TOLEDO – Tuesday’s track and field duel meet at Toledo Central Catholic was supposed to be a chance for Ross’ track teams to get some work in, try some different things and get prepared for this weekend’s Little Giant Invitational.
Olivia DeRodes
The meet isn’t scored, teams are left to time themselves. It’s not necessarily the type of meet where one goes out looking to break school records
But no one told Olivia DeRodes.
The junior broke the program’s eight-year-old record in the high jump, clearing a height of 5-feet, 5.5 inches, surpassing the 2010 record set by Christy Woleslagel by half an inch.
Making the feat all the more impressive, DeRodes hadn’t cleared 5 feet, 2 inches until just last weekend’s Marion Night Invitational.
“That was kind of the breakthrough,” boys track and field coach John Elder said. “She was stuck, she couldn’t get over 5-2, then Friday night she got over it with ease. You see that a lot, she broke through that wall that’s been keeping her from jumping to her potential. I think she just cleared that hurdle.”
If Elder is right, and Tuesday night’s jump is the start of new possibilities for DeRodes, then a place on the state meet podium could be in her future. DeRodes qualified for the state meet last year as a sophomore and a jump of 5-5.05 would have placed her fifth in the state a year ago.
But how, exactly, does a high jumper suddenly increase their best leap by 3.5 inches in just a few days?
“The jumping coach would tell you she’s had it in her all the time, she just had to find it, to be quite simple,” Elder said. “Her technique is really outstanding. It’s just putting the little pieces together. Your approach, your plant, your form in the air, how long you can stay up in the air, all of that goes into her success and she’s starting to put it all together.
“Our high jump coach thinks 5-7 is not out of the possibility for her to conquer, and maybe even higher,” Elder added.
Other notable performances from Tuesday’s meet including McKela Elder winning both the 800 and 1600 runs.
“Her times weren’t great but she’s been running very strong,” said John Elder – no relation. “We can count on her in all these meets to score us points. She’s been really solid.”
In the boys’ competition, sophomore Jason Burling continued to show continual improvement in the shot put, reaching a distance of 48 feet.
“He’s been improving every week,” Elder said. “Travis (Bates, boys head coach and throwing coach) thinks Jason hasn’t even hit his ceiling yet. Once he puts things together, he’s just a sophomore, with his technique he can have some pretty good throws in the shot and discus.”
Elder also noted the performance this season of distance runner Zach Edmunds, giving the Little Giants another key contributor in the 1600 and 3200.
“He’s really developing in the mile and two mile,” Elder said. “He’s been really coming on strong in the 3200, which is really going to be a plus this week and in the league meet.”
Saturday morning Ross hosts the Little Giant Invitational. Field events begin at 9:30 a.m. as do the 4×800 relays, followed by the 4×1600 relay. Finals for the remaining running events will get underway about 10:45.