Postseason Track & Field Coverage is Powered by:
THE CLARION OFFICE OF
EUGENE, Ore. – Fresh off his second consecutive state championship in the high jump, Union/A-C Valley’s Hayden Smith has taken his talents to the national level.
Smith, who will be a senior, cleared 6-9 at the Nike Outdoor Championships on Saturday at the University of Oregon, good for a tie for second competing against some of the top jumpers in the nation.
“It was awesome,” Smith said. “This was the biggest field I ever jumped on,. The track platform was perfect to jump. The weather was really good as I was jumping. I was also able to take notes of the other guys, and what they are doing.”
Riyon Rankin of Brunswick, Ga. won the title, also clearing 6-9 but having fewer misses. Smith tied with Emmitt Kietlinski of Bowler, Wisc.
Postseason Coverage on the YDL Sports Network is brought you by
“I learned a bunch of different stuff,” Smith said. “What their approach is, how they take off. I talked to them about how they warm up and things like that. It was nice to compete against guys of that caliber.”
Clearing 6-9 was one inch higher than the 6-8 Smith cleared to win his second PIAA title.
With that in mind, there’s still a lot he wants to accomplish this summer.
“To get seven feet would be really nice,” Smith said. “I’ve just been trying to stay consistent. That’s key. I think it (seven feet) is definitely possible).”
Smith noted that his next event will be either in Ohio or Lancaster (Pa.), with an eye toward the AAU Junior Olympic Games at Drake University in Des Moines (Iowa) July 29-Aug. 5.
“I’m just looking forward to going back, doing some workouts, and continuing to strengthen my ankle (which he hurt during basketball season),” Smith said. “I think we’ll be good.”
