Once Chesterton senior Phil Flores tried long jump, there was no going back.
“It was love at first jump,” he said. “You feel like you’re flying.”
That first leap came when Flores was in sixth grade. Six years later, he’s emerged as one of the area’s top long jumpers, building off a junior season that ended with Flores finishing 15th at the state finals with a mark of 21 feet, 5.5 inches.
Flores credited assistant coach Howard Lane as a key part of his breakout season in 2016.
“Last year, I was only jumping about 21 feet,” he said. “Our new jump coach came in, he helped me fix a few things and I jumped a full foot farther. It was in my approach, the way I planted before I jumped.”
That evolution has continued into the 2017 season, with Flores extending his personal-best mark to 22-8. That would’ve been good for fourth at the 2016 state meet, but Flores’ aim remains higher than that.
“With everybody else in the 22s, I’m trying to break a 23 in there somewhere,” Flores said.
The best competition for Flores is someone he sees every day, Chesterton junior Louie Razo, who has a season-best jump of 22-7.25.
“We’ve always talked about wanting to finish one and two,” Flores said. “It’s a healthy relationship we’ve built over the last three years. It’s really helpful that the only competition you have to worry about is a teammate.”
That relationship between Flores and Razo is indicative of the impact Flores has made on the team in his final season, as coach Bryan Nallenweg explained.
“I’ve been most impressed with his leadership,” Nallenweg said. “It’s more impressive than anything he does on the track. The way he sets an example for the younger athletes is as good as anyone that I’ve coached.”
And the long jump isn’t the only event where Flores eyes a return to the state meet. He’s also part of a talented 400-meter relay team with classmates Darren Corzan and EJ Biokoro and junior Braden Corzan.
Last year, Flores ran on the Trojans’ 400 relay with Biokoro, Darren Corzan and Kevin Wissing that placed sixth at state.
“He’s improved his speed since last year and that’s carried over into his jumping,” Nallenweg said of Flores. “Phil’s big event is the long jump, but that relay is equally impressive as far as the chances they have to do some big things.”
More Top Picks Best Clamp Desk Lamps For Students
Portage’s Finley returns: Injuries have plagued Portage senior Daveon Finley this year. He got his first taste of competition of the spring at Tuesday’s meet with Lake Central and Valparaiso.
The Indians swept the meet, clinching the Duneland Athletic Conference regular-season title, with Finley winning the 110 hurdles in 14.4 seconds. Portage coach Nick Haas said Finely did look rusty, but called it “a good start.”
Finley’s return also helped the 400 relay to a season-best time of 41.99 that is second-fastest in the state this season.
Wolves take PCC crown: Boone Grove clinched the Porter County Conference regular-season title on Tuesday night by defeating Morgan Township 88-39. The Cherokees rested several key athletes ahead of Saturday’s PCC Meet, but Wolves coach Kyle Isch said that didn’t take away from their achievement.
“It’s something that Boone Grove hasn’t won since 2006,” Isch said. “Most of my guys are new to the sport, and they are finding this winning thing to be rather fun.”
Dave Melton is a freelance writer for the Post-Tribune.
TOP 5
With last week’s rankings in parentheses
1. Portage (3)
2. Michigan City (1)
3. Chesterton (2)
4. Merrillville (4)
5. Munster (5)
Athlete of the Week: Chesterton junior Braden Corzan won four events at Tuesday’s dual meet with Merrillville, taking the 100 meters (10.99) and 200 (22.64) and helping the 400 relay (43.63) and 1,600 relay (3:28.19) also finish first.