Yesterday evening, Jyles Etienne ’17 began his college high jumping career in sensational fashion, setting a new personal best of 7′ 3″ that broke the Hoosier Open meet record and placed him at #2 in America on the early season rankings.

It also left him tied for 4th on Indiana University’s all-time indoor list with Bob Berry (1979). The only jumpers ahead of him on the list are Derek Drouin (7′ 8.5″ – Olympic Gold Medalist), Ron Jones (7′ 4.5″ – 2x Big Ten Champion), and Darius King (7′ 3.5″ – Big Ten Champion, NCAA runner-up).

7′ 3″ was also the 12th highest jump in America during the entire 2016-17 indoor season and would have been 5th place at the 2017 NCAA Division I Indoor National Championships, yet Jyles eclipsed that height in his first college event.

His ceiling as a high jumper remains thrillingly indefinable. Any record or accomplishment could be within his grasp over the next four years as this incredible athlete, who only began jumping when he arrived at Stony Brook as a sophomore, continues to reach new plateaus.

Though we don’t know where he will land, we do know it’s going to be a thrill to watch.

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College High Jump Top 5 Rankings

1.	Brenton Foster	Manhattan	SO	7′ 4.25″
2.	Jyles Etienne	Indiana	FR	7′ 3″
3.	Jerin Allen	Louisville	SR	7′ 2.5″
3.	Javen Reeves	Louisville	SR	7′ 2.5″
5.	Daniel Armstrong	Marquette	SO	7′ 1.5″