COLUMBUS — Joey Francis thought it was possible and then the Adena senior went out and did it.
Francis won the Division IV boys long jump state championship with a leap of 22 feet, 3 1/4 inches Friday, June 5, at Ohio State’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. A year ago, he finished third in Division III at 21-5 1/2, so he had confidence coming into the event.
“That’s always the goal. The goal is to come in thinking you can win, but obviously I have to give credit to everybody else that jumped. They are all really good jumpers, and you just never know what’s going to happen,” Francis said.
Francis put a good one together on his first attempt, going 21-8 3/4 which put his safely into the finals. What followed were three straight fouls as he sat in third place with two jumps to go.
“I got a good one out fortunately on the first jump,” he said. “Coach told me to stay calm and just back up a little bit and relax on the first couple steps. When we have to start speeding up, just take off.”
That’s what he did on his fifth attempt to put himself in the lead. He fouled again on his final try, but it didn’t matter.
“I was surprised I got it out that far, but I knew I had some good jumpers behind me still. I just couldn’t get too excited because I didn’t want that to backfire on me,” he said.
Francis will run track at Wright State next year, competing as a 400-meter runner, but for a few moments before the awards ceremony he was soaking in the moment as a jumper for the final time.
“I think it’s best to stay humble, but obviously I’m really excited for the championship,” he said. “I have to give credit to my coaches and my family for helping me and all the hard work that I’ve put in starting from eighth grade up until now.”
rmccurdy@usatodayco.com
419-610-0998
X @McMotorsport
Instagram @rob_mccurdy_star
This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Joey Francis of Adena enjoys his gold medal moment at state track
Reporting by Rob McCurdy, Marion Star / Chillicothe Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Rob McCurdy, Marion Star | USA TODAY Network
