By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SALEM, Ore.– Cascade’s Josiah Hawkins set the tone for himself when his second jump in the Long Jump resulted in a PR for the junior.
A jump of 21-feet-9.75 put him out in front, and he jumped off from the opposite foot. A weird jump for sure Hawkins pointed towards the fact he has never practiced it like that before. It just happened that way on this particular jump.
“It was a really big jump, especially since I jumped off my right foot, I usually jump off my left. It felt a little awkward, but when I landed, as soon as I landed, it felt right and I knew it was going to be a PR,” said Hawkins.
Hawkins said that he may work on his jump off with both feet moving forwards as the season progresses.
“I might try that with the footwork,” said Hawkins. “And then with me in the air, getting my drive leg up, I gotta get that figure out. We’re going to tweak it for sure and see what happens.”
Hawkins PR jump would hold on to help the Cougars jumper win the event. Hawkins would go on to finish sixth in the 100-meter, seventh in the 200-meter, and help the 4×400-meter relay to a seventh place finish in the Big School Meet. The Classic draws in a lot of quality opponents from 5 and 6A that helps push everyone to be the best that they can be.
“This meet. There’s a lot of competition out there. I love it out here, it’s great. All the people out there, they know what they’re doing and they’re not newbie’s at this and they’ve been out here for years. So it’s really good to be out here,” Hawkins said. “I got a lot to improve on with the 100, 200, 4×400 and the Long Jump. But by the end of the season, I’m going to hit some PR’s and set some school records.”
Speaking of PR’s, Brayley Ford PR’d in the Discus on Saturday. Her final throw of 108-feet-3.25-inches helped Ford jump to second-place at the Titan Track Classic. She was right there during her first five throws from possibly ripping off a PR throw, it just came down to the right time and place for it to happen for the Junior.
“I really wanted that PR. I focused on driving my right foot, popping and giving all my energy. It felt pretty awesome,” Ford said of her PR. “(This meet) is just going to help me grow as an athlete. It’s going to make me such a better athlete. Wanting to compete really hard.”
Ford finished 17th in the Javelin and Shot Put in the event. Makenna Fraser finished fifth in the 400-meter race. Makenna Burbs finished eighth in the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles. Blake Baker finished tied for seventh in the High Jump
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
