Throughout the spring there have been many noteworthy performances achieved by our track & field athletes..
During the next 10 days, MaineTrackXC will countdown what it considers the Top 10 Memorable Moments of the outdoor season. In order, we'll give you the performances that we felt stood out the most this spring. Keep in mind, this is our opinion. What do you consider the top best moments this season? We want to know. Just email us your choices (dveilleux@milesplit.us) or list them in the comment section below. After this series has been complete, we'll reveal what you, our readers, have listed as the best of the best.
No. 1 Kate Hall jumps 22-5 to set National HS Long jump record
Kate Hall had done just about everything in her storied high school career but break a national high school record. She had won conference, state, new england and national titles, broken numerous records at all levels but she saved her best for last.
On Hall's final attempt at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals she stepped onto the runway trailing in the competition for the first time in the competition after a huge 21-5 1/4 inch leap from Courtney Corrin (CA).
The Iowa State bound Hall hit the board perfectly and flew deep into the pit, landing well past the 22 foot marker. She leapt out of the sand knowing it was a good one, and waited for the officials to pull the tape tight.
Hall knew it was a big jump, "I knew it was huge, but I wasn't sure how huge or if it was enough to beat Courtney. But from my parent's reaction in the crowd I knew it must have been pretty great. I was looking at the tape (in meters) when they were measuring and I was pretty sure I was further, but I tried not to get too excited too soon. actually a lot of people took it as thinking I wasn't far enough, when really I was just waiting for the correct reading."
The original mark read 22-4 1/2 but after measuring with a steel tape for records purposes the new distance was 22-5 (8.63m)
The mark of 22-5 broke the 39 year old high national record of Kathy McMillan of Hoke City, NC 22-3, and also surpassed the US junior mark of Carol Lewis 22-3 3/4 set back in 1982 while she was competing for the University of Houston. McMillian was the long jump silver medalist at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
Kate's mark equalled the top boys jump in Maine this spring, and at the time of her jump was ranked 9th in the world, and currently she still ranks #14.
