Sophia Beckmon's 22-4 long jump — No. 2 all-time nationally — highlights 21st Jesuit Twilight Relays in Portland
By René Ferrán | Photo by Taylor Balkom
What a difference the past 12 months have made for Sophia Beckmon.
A year ago, she arrived at Cronin Field for the Jesuit Twilight Relays in Southwest Portland battling knee injuries and mentally taxed in her quest for her first 20-foot long jump.
On Friday, the Oregon City senior returned for the 21st edition of Oregon’s premier high school invitational, buoyed with confidence after moving to seventh all-time on the national list six days earlier with a 21-4¼ jump at the Eason Invite and enjoying the best weather she’s seen all year.
On the third attempt of her series, Beckmon uncorked one of the best jumps ever by a high school girl, leaping 22 feet, 4 inches, in ideal conditions to improve to No. 2 all-time, just an inch off the national record set by Kate Hall of Casco, Maine, in 2015.
“I wasn’t expecting that at all,” Beckmon said. “After that first jump, my coach (DeShaun McKenzie) just wanted us to play with it a bit because I had a good mark already (21-0), and he just told me to have fun now.
“So, when the third jump came up, I knew kind of what was about to happen. I just knew I was about to run faster, so I had to get my mark back, and then as soon as I got the clap going, I was probably the most focused I’ve ever felt in my life.”
Beckmon’s record-setting jump ranks No. 4 in the world this year behind two Americans, Jasmine Moore and Quanesha Burks, and Nigerian Ruth Osoro — all of whom posted their jumps wind-aided.
While there was no wind gauge for the long jumps at Friday’s meet, the wind for the long jump runways was a steady crosswind that was slightly in the jumpers’ faces.
“Finally being able to get some nice jumps in with some warm weather has been the biggest change,” said Beckmon, a University of Illinois signee. “Really, having a better mindset as well, and actually listening to my coach, trusting in him that he knows what he’s doing, has also made a big difference.”
Beckmon’s big jump highlighted a stellar meet that also saw Lake Oswego junior Mia Brahe-Pedersen move to a tie for fourth on the all-time list in the 100 meters in all conditions, running a wind-aided 11.07 seconds to improve on the 11.09 she ran twice at Hayward Field in Eugene last spring.
“Honestly, my race was pretty smooth,” she said after successfully defending the Elite 100 title she won a year ago. “I just kind of jumped out of the blocks and just didn’t really think too much about it. Just go off muscle memory and keep the form that I’ve been working on.”
Brahe-Pedersen also ran legs on the victorious 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 relays, helping the Lakers win the girls team title, with Summit taking home the boys championship.
Central Catholic senior Kyeese Hollands defended the javelin title she won a year ago, throwing a personal-best 153-11 that is No. 4 in the nation this spring, after winning the discus.
“I was going into (the javelin) thinking, like, OK, I’m giving 85% because I like to grow into it, and that 85% ended up being my PR,” she said. “I was just to be completely smooth with it.”
Roosevelt senior Nywaun Campbell was the lone double-winner on the boys side, winning the shot put and discus. Sherwood senior Austin Milton celebrated signing with the University of Oregon this week by moving into the state's all-time top 20 in the javelin with a 209-0 throw.
“Just doing this the same week as signing, it’s unbelievable, and I’m really excited,” Milton said.
—
