CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Senior pole-vaulter Connie Jerz hopes to end her collegiate career with a national title at the NCAA indoor track championships this weekend in Fayetteville, Ark.

Senior pole-vaulter Connie Jerz has been an imposing force for the Arizona track and field team this season, posting an impressive automatic-qualifying mark of 13 feet, 10 inches during the early part of the indoor season. Finishing runner up during last year's National Collegiate Athletic Association Indoor National Championships, Jerz has her sights set on one thing for this upcoming weekend: winning. Jerz spent some time with the Wildcat after practice to discuss everything from the Olympics to Old Spice deodorant.

Wildcat: You have an automatic qualifying jump of 13 feet, 10 inches. Was that something that coming into this season you were expecting to hit?

Jerz: My first meet of the season is when I hit it, and it was kind of unexpected because training hadn't been going really well, we hadn't jumped at bars or anything, so it was very unexpected to jump so well that early in the year.

Wildcat: Last year at the NCAAs, you finished runner up, how determined are you to improve upon that?

Jerz: Well, this is my seventh time going for nationals and it would be really nice to win it my last year. I've been working hard these last two weeks to try and put something together and I really hope it works out.

Wildcat: Does it make a difference that this is going to be your last meet?

Jerz: Well, it's going to be my last collegiate meet but it's not going to be my last meet ever. It's kind of like the ending of one point and the beginning of another. But, yeah, I would definitely like to say that I jumped really well in college and I was a national champion.

Wildcat: What's your best memory to date as a member of Arizona track?

Jerz: It would just have to be goofing off in practice, messing around on the pits, just the fun stuff we do everyday.

Wildcat: Is it true you want to go to medical school?

Jerz: Yeah I'm thinking either that or something science related.

Wildcat: So would you rather be a doctor or go to the Olympics?

Jerz: Oh, I can't do both? (laughs) Well, I'd like to maybe in my younger years try for the Olympics and my older years, maybe the doc.

Wildcat: In high school, you had 14 varsity letters -

Jerz: Oh really? (laughs) Oh, yeah, I guess so.

Wildcat: Did you have any interest in doing any of those other sports?

Jerz: Yeah, I did want to swim and dive here, but it's harder to do more than one sport in college. Swimming was work. It was a lot of work, (track) is more fun.

Wildcat: Who's the biggest influence in your life?

Jerz: I would have to say my biggest influence is probably parents and my high school coaches, not just specifically them being my parents or my coaches, but just like I need them in my life, trying to figure out what I need to do in my future and what my goals are.

Wildcat: We're going to do quick questions, real quick. What's your favorite food?

Jerz: Italian.

Wildcat: Favorite color?

Jerz: (laughs) Black.

Wildcat: Number?

Jerz: Seven.

Wildcat: Favorite band?

Jerz: We'll go with the Eagles.

Wildcat: What about your favorite smell?

Jerz: Favorite smell? Probably Old Spice deodorant.

Wildcat: Indoor or outdoor (season?)

Jerz: I like outdoor.

Wildcat: And so your overall goal this weekend at the NCAAs is...

Jerz: Win it. Have a high jump.