Senior Lillianna Hebert fell in love with the triple jump and high jump from the moment she started in sixth grade.

She has taken her love and run with it ever since.

Hebert received more than 30 letters from schools trying to recuit her to jump for their collegiate teams. But she didn’t know which letter was the one until last May when she received an offer of a full-ride scholarship to UCLA.

“I visited Cal Poly and liked the campus, but I just didn’t really click there,” said Hebert. “I didn’t seem to gel with the coach very well.”

UCLA is ranked 10th in the nation for women’s track and field, according to a recent United states Track and field Cross Country Coaches’ Association poll.

Herbert has held the school record for high jump and triple jump since her sophmore year. Each year she has set a new record. She has won EBALs the past two years, and placed ninth in the state last year.

Coach Mark Karbo, Hebert’s coach for all four years at Cal High, believes this is just the start for her.

“She will be more than capable to take the next step at UCLA,” said Karbo. “Her work ethic is unmatched.”

When asked about her relationship with her teammates, Karbo said, “She is such a hard worker, she is an example for all of her teammates.”

Hebert rose to the occasion and set her best for high and triple jumps at Arcadia this year.

Hebert considers her brother, Danté Gooby, who ran track for Cal High before going to the Universal Technical Institute, her source of inspiration for starting track and field. He has since graduated, but she still credits him for starting track and field.

While Hebert’s high and triple jump records stand at an impressive 5-feet, 7-inches and 39-feet, 2-inches, respectively, Hebert is always striving to improve. She plans to reach 6 and 40 feet before graduation.

Junior Jen Kurtz, Hebert’s best friend, is not surprised at all of Hebert’s success.

“She loves to compete,” Kurtz said. “She can do great things when she sets her mind to it.”

Like any other athlete who has achieved success, Hebert has dealt with several debilitating injuries, the most significant being when she made Arcadia and had to back out due to a badly bruised foot.

“It only made me push harder,” said Hebert.

Over the years, Hebert says jumping for the track team  has been her outlet and  helped her cope with personal issues.

“I’m very grateful for what this sport has done for me,” she said.

Hebert has impressed her peers with every personal achievement.

“UCLA is a wonderful school. It’s great to see someone’s hard work pay off,” said Kurtz, who has watched Hebert grow and continue to reach personal achievements.

Hebert has her sights set on more than just sports. She plans to major in either biology or genetics at UCLA.

To any future Grizzly athletes, Hebert says, “A true athlete is not defined by the number of medals they won or first places they take, but how you are able to get up after failing and using the experience to learn for the future.

“Oh, and lift weights. Always lift weights.”