The legend of Section 5 keeps growing.
Earlier this year, we told you to keep an eye on the Long Jump pits in Section 5, as two sophomores were dueling it out in an epic chase after the Sophomore State Record. The pair came within inches of cracking the magic barrier earlier this year, but have gone dormant since.
Well, competition breeds competition, and inspiration runs through.
Enter Celvin Kirkland (Aquinas Institute).
With only one legal jump on the board out of a set of six, Kirkland soared past the field, and the State, to crush the record.
He landed with a 24-0.5 clearance, good for US #4 this year.
Did we mention he also just happens to be a sophomore? Section 5 now holds three of the top four Sophomores in the Country.
The mark breaks the former record set by Tobi Tella (McQuaid) by more than six inches. It's also tied for NY #15 All-Time in the event. #3 All-Time for Section 5.
Section 5 is having a killer year in the jumps, making this the second State Record of the day in the pits.
Who is Celvin Kirkland, exactly?
As a Freshman, he flew under the radar, clouded by the other duo's record chase. He also didn't leave the Rochester area, outside a fourth place finish at Nationals in the Frosh division. Still, he jumped a respectable 20-ft LJ and a 43-ft TJ. Outdoors, his triple jump extended to 43-11, but it was the Long Jump that flourished. He made it out to 22-1.75 at his best. It took him to States, where he was the first person out, to not make the D2 final.
This Indoor Season, it would be hard to predict the jump if not in person. He was averaging 18-10 over the first four meets of the year. But it was the series on this Saturday, at the RWTL Champs, where Kirkland played hero. He may have fouled five times, but when he hit the board, he soared. As a business, it brought his team the title as well, winning the meet by a single point.
Now comes the difficult part. Only three slots are available for the Long Jump to proceed to States. No Super Standard like Outdoors. All three athletes will likely to be entered, and it's the only time all three will line up together. How will it play out under pressure? We can't wait to see.
