Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Leap Of Faith Becomes Polished Routine
TIGERS GET TRACTION PRACTICING JUMPS
PRAIRIE GROVE — In past years, Prairie Grove track and field athletes were literally taking a “leap of faith” when their turn came up during jumping competition at meets.
The Tigers didn’t have any practice facilities for athletes to refine their skills or build confidence in learning a competitive routine. They relied upon information from coaches’ and courage to do something they had never done before.
Perhaps, they could have borrowed inspiration from the song “Long Jumping Jeweller” written by Glen Shorrock and recorded by Little River Band which tells a story of a jeweller purposely waiting until the last possible moment to jump aboard as the ferry pulls away.
Everybody can’t be heroes, but some can still try, to make their lives a little different before the time it goes by…
In past years, when the Tigers arrived at track and field meets, their coaches would sign them up for jumping events, but they never had opportunity to practice for the event they were competing in. Prairie Grove boys track and field coach John Elder admits this was a handicap, “They were scared because they never did it before.”
I’m gonna let my heart take me away,
I’m gonna jump a little further everyday,
I’m gonna let my heart take me away,
I’m the long-jumping jeweller of Lavender Bay,”
The Tigers climbed an uphill mental battle every week. They expended energy dealing with nervous apprehension as they tried to get a feel for jumping.
She’s there every single morning with about a hundred more,
They watch as I come a-runnin’, they all know the score,
I always like to be the last one so I jump as she pulls away,
The gap gets a little bit wider the longer I delay
Practicing an approach before actually making a leap — became a dream come true for Prairie Grove athletes competing in long jump, high jump and triple jump during the 2017 season. The school got a whole lot more serious about track and field and athletes responded. More kids came out for the sport at the high school level.”
“We had good numbers this year,” Elder said.
Turns out the jeweller has a dual purpose. He is not only challenging himself to catch the ferry. He also wants to win the love of a girl. I handle gemstones in the city, In a little lane off Australia square,
I got one picked out for you that looks so pretty,
But I got to make you notice that I’m there…
Elder cites key factors were involved in the increase of competitiors. No. 1, track is now part of the Prairie Grove athletic period, and No. 2 the administration bought a used high jump pit and made a track for the long jump.
“The long jump and triple jump pit, they made that for us. It helped us a bunch,” Elder said.
The Tigers wanted to win and
with practice started to believe they could compete.
Prairie Grove’s intentional actions to enhance the track and field program paid dividends. Sophomore Nick Pohlman won the District 4A-1 meet long jump, clearing 20’03 ahead of a pair of experienced competitors from Gravette.
Senior Alex Fink came in second for Gravette at 19’11.5; and junior Chris Childress was third for Gravette at 19’8.5. Pohlman went on to compete at state for Prairie Grove.
“Nick, I’ve got some good hopes for him,” Elder said. “He did a great job on his horizontal jumps this year, especially in the long jump. He won district and qualified for state in that.”
Elder appreciates Pohlman’s willingness to come outside and practice in the aftermath of a disappointing finish to the boys basketball season.
“He’s kind of a dual-sport athlete. He plays basketball and does track. It’s kind of cool by him as soon as basketball was over he was ready to get going. You could stay in the gym, but he came out and worked hard. Doing what he’s done in track is going to make him a better basketball player.”
I’m gonna let my heart take me away,
I’m gonna jump a little further everyday,
I’m gonna let my heart take me away,
‘Cause I’m the long jumping jeweler of Lavender Bay…
The entire program benefitted.
“The young kids are able to start jumping,” Elder said. “Now, they know what to expect. They do it and learn the technique. It helps a bunch to expand our track and field equipment.”
As an added bonus, Elder delights in the progress Sol Walker made after an initial diagnosis of a heart condition painted a bleak outlook the summer before his senior year. A second opinion cleared Walker, who went out for football in the fall, then track and field in the spring.
“I’m thankful to be able to have him this year with the stuff he was able to do,” Elder said. “He was limited in events he could do. He’s a great hurdler, but he was only able to do the 110 meter hurdles. I’m just thankful to be able to have him for that. It was great to work with him. He was so well-coached by his mother (Tracy Walker) when he was younger. I think his mom worked with him on the hurdles. That is one thing he loved.”
“He was told he wasn’t supposed to do much of anything so that was special just to be able to see him compete like that.”