Burnet long jumper comes up short at Junior Olympics
MARBLE FALLS — A quarter of an inch and a last jump kept Brock Foster of Burnet from advancing to the long jump finals at the USA Track and Field Junior Olympic championships on July 28 in Wichita, Kan.
Foster, who competed in the youth boys (13-14 years old), was in eighth place with a mark of 18 feet, 9 inches and was about to advance to the finals after three jumps.
But Ronald Bonner, the last jumper in the semifinal, notched a mark of 18-9 1/4 and nudged out Foster.
“You only get three jumps,” Highland Lakes Track Club head coach Steve McCannon said. “But only eight go to the finals.”
McCannon said Foster’s second jump took the entire board without scratching.
Last season, Foster won a national title in the event but was competing in the midget (11-12 years old) division.
“We’re proud of him for getting back into the championship meet,” McCannon said.
Though he didn’t advance to the final, McCannon said Foster was the fifth best jumper from Texas and competed against 45 other athletes.
To finish ninth is an accomplishment, he said.
“It’s all about qualifying and getting yourself in position to win,” he said. “(Foster) is a younger youth. This is only Brock’s second year to do Highland Lakes Track.”