It was a brilliant day for La Canada high jumper Jonathan Sparks, who cleared 6-04 with ease, passing on his first attempt. On 6-06, he knocked over the bar on his first attempt, but managed to get over unscathed on his second attempt and relished his victory with a fist pump.
With that jump, Sparks had snagged a spot at the CIF State championships in Fresno this Friday.
“It felt good,” Sparks said moments after the high jump finished. “I wanted to PR (personal record) today, but it was still a good jump. Six-six was my best jump by far, you can only do so many jumps before you burn out.”
That mark was the highest he managed on the night—nine other jumpers finished at 6-06 and all qualified for State as well.
“I’ve been at La Canada for 12 years waiting for a kid like Jonathan to come along,” said La Canada High Jump Coach Eric Ford. Ford works as a physicist for a day job and has worked as the La Canada high jump coach for the last 12 years. “We were hoping for 6-08 [Friday], but warm weather is better for jumpers and we didn’t have that today.”
When asked who the last La Canada track and field athlete was to make CIF State, neither Ford, nor the other two La Canada track and field coaches, Casey Mollett and Andrea Lust, could come up with an answer.
Ford continued that this wasn’t
“Jon is capable of jumping 6-09,” Ford said. If he had to do it, I think he could.”
Ford stated that the goal of their visit to Fresno next week is to get over the butterflies and prepare for next year, when he’s a senior.
“We want to get over the butterflies on Friday,” Ford said. “He’s the only junior at this meet.”
May 29, 2009...8:59 pm
Jonathan Sparks impresses; gets to State
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