ABOUT TORI
Tori Polk is an American Track & Field professional athlete and native of Waco, TX. Tori was introduced to track and field at a young age from her older siblings competing in the sport. As a child, many noticed Tori was typically faster than most other children her age. Although, she held family genes in track she played soccer most of her youth until her sophomore year of high school then decided to focus more on track and field. She was able to display her athletic abilities in events ranging from the 100m, 200m, long jump, 4x100m, 4x200m, and 4x400m relays. Tori finished up high school setting the Central Texas record for the furthest female long jump with a distance of 20-.05ft which still stands today and the two-time runner-up in the long jump at the 4A Region UIL Texas Track and Field Championships.
Her success did not end there, but only continued as a student-athlete and graduate of Texas Tech University with degrees in both Accounting and General Business. During her time at Tech, she set a personal best jump of 6.47m (21-2ft) in the long jump, became a four-time All Big XII Team and a three-time Track & Field All American. Despite injury plaguing much of her collegiate career Tori left Lubbock, Texas, and moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to continue her dream of competing as a professional track and field athlete.
As a rookie embarking on a new journey, Tori took part in the 2008 Track and Field Olympic Trials, placing 24th in the long jump, missing her chance to qualify for the Olympic Team. In late 2009, she suffered from a bone fracture in her foot that kept her away from the sport much of 2010. Once fully recovered from the injury she relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to join a new training group. In the year of 2011, she found much success setting a new personal best jump of 6.75m (22-1.75ft) in the long jump, placed 4th at the US Outdoor National Championships to qualify for her first World Championship Team, and placed 7th overall at the XVI Pan American Games.
After an eventful season Tori followed her coach and other members of the training group to Daytona Beach, Florida, where she was set in motion to return to the Olympic Trials; this time as a contender and with a chance of making the team. Tori again missed making the 2012 Olympic Team where she placed 9th in long jump competition. After an upsetting 2012 season, she moved back to her home state of Texas and took on the responsibility as a self-coached athlete, which launched her into the most prosperous season of her career thus far. Those achievements include: becoming the 2013 US Outdoor National Silver Medalist in the long jump, qualifying for her second World Championship Team, matching her personal best jump of 6.75m (22-1.75ft) during the prelims of the 14th IAAF World Outdoor Championships to advance her on to the final where she placed 8th overall, and to conclude her season as the #3 ranked female American Long Jumper and the #11 ranked female Long Jumper in the world.
Tori wrapped up her second season as a self-coached athlete being crowned the 2014 Indoor National Long Jump Champion. In addition to her title Tori also placed 5th at the 15th IAAF World Indoor Championships making her the only American out of both men and women to make the Long Jump Final of the Championships. Tori was the 4th place finisher at the US Outdoor Nationals, subsequently she suffered from a foot injury, which put her out for the rest of the 2014 season.
A competitive and dedicated student of the sport, Tori continues to strive for excellence and success. She currently has her sights set on the 15th IAAF World Outdoor Championships commencing during August of 2015 in Beijing, China.