When Jamilee Jimenez walked up to the long jump pit for yesterday’s trials, she had no intention of breaking the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation’s long jump record. “Maybe tomorrow,” she said. The record of 17 feet 41/2 inches was set in
When Jamilee Jimenez walked up to the long jump pit for yesterday’s trials, she had no intention of breaking the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation’s long jump record.
“Maybe tomorrow,” she said.
The record of 17 feet 41/2 inches was set in 1985 by Marlo Luis of Kaua‘i High School. Luis also happens to one of Jimenez’s neighbors.
“Every time I do a good jump she looks at me,” Jimenez said making a glaring look on her face.
The Kaua‘i High School junior originally planned on doing one jump to qualify for the finals. But her coach Richard Matsumoto said she had to do the full three jumps.
It’s a good think he did, because not only did she break it, she broke it twice.
Her second jump of the day was measured at more than 10 feet. Her final jump was the one that will stick.
Jimenez jumped 17 feet 101/2 inches. She brushed herself off and walked back to her warm-ups. Once she was told she broke the record, she had a blank look on her face.
“I know, I just realized that,” she said.
She had jumped more than 18 feet before, but it wasn’t at an official KIF meet.
After the news sunk in for a while, Jimenez had only one thing to say about her jumps.
“I’ll do better at states,” she said. “I’ll try breaking the triple jump record tomorrow.”
Yesterday’s meet was a short one because it was only the trials in preparation for today’s finals.
The KIF track season comes to a close today when all event champions are named.
This year’s track and field state championship will be May 18 and 19 at the Maui Memorial Stadium.
For results of the trials, see today’s Scoreboard above.
