Bryan Tavera and Nick Jenkins are searching for their next wall.
The Ridgefield triple jumpers already burst through one on their way to memorable jumping seasons in 2017.
The next wall awaits.
“Once you go past that wall,” Tavera said, “you don’t know what you can do.”
What the pair hope to do is continue to build off their success that helped the Spudders share the 2A state team title with Cheney at last May’s state meet. Along with now-graduated teammate Conner Ball, Ridgefield went 4-5-6 in the 2A boys triple jump final to account for 12 of Ridgefield’s 48 team points at the three-day meet.
A surprise finish in a season full of surprises for Tavera and Jenkins.
Tavera, a junior, and Jenkins, a sophomore, are still jumping newbies. Tavera began jumping his freshman year but also has a sprinting and long-distance background in cross country.
For Jenkins, he took up track last spring seeking that perfect sport to excel in since basketball, soccer, cross country and baseball didn’t work out.
Figuring he’d be good at the sprints because of his burst of speed, longtime Ridgefield track coach Gregg Ford instead put him with the jumpers.
Jenkins became hooked the first week.
“I have a lot of fun doing it,” he said. “It’s fun trying to get your (personal record) every time practicing it and seeing you get faster on run-ups. Also having good teammates because they can help you and motivate you to jump further.”
And that motivation came into play at last spring’s district meet, a picture-perfect day for jumping at Columbia River, the two said.
Ridgefield swept all three state berths in the triple jump, led by Tavara’s 44 feet, 2 1/2 inches for the district title.
“It came out of nowhere,” Tavera said.
But the best part, the two said: all three jumpers — Tavera, Bell and Jenkins — set personal-best marks. Matthew Armstrong also placed fourth in the long jump, one spot from advancing to state.
Tavera and Jenkins, along with Armstrong, said that day was a surprise. The motivation, though, they have to push one another is built off a friendship grown through jumping.
That, and pushing through another wall.
“If you have good chemistry with teammates,” Tavera said, “you can accomplish anything together.”
