Deseret News | High school track & field: Skyline high jumper is taking flight

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High school track & field: Skyline high jumper is taking flight

Good story | 11:34 p.m. Aug. 26, 2009

How high was the winning jump. Good luck Ryan.

How High | 11:56 p.m. Aug. 26, 2009

As a former high jumper I'm the most interested in the following:
1) How high did he jump for the medal?
2) How tall is he? (A taller guy doesn't have to work as hard to clear the same distance since his center of gravity is higher to begin with.)
Basic high jump information that should have been included in the article.

what a... | 8:06 a.m. Aug. 27, 2009

...flattering picture. i'm sure this guy will be really popular now.

Comments continue below

Steve | 8:13 a.m. Aug. 27, 2009

Ryan won the gold with a personal best of 6 feet 7 inches. And he made that jump in a driving rain.

coach zanandrea | 8:25 a.m. Aug. 27, 2009

1. Ryan jumped 6'7" to win the championship and had three good atempts on 6'9" The surface had about 1/8 of an inch of standing water and was still raining hard when he cleared 6'7". As a former high jumper I know how scary that is. It takes a lot of confidence, physical and mental preparation to concentrate in the jump under those conditions.
2. Ryan is 6'3" tall.
Thank you for your interest.

Anonymous | 8:28 a.m. Aug. 27, 2009

Ryan is 6'1" and jumped 6'7"

Question | 9:53 a.m. Aug. 27, 2009

Didn't the kid from St George who is now on the BYU football team jump 7 feet in high school?

Coach G | 10:24 a.m. Aug. 27, 2009

Adam Hine, formerly Adam Timo jumped 7'2" to break the state record.

@ Coach | 10:35 a.m. Aug. 27, 2009

I'm sure you're really not the coach, but I am sure that attitude toward Ryan will really bring him closer to the TEAM. Thats some nice motivating!

Re:Coach | 10:40 a.m. Aug. 27, 2009

chill out dude this kid is only a jr, give him a break 6feet 7 is a great jump. I suppose you can do better. Good job Ryan.

Wouldnt you like to know | 11:17 a.m. Aug. 27, 2009

Whoever is " Coach " Your obviously living vicariously through young teenage kids. Grow up and be proud of Ryan. He works hard at what he does and is alot more dedicated then an average kid. He cant do everything, and be everywhere!

Track Fan | 11:23 a.m. Aug. 27, 2009

I remember two guys from the same region back in the early 80's that both jumped 7'. If I remember it was Utah basketball player Sie Moore from Bonneville and Corey something from Weber, both cleared 6'11" in their jr year.

FAN | 11:38 a.m. Aug. 27, 2009

There is a lot to be said for a TEAM player though if he represents a high school.

SKYL. Coach Mike Clapier | 11:48 a.m. Aug. 27, 2009

There is no COACH G with Skyline track--Ryan competes in the league that sponsors the Junior Olympics and National Championships, and like the article said, trains with a high jump coach who was an Olympic High Jumper. During the high school track season he was coming off of an injury that forced him to re-train from the other side of his body. His Junior Olympic national championship and 6-7 jump was won jumping from his weak side. GO RYAN--

Decathlonfan | 12:22 p.m. Aug. 27, 2009

Nixon and Scott are both good jumpers, I know Nixon is now a junior this school year and I guess Scott is also. I know Nixon in school track competes in the 110 HH and 300 HH, HJ and runs a leg of the 4X4 realy, then in summer track his real love is the Decathlon were he broke the 11 year old national record in Greensboro on Tue. at this same meet and scored 7000 pts. breaking the old record by 104 pts. I think he jumped 6'9" during the decathlon and I saw were in school track in the spring he jumped a personal best of 6'10" in Oklahoma. I wish both young men the best of luck with their track in the coming years, they both should do well. I am not sure if Scott competes in any other events other than HJ?

In HS | 12:30 p.m. Aug. 27, 2009

In another bordering state, we had a High Jumper back in the late 80s who cleared 7 ft several times in smaller meets. During his 4 State track meets he never cleared 6'6'. Never won a State title. He jumped in college for a WAC school and even cleared 7 several times in college, but never won a WAC title either.

My point is that at big meets, it is hard to focus and actually preform your best. Sounds like this kid did it in bad weather at a huge meet.

Congrats... Ryan... don't let others bring you down.

Great Picture! | 12:50 p.m. Aug. 27, 2009

Way to go champ

awasome! | 6:21 p.m. Aug. 27, 2009

Ryan, your future is brilliant, focus on it, while enjoying the present. I heard you are already working out towards next year. Way to go bud! You are only five inches away from seven feet. Go get it!

dreaming high | 6:42 p.m. Aug. 27, 2009

Ryan is a good example to all kids. He set his goals high, and worked hard to achieve them. If he jumped 6'7" in his sophmore year, we can expect many good results in the next two years. I heard he changed takeoff leg last March due to an injury on his strong leg and still jumped that high at the end of the season? I would like to hear from his coach about it or anyone who knows the story. Fascinating dexterity. You are amazing.

Great Job | 8:54 a.m. Aug. 28, 2009

6'7" isn't a state record, But state records are most often set under ideal condations. He has talent and could possible go on. The next step is college and all too often this type of hype distracts kids for thier acedmics. Hope his coach is good enough to keep him foucused.

80's Track | 10:12 a.m. Aug. 28, 2009

Sie Moore from Bonneville and Corey Swenson from Weber both jumped 7'0" in the early 80's. Swenson jumped 6'10" as a sophomore and 7'0" as a junior.

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