AURORA — Austin Campbell is the state’s top high jumper, having cleared 6 feet, 11 inches last month in Fort Collins. The Regis Jesuit junior, who finished second at last year’s Class 5A state meet, has his sights on breaking Jeff Martinez’s 1987 state-meet record of 7-2 and, before he graduates, making a push for Matt Hemingway’s 1991 Colorado prep record of 7-4.
But individual accomplishments don’t define who Campbell is as a person. He wants to continue building friendships as the Raiders’ unassuming track and field star.
“Having the camaraderie with teammates is great, and not being cocky and stuff about how high you can jump,” Campbell said. “I just like being a good person all around. At meets and stuff, you see guys walk around and ask, ‘What’s your PR this year and this and that?’ I just sit back and don’t like to say too much, and just listen to music and support my teammates.”
Campbell has given up playing football and basketball to focus on track and field, and also to allow time to participate in the Regis Christian Life Community, Diversity Club and various food bank organizations. He’s soaring to new heights in every area.
“He’s the best high jumper I’ve ever had,” said Regis coach Ryan Taylor, 37, who is in 14th year as a coach. “Even though he’s easygoing and carefree at practice, he’s very caring toward his teammates, always willing to help out with anything. He’s a great leader. He’s pretty humble and probably gets a little embarrassed when I talk to him about how great he is, and that he’s pretty special.”
The 6-foot-2 Campbell has qualified for the youth nationals — a 6-6 jump was needed — and believes he can reach 7-0 or higher this season.
“Hopefully, I’ll be able to get at least 7-2 this year and next year 7-4, and maybe higher than that. That’s the goal — the state record,” he said. “It’s pretty crazy if you look at how I’ve improved. I was jumping 6-4 as a freshman and last year it was 6-8, and now 6-11. I gotta get that one more inch for 7 feet.”
Taylor, once a small-school long jump state champion for St. Mary’s High School in Colorado Springs, believes Campbell can do it.
“We definitely see 7 feet in him,” Taylor said. “He looks like he’s got that, if conditions are right and he’s feeling pretty good.
“He’s got aspirations to continue to jump in college, so we want to prepare him to be competitive as he goes into college. Being a junior this year and having one more season with us, we want to start looking at the 7-2s, 7-3s, maybe even 7-4s.”
Mike Chambers: mchambers@denverpost.com or twitter.com/mikechambers
High jump sensations
Regis Jesuit junior Austin Campbell has a 2015 state-best high jump of 6 feet, 11 inches and believes he can match or surpass Colorado’s all-time records:
Colorado prep record: 7-4 by Matt Hemingway, Buena Vista, 1991
Colorado state meet record: 7-2 by Jeff Martinez, Brighton, 1987
National prep record: 7-5¾ by James White, Grandview (Mo.), 2009