Aquinas jumper is one of best in country, top in NY: 10 athletes to watch at Section V championships

Celvin Kirkland high jumped six feet almost two years ago, a performance that was among the top 10 heights cleared outdoors by eighth-graders in the United States.

Last June, Kirkland finished eighth in the freshman high jump division during the New Balance Outdoor National Championships.

February 11 turned out to be the time for Kirkland to jump on to national radar again in track and field. This time Kirkland went upward and outward, as the sophomore at Aquinas long jumped 24 feet, 1/2 inch during the Rochester Winter Track League Championships at Nazareth University.

This is the fifth-longest long jump in the country among all high school athletes, according to athletic.net. No one in the sophomore class has jumped farther. The Section V record is 24 feet-2 1/2 inches.

Kirkland spent part of this indoor track season in search of a mark in the long jump, the right spot to launch from. Then, the city of Rochester resident jumped to within two inches of the Section V record set by Greece Olympia's Joshua McCleary in 2018.

“It’s been very rocky," Kirkland said about his progress in the long jump. "In the beginning of the season, I didn’t have a mark or any technical training.

"When I did get that mark, once I started to get that training and started working on my form, I jumped 24. My fouls have been extremely far. I fouled and went 25 one time.”

Kirkland's personal-best long jump indoors or outdoors was 22 feet, 1 3/4 inches. Now, there is a chance there will be an audience when he long jumps, high jumps and triple jumps Feb. 17 during the Section V Class A4/A5 Championships at Nazareth.

Kirkland won all three events last weekend at the RWTL meet, and could end up in a back-and-forth contest or two with Aiden Bryant, a sophomore at Midlakes and a 2023 Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Rochester Boys Indoor Track Team member.

"It’s going to be competitive. It’s going to be fun honestly," Kirkland, 15, said. "The only sophomores (in the state) that can jump with me are Aiden Bryant and Rhoan (Kaulder at McQuaid).

"Triple jump is the one I struggle the most with. Aidan Bryant, that is his specialty. I haven't found that out yet. I thought it was going to be the high jump, but I have a 24."

Dixon said Kirkland also has potential to "take off in the triple" and top his personal-best high jump of 6 feet, 2 inches. Kirkland has cleared that height at least six times at meets in Section V, including last weekend at Nazareth.

"I stopped him because he had another event to go," Dixon said. "He's been close all season (in the long jump), he's just been barely hitting the board.

"He had a couple more 24 footers the same night, but he was a centimeter or two over the board."

How far can Kirkland fly this weekend?

“The plan for sectionals is not to foul," Kirkland said with a small laugh. "And I’m going to try to go farther.

"My goal is to get a 25-foot jump this season. I would be content with a higher 24."

Section V track: Boys results for the 2023-24 season

Kirkland may have that jump in him. His father Celvin Kirkland was a standout at Franklin, who owns one of the all-time best triple jumps in Section V history.

"This is junior, yes," Dixon said. "Everything comes full circle sometimes."

More athletes at the top

Kirkland is among the athletes who have performances at the top of Section V Boys Indoor Track leaderboards, which can be found at yentiming.com.

Here are more:

Kevin Brown

A senior at Webster Schroeder who put together his best 55-meter hurdles race (7.76) on December 16. He could race De'Andre Leonard, a senior on the Franklin/Northeast/School of the Arts/World of Inquiry team who is No. 2 on the leaderboard (7.86), during the Section V Class A1 Championships on February 17.

Aiden Bryant

The athlete to beat in Section V when it comes to the triple jump (46 feet-5 3/4 inches). He should also be a big-time scorer for the Midlakes Screaming Eagles at the Section V Class A3 Championships in the long jump (23-4 1/4), where he is No. 2 on the area leaderboard. He also has high jumped 6-3.

Connor Domoy

A senior on the Oakfield-Alabama/Elba team who is at the top of the 3,200 leaderboard. He ran that race in 9 minutes, 25.04 seconds for a third-place finish during the Jack Reed Showcase at Nazareth. Will he run the race at the Section V Class A4 Championships, or the 1,600, an event where he has a top-five time?

Nathaniel Fisher

This seems like this Brockport senior's strongest season. He is at the top of the 1,000 leaderboard (2:33.09) and is the No. 1 distance runner from Section V in the 1,600 (4:26.19). Fisher also is No. 2 on the 3,200 leaderboard, that includes Fairport sophomore Austin Bubel (9:29.71), Pittsford Sutherland junior William Tempest (9:32.83) and Fairport senior Jake Passalugo (9:37.42). Keep an eye on Churchville-Chili senior Ryan Giglia Jr. in the 1,600 (4:24.44) too.

Noah Leathersich

There is very little, if any, surprise that a junior at Gates Chili is at the top of the Section V pole vault leaderboard (14-9). He has five jumps 14 feet or higher. Oren Welch (13-9) and Ethan Welch (13-6), who jump with the Marion/Gananda team, could go head-to-head for the win at the Section V Class A4 Championships.

Williamson runner eyes triple crown: 12 athletes poised to win Section V girls indoor track titles

Peter Northrup

Senior at Penfield has the top performances in shot put (58-1 1/2 and weight throw (66-0), by far. He shined in both events in the same meet on January 27. Most of his shots this season have been 58 to 60 feet. Batavia junior Sheldon Siverling is in Northrup's neighborhood in the shot put (56-11), and is a clear favorite to win at the Section V Class A2 Championships. Dansville senior Ethan Canfield is the only athlete in Section V who has put the shot more than 50 feet.

Michael Prentice

Wayne senior has been reliable and a strong performer for the Eagles from the 55 to the 600. He leads a tight pack on the 600 (1:24.42) leaderboard. Not far behind after races in recent weeks are: Fairport senior Connor Hashim (1:24.57), Aloysha Lynd, a senior on the Franklin/Northeast/School of the Arts/World of Inquiry (1:24.68), Batavia senior Cole Grazioplene (1:24.94), Wayne senior Ian Johnson (1:24.98), Brockport senior Brandt Marshall (1:25.19). There are five more who have ran faster than 1:25.55. There is a potential race with Prentice, Grazioplene, Johnson, Marshall and Brockport's Nathaniel Fisher (1:25.38) during the Section V Class A2 Championships on February 18 at Nazareth.

Gavin White

The season's top high jump is 6 feet-8 inches back on December 30, and it belongs to White, a freshman at University Prep. White could push senior teammate Tyrell Simmons (6-6) or vice-versa, back toward that bar height at the class A2 sectionals.

Perrion Williams

Who is the fastest sprinter in Section V? Williams, a senior on the Franklin/Northeast/School of the Arts/World of Inquiry team, has a case. He has run the fastest 55 dash (6.41) and 300 (35.12). His next race in the 55 could include McQuaid sophomore Rhoan Kaulder (6.44), Churchville-Chili senior Ricardo Lagares (6.48) and McQuaid senior Tyler Pagano (6.48).

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V track: Aquinas' Celvin Kirkland is one of best jumpers in country