Polkinghorn wins state indoor long jump title

Maumee's Lucas Polkinghorn

By JEREMY SCHNEIDER

IMA SPORTS

Coming into the state indoor track and field meet, Lucas Polkinghorn was ranked in the top four in both long jump and high jump, but that wasn’t good enough for the Maumee senior.

Wanting more for his final indoor state meet, Polkinghorn won the Division II state title in the long jump and finished second in the high jump at Spire Academy in Geneva. He also finished seventh in the triple jump.

Polkinghorn jumped 22 feet, 9 inches in the long jump to take the top spot on the podium. He cleared 6-4 in the high jump to finish second, one inch behind the winning height.

He totaled 41 feet, 8 1/2 inches in the triple jump. Teammate Keishon Midcalf finished 12th with a total distance of 39-7 1/4.

It’s the latest round of success for Polkinghorn, who earned All-America honors at the Junior Olympics last August and finished fifth in the high jump and sixth in the long jump at last year’s outdoor state meet.

Now with his senior outdoor season on the horizon, Polkinghorn is counting on his indoor success bleeding into the next season.

“I know nothing is guaranteed but with the coaching and support from Coach (Holly) Mack with high jump and my father (John Polkinghorn) with long jump plus my teammates and Keishon Midcalf pushing me at practice, I believe that Maumee track will be successful this season,” he said.

At the beginning of this past basketball season, Polkinghorn was working his way back from a grade 2 ankle sprain, and he wasn’t sure if he could come back from that. After speaking with Panthers basketball coach T.J. Gillespie, Polkinghorn left the basketball team to focus on his recovery.

“Even though I had that injury, I went through physical therapy and slowly got back to training and working on my technique and strength,” Polkinghorn said. “I still do not think my ankle is back to 100 percent but I will be there soon.”

For coach Mack, she is sure Polkinghorn’s success during his indoor season can motivate for even more success in the spring.

“I think his performance at the indoor state meet is going to drive him to do just as well at the outdoor meet,” she said. “For long jump, he now knows that all he needs is one good jump to be in the running for a top spot on the podium. As for high jump, he struggled a bit during indoor due to an injury but he's on the road to clearing what he did last year and that will make him incredibly competitive once again.”

In addition to his success on the track, Polkinghorn’s spring will also consist of deciding what his next steps will be for college.

“This process is definitely a very stressful and hard decision to make,” Polkinghorn said. “I do have two colleges that are near the top of my list right now, including William Penn and Chicago State University. I would like to make my decision near the end of March or mid April.”

Photo courtesy of Pride of the Panthers

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