Adam Maxwell of West Linn leaves no doubt in boys high jump, becomes first champion crowned at 6A Track and Field Showcase
By Dan Brood | Photo by Taylor Balkom
Adam Maxwell knew he had already clinched the championship.
But he wanted to leave no doubt who the best high jumper really was.
Maxwell, a West Linn junior, triumphed in the boys high jump event, clearing a height of 6 feet, 4 inches, on Friday at the Oregon 6A Track and Field Showcase at Pioneer Memorial Stadium in Oregon City.
“That was a pretty big step. It felt really good to win that,” Maxwell said. “I’m just really happy about it.”
Much of the high jump field struggled to clear the opening height of 6-0. Only three jumpers — Maxwell, Sherwood junior Davyon Sanders and Clackamas senior Ryan Lewis — remained when the bar moved to 6-4. Maxwell cleared 6-2 on his first attempt. Sanders cleared on his second try and Lewis made it on his third.
At 6-4, Sanders and Lewis missed on all three of their attempts. Maxwell missed on his first two tries at 6-4. But, because he had fewer previous faults, Maxwell knew he had the title clinched before his third attempt at 6-4. But that wasn’t good enough.
“There was a lot of pressure,” Maxwell said. “I knew, based on the scratches, that technically I’d win, based on rules. But I just wanted that feeling that I won, based on height. So, I just gave it my all, that last jump.”
It paid off, as he cleared 6-4 on his final attempt at the height.
“It was just kind of mental,” Maxwell said. “I got up, had perfect form and just didn’t think about hitting the bar. It felt great, not landing on bar at all, knowing it was still up there.”
The successful jump turned out to be his winning height, and it made Maxwell the first champion crowned at this year’s Class 6A final meet.
“It was an honor,” Maxwell said. “I haven’t had track since my freshman year, so just being out here felt amazing.”
Sanders placed second in the high jump, Lewis was third, and Sheldon senior Nash Kuykendall, who cleared 6-0, finished fourth.
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Earlier:
Meet the state’s best throwers
