a little more elusive.
"(Alvirne) didn't offer pole vault at the time," said Bomba. "I had to persuade our athletic director to let me do it."
Over the summer prior to her junior year, she went to Harvard and was taught the tricks of the trade by the Crimsons' pole vault coach, an old friend of her father's. During her junior year, she traveled to Londonderry High after school to practice. Five years later, she feels the pole vault is her strongest event, largely due to her gymnastics background.
This outdoor season she added the long jump to her resume, while also returning to the triple jump, an event she performed sparingly during her senior year of high school.
Perfecting each event is a task in itself.
"Having good body awareness in the air has helped me reach the heights I have," said Bomba. "The most challenging event would probably have to be hurdles. Because I have so many events that I have to practice, I'm not able to do all the sprinting workouts I should be doing to help better me (there). I've also suffered from hamstring injuries throughout my college career due to the hurdles."
She credits her continued development to her coaches, Ashley Craig and Kevin Hack, as well as the support she has received from her teammates.
"I wouldn't have been able to accomplish what I did this season without their help," said Bomba. "They set me up for success and always knew what was best for me, making sure I stayed healthy and didn't overwork my body."
She's also gotten plenty of local support from the Granite State contingent.
"My family has been a huge impact on my track career," said Bomba. "They attend every meet they can and even drove eight hours to Maryland for my conference meet where I placed second in the pole vault, fifth in the triple jump, sixth in the high jump, and ninth in the long jump."
Although the season has just ended, Bomba already has the start of the 2022-23 indoor and outdoor seasons circled on her calendar, as well as a busy offseason training regimen planned.
"Throughout the whole summer, I'll be on the track training for all of my events as much as I can and in the gym doing our summer lift program," she said. "I'm extremely excited to get back on the track for my senior year."
And for Skyler Bomba, the sky is indeed the limit.
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