'I can go higher': Canton South's Julius Kimbrough thriving as a first-year high jumper
One chat was enough to convince Julius Kimbrough to give high jumping a try.
Now the Canton South senior suddenly finds himself on the brink of becoming a state qualifier. Somewhere his predecessor must be beaming with pride.
Kimbrough would love to write the same story Xavier Williams authored for the Wildcats in 2023. Williams never high jumped until his senior year. He ended the year as the Division II state champion.
"He actually was able to get me to do high jump this season," Kimbrough said. "At the beginning of the season I was like 'I don't want to do high jump.' I was thinking the long jump."
Kimbrough competed in both events this season. The high jump is the only field event state meet ticket he can punch at this week's Austintown Fitch regional
A jump of 6 feet, 2 inches Saturday at Salem landed Kimbrough a district runner-up finish. First place would have been possible if he didn't have tired legs. While the high jump was going on, Kimbrough also ran in the finals of the 100. He came in fourth to earn another regional berth.
Kimbrough has jumped as high as 6-4 this season. He hit 6-3 to win the high jump at the Stark County Championships.
"It kind of surprised me," Kimbrough said of his season. "At the same time I know I can probably do better. I know I can go higher."
Kimbrough had to regroup on the final day of the district meet. His runner-up finish in the high jump came less than 48 hours after he fell just shy of a long jump regional berth.
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"That was fairly disappointing, but I still had to compete and still try my best in the other things I know I'm capable of doing," Kimbrough said.
Kimbrough's success in the high jump did not happen by accident. Many hours on the road to regionals were spent sharpening his skills. The ride was not always smooth.
"It has been hard, Kimbrough said. "I had to get a lot of work in technique-wise and bend-wise. I'm not really a flexible bendy person. I had to do a lot to be able to bend a little bit."
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Kimbrough competed in track and field as a freshman and sophomore at St. Thomas Aquinas. As a freshman he helped lead the Knights 800 relay to the Division III state meet. He also was a regional qualifier in the long jump.
A low ankle fracture cut short Kimbrough's sophomore track and field season. He did not compete last season but returned to the sport for his senior year at Canton South.
Kimbrough's success in track and field comes on the heels of another All-Ohio season in basketball.
"It's truly a blessing, especially with all the people around me supporting me," Kimbrough said. "They're trying to make me do the best I can."
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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton South's Julius Kimbrough thrives as first-year high jumper
