Might as well jump – Lewis jumps his way into nationals

LYNN – Justin Lewis is the epitome of a high school athlete. He?s a three-sport star at Lynn Tech, serving as a captain on the football, basketball and track teams. This weekend the high school junior will get the opportunity to compete against some elite athletes at theNew Balance Nationals Outdoor, the national high school track and field championships, in Greensboro, N.C.
Lewis has excelled in each of his events in track, running the 110-meter and 400-meter hurdles and competing in the triple jump. But where he?s really turned heads is the high jump, the event in which he will contend at the national championships.
Lewis started participating in track and field as a freshman at Lynn Tech. The decision to join the track team was motivated by his other coaches, he said, since it was a good way to stay in shape during the football and basketball offseasons.
He didn?t join the team specifically to participate in the high jump, but assumed his skills and strengths would translate.
?I figured I could jump, having played basketball…I go up for a lot of rebounds,” said Lewis. “Once I started, I found I was kind of naturally good at it.”
?We figured he was tall, and we knew he could jump,” said Lynn Tech assistant track coach John Hogan. “It?s a niche sport, and he was the best we had.”
Even as a freshman, Lewis put together a strong showing. His best height was 5 feet, 8 inches, and he improved to 6-0 in his sophomore season. But through work, growth and experience, Lewis has transformed from a good jumper to the best in New England, and possibly one of the best in the country.
The 17-year-old junior set a new league record at the Commonwealth Athletic Conference meet in May with a 6-6 jump and placed first in the triple jump. Also finishing in the top four in the 110 and 400 hurdles, he took home the CAC MVP award.
?I did not see that coming,” said Lewis, who bested Whittier Tech?s Jensey Gabin in the triple jump after being beat by Gabin by more than a foot in the regular season.
Next up was the state competition, where Lewis didn?t have his best showing, placing fourth in the high jump. However, it was good enough to send him to the New England Interscholastic OutdoorTrack and Field Championships in Saco, Maine, where he faced the best competition in the region.
?I was a little worried going into the New England meet,” said Lewis. “I wasn?t feeling my jumps at states, and I was facing the best competition.”
Lewis and Kevin Hack, from Nipmuc Regional High School in Upton, both jumped 6-5, which locked them in a tie for first. Lewis won by virtue of having fewer misses.
Now, Lewis and his coaches are working to raise whatever money they can to help send him to theNew Balance Nationals Outdoorcompetition, taking place Friday through Sunday. Lewis will head to North Carolina on Thursday, and will participate in the high jump on Friday.
?It?s an honor to get the chance to go,” said Lewis. “Making it to nationals as a junior is something you rarely see, and a junior who is trying to place is even more rare.”
A humble Lewis said that making it all the way to the national competition was a surprise.
?I honestly did not see that coming,” he said.
Lewis has seen a noticeable improvement in his abilities — not only from year to year, but from the beginning of this season to now. At Lynn Tech?s first meet against Whittier this season, Lewis jumped 5-10 in the high jump, which is around what others in the Commonwealth Conference jump. But by the end of the season, he had set a personal record at 6-6.
?I was astonished at the progress,” said Lewis of his development.
Lewis?s dedication and practice has been a big reason for his success, Hogan said.
?He puts a lot of work in,” said Hogan. “Sometimes he?ll be the only person at Manning Field, working and trying different things.”
The time and effort he puts into perfecting the high jump benefits him when it comes time for football and basketball as well, Lewis said.