???Bang.
???At the explosion of a gun, the runner instinctively dashes from her starting position. With momentum and velocity gaining, the runner becomes a perfect blend of physics and technique. At the final white line she leaps and suddenly becomes a jumper, flailing her arms and legs and striving for every last inch.
???The moment she hits the sand a cloud of dust arises and the once-airborne athlete emerges confident in her effort.
???For many, the long jump is a thrilling event to participate in. But being forced to watch others perform due to an injury can be one of the most disheartening and frustrating aspects of competition for any injured athlete.
???This defines sophomore Ajla Glavasevic.
???Glavasevic competes in both the long jump and triple jump for Buffalo's track team but has recently been hammered with an injury, forcing her to watch the action from the sidelines.
???"Patience is one of the aspects of a great track athlete," Glavasevic said. "I had to red-shirt last season because of injuries but I still remain dedicated to the team and I still work hard. I realized early on that injuries are just a part of the game and I do not feel sorry for myself."
???Women's track and field head coach Vicki Mitchell agrees and believes that Glavasevic will be able to turn things around soon.
???"Ajla has struggled with some injuries but is now feeling healthy and has had consistent, good training," Mitchell said. "In the indoor season, she jumped her best jump since coming to Buffalo and is really going to tear it up in the outdoor season."
???Before falling victim to injuries, Glavasevic dominated in high school. She was named captain twice for the women's track team at McDowell High School in her hometown of Erie, Pa. and won the 2007 Pennsylvania triple jump championship and received first team All-State recognitions in 2006 and 2007.
???Before Glavasevic and her family moved to Erie, they lived in Sarajevo, Bosnia. They came to the United States because of the political strife that existed within the Balkans.
???Once she and her family settled in northwest Pennsylvania, the decision of which university that Glavasevic would attend began to take shape.
???"The proximity of Buffalo to Erie was a big part of why I chose Buffalo," Glavasevic said. "I also really liked the coaches that I met."
???Since arriving at Buffalo, Glavasevic has taken advantage of the full university experience. She is a business and history major and admits that time-management has never really been a problem.
???Described by her head coach as a "super competitor," Glavasevic looks to her team and within herself to ignite that competitive flame.
???"I think that self-motivation is my greatest inspiration to keep running my best," Glavasevic said. "Maybe the only people that inspire me are the other girls on the team because I respect them too much to let them down."
