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Rookie Medalist in State Finals

(New Buffalo, MI) - He never tried high jumping until the start of the track and field season this year, but a recent New Buffalo High School graduate placed third in the Class D state finals.

 

Jeremiah Mitchell cleared the pole at 6’2” above the ground during the finals on June 4 at Hudsonville. Mitchell was thrilled at such a high finish but wished he would have topped his best ever jump when he cleared the pole at 6’6” to earn first place at a recent competition in St. Joseph.

 

“I feel good about it. It’s my first year in the high jump. I know I can get better at it,” Mitchell said.

 

The first-place finisher was Braden Prielipp, a sophomore from Marion who cleared the pole at 6’9.”

 

The 6’1” Mitchell was one of the star players on the New Buffalo High School basketball team, making it to the Class D regional finals this year. The speedy Mitchell said his jumping ability on the court had a lot to do with him wanting to compete in the sport for the very first time.

 

Mitchell said he gave high jumping a try a few times after practice during the basketball season and felt it was something he could be very good at before graduating.

 

“Driving on one foot in the high jump is kind of like doing lay ups. My legs were already used to doing that motion,” Mitchell said.

 

Mitchell said the most challenging aspect of high jumping was the several weeks it took him to learn and sharpen the technique needed for clearing the pole.

 

“I was jumping, but I didn’t have like the form. You have to have a good form, and I didn’t have that down yet,” Mitchell said.

 

Mitchell recently signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Southwest Michigan College in Dowagiac.

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