FLORISSANT, Mo. – The weather finally cooperated for a track meet this spring, leading to some breakout performances in the high jump.
McCluer senior Malik Ray cleared 6 feet, 9 inches and Parkway North’s Amber Alexander sailed over 5-8 ¼ at Saturday’s Class 4 District 3 track meet at McCluer High School. The marks move both jumpers to the top of the state rankings.
Ray had hit 6-6 early this season, and he owned a personal record of 6-8 ¼ from last year’s sectional meet. He erased both of those personal records in winning the district title, and he came close on a couple attempts at 7-0.
“I’ve been working on my approach and my form,” said Ray, who was fourth at the 2012 state meet at 6-8. “My coach has been telling me I could do it; I just had to believe him and needed some good weather.
Alexander also set a PR with her jump, bettering the 5-7 she hit for fourth at the state meet last year, and it was a big jump up from her previous best this season of 5-2.
“It was a matter of concentration and focus; I think I came in prepared to jump,” Alexander said. “If you don’t do well, there’s no second chance.”
Alexander had a slip in concentration during the 100-meter hurdles. She jumped before the gun and was DQ for a false start.
“I guess I was kind of nervous, but I felt like he was taking forever to shoot the gun and I probably anticipated it,” said Alexander, who missed advancing in the 300 hurdles. “It was disappointing, but then again there’s still high jump so it’s not like I’m done.”
Ray said the tone definitely changes once it’s time for the district meet.
“It makes you want to jump way better,” said Ray, who is expecting to sign with Columbia College for basketball on Monday. “You know when you come into districts the competition will be really good. I felt like I needed something to prove and I wanted to win, so I had to come out and show it today.”
Ray has helped spark another Comet’s rise, as freshman Josh Haskin cleared 6-0 for second place and a new PR.