Middletown, NY - Heading into this weekend, time is running out for the seniors of New York State. For Rayvon Grey (Beacon), the State Championships are one of the two potentially final meets of the season, and represent two last opportunities to do something only one other man in history has ever done: take down a Bob Beamon Record. Only Mike Powell has done so, beating Beamon's Olympic Record. Yet Grey is aiming for Beamon's State Record, a mark that has stood since 1965, set well before Grey was even born..
The 25-3 mark has proved elusive, despite being surpassed indoors twice before. Rayvon Grey took an early glance at the mark at Penn Relays, getting a wind-legal mark just one inch shy. But since then, Grey has been plagued with rainy weather, illegal pit depths, and uncompromising illegal winds. Such is the life of getting a verifiable mark, even for an athlete who hit 26-0.25 indoors.
Grey is not alone in his pursuit, as teammate Terrell Davis is not far off either, the reigning Indoor State Champ to boot. Both will compete in the event in the coming weeks, and looked towards the man himself, Bob Beamon, for words of wisdom. Below is an account of the meeting, told via Beacon Coach Jim Henry.
As part of the festivities surrounding The Classic 10K Road Race Weekend in Middletown, my top two long jumpers Rayvon Grey (25' 2.5") and Terrel Davis (24' 0") were invited to join Bob Beamon (1968 Olympic Gold Medalist) to discuss long jumping, training, and the pursuit of Bob Beamon's 1965 outdoor NYS HS Long Jump record of 25' 3 ½". At 51 years old and counting, this is the oldest and possibly most hallowed individual outdoor NY state record on the books. The interview was conducted by Frank Shorter, a Middletown native and 1972 Olympic Gold Medalist in the Marathon.
Before the camera began filming, Beamon showed himself to be very much in tune with today's youth as a lively discussion began about footwear when he quizzed the athletes on their various preferences. Once the "official" interview began, Frank Shorter asked Beamon about some of his recollections from competing and of course brought the conversation around to "the perfect jump" -- Beamon's World Record shattering effort from the 1968 Olympic Games. Beamon asked Terrel and Rayvon about the benefits of having a talented teammate to compete with you and push you at practice every day and later likened it to the US training camp for the Olympic Games in the summer of 1968 when he practiced daily with Tommie Smith, Lee Evans, and Larry James among others. As some of Terrel and Rayvon's teammates came along for this once in a lifetime experience, Shorter then asked about each of their respective events and how their training had been positively impacted by the relative success of their teammates.
Both the kids and their coach have used Beamon's NYS record of 25' 3.5" to fuel their training for the past couple of years and to have the opportunity to meet the legendary figure behind this record was indeed a privilege. While Rayvon has claimed the NYS indoor record with his 26 foot jump at Indoor Nationals, the outdoor one has thus far proved a bit more elusive. Unlike indoor, the weather needs to cooperate and the tailwind must be under the maximum allowable limit of 2.0 meters per second. We'll have a couple more chances to go after it this weekend at the NYS Championships in Cicero North Syracuse as Rayvon and Terrel are representing Section 1, and then plan to travel to Greensboro for Nationals the following weekend.
Chasing a legend has been as fun as track and field can get. Final jumps at sectionals and state qualifiers concluded with hundreds of fans gathered at the horizontal pits hoping to catch a glimpse of history. If either of my jumpers are fortunate enough to put together their own "perfect jump", there will certainly be immediate celebration but I anticipate also a deep sense of satisfaction. And for his words of encouragement to my jumpers, Bob Beamon would certainly get credited for the assist.
Jim Henry
Head Coach
Beacon Track + Field
Note: Beamon wasn't the only World Record Holder (former or otherwise) at the the Middletown event. Minutes before the interview, Jonah Gorevic captured the Mile World Record for his 13 year old age group yet again, with a 4:43.2. It's only a matter of time before he is chasing State Records of his own.
