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As a redshirt second-year this season, Collins totaled 6,830 points and took sixth at the ACC Cham- pionships. "There were some events that just because of my athletic background and my height and my speed that I could do kind of naturally without a whole lot of technique," Collins said. "But then there were other events like hurdles and pole vault and javelin where there was just so much technique involved. "It was a huge learning curve that I'm still on. It definitely has taken me a lot of time to get to where I am in those events, and I still have so much further to go." Running, long jumping and — somewhat surprisingly — discus are Collins' best events. "Somehow, I don't know how or why — because it's a very technical event — I picked it up," Collins said of the discus. "I've got great coaching." The 6-6 Collins, who was a state champion in the 800 meters for Darlington High School, believes his success in the long jump can be attributed to his basketball background. "The long jump motion is similar to going up to dunk a basketball — going down the runway and popping up off the board," he said. "But in basketball you're not going full speed at the basket, whereas in long jump you're going full speed, so that was definitely a transition." Collins said hurdles and pole vault are the events where he needs to make his biggest improve - ment. With two years of eligibility remaining, the economics major believes he can go far. "Next year, I hope to get over 7,500 and make the national team," Collins said. "And then the year after, we'll see." — Whitelaw Reid ◆ Photo by Kelsey Grant/courtesy UVA