PEABODY — Just his second year competing in indoor track, Peabody High senior jumper Evan Bedard has been turning a lot of heads this season.
The owner of school records in the long jump and triple jump, Bedard has already taken his talent to the next level. This fall, he will be upping the ante at Division 1 Stonehill College, where he plans to run three seasons of track for the Skyhawks.
“I looked mostly at local schools because I didn’t want to go too far,” Bedard said. “I want my family to be able to come and watch me compete. I took a visit there and loved the coaches and campus, and the kids there were so welcoming. Even though I was just on a visit, I felt like I was a member of the team. I felt it was a place I could call home.”
Undersized at 5-foot-8 – “with my shoes on” – compared to most jumpers, Bedard attributes his success to his ability to stay focused alongside a strong work ethic.
“You don’t see a lot of jumpers my size, especially in the triple jump. Most of them are 6-2, 6-3, or taller, so I chalk up my success to simple hard work,” he said. “I’m never going to doubt myself because of my height because that’s something I cannot control. It’s motivation. Maybe I’m the first person this small to break those records, so it’s just something to keep a chip on my shoulder.”
Bedard also feels his ability to stay positive in the face of adversity is also at play.
“Especially with the field events, you can foul and get off your game, so it’s crucial to keep your mind on the fact that if you foul or have that bad jump, you still get two more jumps,” he said. “It’s so important to never get down on yourself in a competition. You have to keep that mentality that you’re going to win.”
In preparation for the winter season, Bedard spent last fall working out with fellow captain Alex Jackson. Bedard said they spent every day at the gym together, lifting weights and pushing each other.
Jackson said he isn’t at all surprised by Bedard’s success.
“It’s no surprise he’s doing what he’s doing and to actually see it happen is so nice,” Jackson said.
Bedard has a meet to remember at the 2025 MSTCA Coaches Invitational on Jan. 26. A double-winner, he set new school marks in the long jump (22-11) and triple jump (46-03), the latter also a meet record. His long jump was the best in Massachusetts (30th in the U.S.) this season and his triple jump was second best (33rd in the U.S.), feats not lost on Tanners’ jump coach Dan Harris.
“Evan had an incredible day. All the work he has put into the offseason is paying off physically,” Harris said. “However, more importantly, his focus while competing is what sets him apart. He never gets too high or too low, taking each jump as they come. We are seeing the results of both his physical and mental preparation.”
Bedard returned the favor, crediting the Peabody track coaches and his teammates for helping him become one of the top jumpers in Massachusetts.
“”I have the greatest coaches who believe in me and help me believe in myself,” Bedard said. “Everything is all lined up for me and I appreciate my teammates for all they do to make this program a success. Our team is a family. Everyone pushes each other to keep going and keep working hard, and that plays a big role because you can’t let your teammates get down.”
A top student, Bedard, who is undecided on a major but leaning toward something in business, is currently taking AP psychology and AP literature along with several honors courses this year.
Junior year, he took AP government, AP language, and AP environmental science. Unfortunately, he missed the deadline for National Honor Society consideration last year because he was competing at nationals, but is hopeful he will be inducted this year.
“I’m very lucky that I have a good connection with all of my teachers,” said Bedard, who added he will treasure his time at Peabody High.
“I’m a hard-working kid and I care for all of my teammates. I love my team,” he said. “I love this sport. I love jumping. I really like track and I’m excited to keep doing that at the next level and I’m just grateful for everything. The Stonehill coach told me I might be their top jumper coming in, so I’m really excited about that and being able to compete for another four years.”
