Pine Creek jumpers’ hopes come up short with injuries
LAKEWOOD – Only 50 yards from each other, Pine Creek seniors Amelia Harvey and Dionne Taylor were struggling with the same problem. Both were doing their best to compete for state championships during the field events of the Colorado state track and field championships and both seemed to have legitimate chances to walk away as winners.
Before the 5A boys’ high jump finals, Taylor was walking with a limp and appeared to be favoring his left leg. As he aimed to match his state-best jump of 7 feet, an injured ankle took him out of his groove and off the top of the podium.
“I messed it up about a week ago,” Taylor said. “It was during the triple jump and long jump (that it was sprained) and then I really messed it up (Thursday).”
Taylor seemed collected as he watched the other participants make their jumps. When his turn came with the bar set at 6-6, he faltered on his first run, showing signs of the injury.
“I still had confidence,” Taylor said. “I’m a little disappointed, but … I mean, it’s fine.”
Taylor finished third in the event that many had him pegged as the favorite to win. His best jump on the day was 6-8, 4 inches lower than his qualifying jump. Trevor Rex from Highlands Ranch won at 6-9.
Nearby, Harvey was plagued with a similar issue. As she was warming up for the 5A girls’ long jump, her left leg was wrapped in bandages and she carried an obvious limp. It turned out she rolled her ankle as she landed in the sand pit.
“It’s a real bummer,” Harvey said. “Last year at state when I was doing the triple jump, I actually ended up breaking two bones in my foot landing in the pit as well. It’s kind of like a slap in the face.”
Harvey ended up finishing 10th in the event.
“It definitely does suck seeing everyone do well,” she said. “I’m pretty bitter about it. Honestly, it’s a real huge disappointment”
Plagued by an injury was not how Harvey planned on wrapping up her senior year, but she knows when she gets the chance to look back and reflect on her time at state, there are plenty of positives she’ll be able to take away.
“(I’m proud of) the fact that I took third in the triple (jump),” she said. “And that the fact that I was running in relays which I never really did before.”
Pine Creek’s Dionne Taylor hits the bar on his attempt at 6’9″ during the CHSAA State Track & Field Championships in Lakewood at Jefferson County Stadium in Lakewood, Friday, May 15, 2015. Taylor finised third with a height of 6’8″. JUSTIN EDMONDS, SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE