Johnathan Baker is a senior at Katy Paetow High School. In this essay, Baker, who will compete and continue his education at the University of Arkansas next year writes about his 2020 season. He also touches on how the Coronavirus affected his last season and other seniors in the sport.
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This is one of the reasons I never take things for granted, you never know when things will come to an end so you have to be able to make the most out of opportunity given to you.Johnathan Baker,
Personally, this season had great value to me. I had many goals I desired to pursue this track season in addition to the ones I had already reached so far. I set my heart on breaking the state and national record in long jump, successfully winning state again, as well as earning a spot at state for triple jump and having a chance at winning in that event.
With the COVID-19 affecting more than half of the world, it has dramatically changed the circumstances we're all living in. Things aren't quite as simple anymore, but at the end of the day it's all about how you move forward with the inevitable, and strive for better.
For this situation not to weigh me down and be a hindrance to me, I have been running and doing drills at one of the local parks in my vicinity, and at home I stretch and do lots of core work. I truly view this as another opportunity for me to improve on my skill set, and be at my peak when the time comes for me to compete with my competitors efficiently and effectively.
I feel like my preparation to the season so far this year has been great, I was improving every meet I went to by a lot. On a scale of one to ten on what i've been able to jump compared to what I feel like I had left is around a seven. In the long jump i felt like I could've gone 26'5 or more and in the triple jump I felt like I could've at least gone 51 or 52 feet by end of season.
Looking at what the suspension has done by taking away time for seniors who haven't gotten much recognition yet is very unfortunate for them making it harder to put themselves out there to get that attention now.
It reminds me of at the point I was at last season until I went out at the UIL State meet and won, which really put me on the radar for college coaches, showing them I was college worthy. This is one of the reasons I never take things for granted, you never know when things will come to an end so you have to be able to make the most out of opportunity given to you.
Johnathan Baker
Katy Paetow High School
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2020 Outdoor Rankings
| TX | National | ||
| LJ | 26-2.75 | 1st | 1st |
| 200m | 22.37 | 143rd | 335th |
| TJ | 49-9.75 | 3rd | 4th |
| 400m | 54.01 | 914th | 2,856th |
2019 Outdoor Rankings
| TX | National | ||
| LJ | 24-10 | 2nd | 9th |
| HJ | 6-2 | 193rd | 1,746th |
| TJ | 46-11 | 27th | 193rd |
High School
| Outdoor | |
| High Jump | 6-2 |
| Long Jump | 26-2.75 |
| Triple Jump | 49-9.75 |
| 200 Meter Dash | 22.37 |
| 400 Meter Dash | 54.01 |
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CONTRIBUTE TO THIS SERIES
For whatever your passion, be it running, jumping, throwing, hurdling, etc., if you are a track and field and/or cross country athlete or coach interested in contributing to this series, please send your essay to william.grundy@flosports.tv.