He took a leap, now he's FLYING HIGH.Byline: Chris Hansen <noinclude></noinclude> Christopher Edward Hansen (born March 26, 1959) is an American television journalist best known for his work on the Dateline NBC television segment To Catch a Predator. The Register-Guard Brian Rowe's first competitive high jump in six years came just nine weeks ago. Come Thursday at the OSAA OSAA Oregon School Activities Association OSAA Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (United Nations body) OSAA Ocean State Aquaculture Association OSAA Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms (Philippines) Class 6A state track and field meet at Hayward Field For other uses of "Hayward", see Hayward (disambiguation). Hayward Field at University of Oregon is one of the most well-known historic track and field stadiums in the United States. It has been the home to the University of Oregon Track and Field teams since 1919. , he will take his last. The three-sport star from South Eugene is a surprise No. 2 seed in the event after winning the Southwest Conference
It was a three-inch personal record for the senior, who rapidly has risen from a state-meet qualifying javelin thrower in 2006 to an unlikely high jump contender in just a couple of months. "It's definitely surprised me," Rowe, 18, admitted. "But each time I come to a new sport, I pick it up quickly." And it's not only in track and field. Rowe was the placekicker for the Axemen football team last fall and after just his first season in that sport, he earned honorable mention all-state and first-team all-Southwest Conference honors. Then, of course, there is soccer. Rowe was a first-team all-state goalkeeper For the close-in weapon system, see . In many team sports, a goalkeeper (termed goaltender, netminder, goalie, or keeper in some sports) is a designated player that is charged with directly preventing the opposite team from scoring by defending the this past season and will be headed to UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX in the fall on a soccer scholarship. That is why Rowe is adamant that once the state meet is complete, so will be his high jump career. "I've definitely talked about it with my family," Rowe said. "But I'm done after this weekend. Same thing with football." However, it's hard to imagine the UCLA track team not being intrigued by a kid who has cleared 6-6 with very limited training, especially after the top Bruin finisher in the high jump at last weekend's Pac-10 championships cleared only 6-6 3/4 . So what happens if, say, Bruins jumps coach Mike Powell, the long jump world-record holder, pays Rowe a visit next fall? "I'm going to focus on soccer," Rowe insisted with a laugh. "But I definitely had fun while it lasted." Rowe discovered his high jump ability back in March while practicing for the Purple-White meet, an intrasquad competition at which South coach Jeff Hess requires all of his athletes to try an event outside of their typical repertoire Repertoire may mean Repertory but may also refer to:
"He was the one shining star that came out of that experiment," Hess chuckled. Rowe, who hadn't competed in the high jump since clearing 4-10 as a sixth grader A grader, also commonly referred to as a blade or a motor grader, is an engineering vehicle with a large blade used to create a flat surface. Typical models have three axles, with the engine and cab situated above the rear axles at one end of the vehicle and a third , made it over 5-10 in practice, then cleared 6-2 at the team meet. "Without any instruction, to come out and be able to get up a little bit and already have some technique, I was like 'Okay, he can learn this,' " Hess said. Working with Axemen jumps coach Jeff Lindsey, a former University of Oregon The University of Oregon is a public university located in Eugene, Oregon. The university was founded in 1876, graduating its first class two years later. The University of Oregon is one of 60 members of the Association of American Universities. high jumper The simplest form of an on/off switch. It is just a tiny, plastic-covered metal block, which is pushed onto two pins to close that circuit. It is used to select a myriad of functions on a printed circuit board or on a peripheral device. , Rowe gradually increased his clearances. He got over 6-3 at the XO Invite on April 28 and two weeks later at the district meet, Rowe was the first competitor to get over 6-4. He didn't even have a miss at the district meet until his first attempt at 6-6, which he eventually cleared on his third try. Rowe's first attempt at 6-8 wasn't close, but his final two were near misses. And he did it all with what appeared to be a carefree attitude. He worked fast, and smiled and laughed throughout the competition. "I'm pretty much out there having fun," Rowe said. "I'm enjoying myself." Rowe is one of four high jumpers
So Rowe won't go into the competition as a favorite, though as he proved at districts, it's not wise to view him as a darkhorse, either. "I'm definitely feeling good about where I'm at," Rowe said. "I still feel like I have a lot left." And only one day left to show it. |
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