Sports

Erasmus’ Green earns Wingate as jump goal nears

Shane Green found a level of jumper’s peace last weekend. The Erasmus Hall senior had spent his final high-school season chasing a 50 foot triple jump. While he didn’t officially reach his goal he finally got hard evidence that he is closer than ever to the elusive mark.

“If I don’t, I’ve still had a great season,” he said.

Green won the triple jump with a leap of 49 feet, 5.25 inches to take home the Federation crown at the outdoor state track and field championships at Caledonia-Mumford HS Saturday. But that wasn’t the jump that Green got the most excited about. On his final attempt his foot was a few inches back of the board, so it left him wondering what could have been. He had to find out.

“I told the man to measure my foot from where I jumped and he said it was 51 [feet],” Green said.

He will get one more crack at the mark as a high school athlete at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals this weekend in North Carolina. Green believes he can get it, but won’t be disappointed if it doesn’t happen because of the season he had. He won both the PSAL and state titles indoors and outdoors and was also third at the Penn Relays. Those accomplishments earned him the PSAL boys outdoor track Wingate Award at St. Francis College on Monday. The honor is given to the best senior athlete in their respective sport.

“I feel complete,” Green said of his state titles. “I never thought I was going to get it. When I was a freshman I didn’t know I could be this good.”

When he went to outdoor states last season he missed the board and lost to the seniors that were ahead of him at the time. The defeat didn’t discourage him. It only served as extra motivation for what has been a stellar campaign.

“I didn’t get mad at all,” Green said. “I just came back and dominated.”