Etienne 12th at Nationals

On Saturday, Jyles Etienne finished 12th in the open high jump at the New Balance Indoor National Championships, held at The Armory in New York City.

Etienne entered a field comprised of the nation’s best jumpers just a week removed from basketball season. While the 6′ 5″ junior was helping the boys’ basketball team earn a berth in the State Quarterfinals, the rest of the field was honing its craft and gaining experience. Etienne qualified for the meet thanks to a remarkable 6′ 11″ jump at the Bahamas Roadrunner Classic on Saturday Feb. 27.

Etienne cleared the opening height of 6′ 3.25″ on his third and final attempt at the height. He then soared over 6′ 5″ on his first attempt, then made a great attempt at 6′ 7″, but his foot dislodged the bar on the way down.

It is clear that Etienne has reached a new plateau. Last year he came painfully close to breaking the school record of 6′ 4.75″ several times but to no avail. He finally eclipsed the 50-year-old mark set by Bernard Mumo at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals in June with a leap of 6′ 5.5″. Since that time, in three high-profile meets, his lowest jump has been 6′ 5″. He is in a rare class of athlete and the ceiling on his potential remains uncapped.

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Complete Results

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