Park Hill had three of the top-8 high jumpers in the Class 5 State Track and Field Meet, including two of the top-3 as Desire Tonye-Nyemeck earned second place
Park Hill has had some of the best high jumpers in the state all season long and the Trojans came away from the Class 5 State Meet with three medalists at Jefferson City High School on May 26.
Entering the state meet with three jumpers – Desire Tonye-Nyemeck, Kendrick Bell and Legend Freelon – Park Hill had two of the top-3 finishers. Tonye-Nyemeck took second place and Bell ended in third place as Popular Bluff junior Darius Graham set the Missouri record with a 6-10.25-foot jump.
“I had a bad season last year, rolled my ankle and at the beginning of this season I was thinking about almost quitting because I just wasn’t in it,” Park Hill junior Desire Tonye-Nyemeck said. “It was hard, I was going through stuff, but it feels great to get back up here. I feel like I’m number one right now.”
Graham, Tonye-Nyemeck and Bell were the last jumpers left after the trio cleared 6-7.5-feet. Graham and Tonye-Nyemeck cleared the bar on the first try but Bell needed three attempts.
“My butt was way over, it’s just that I kicked so early,” Park Hill senior Kendrick Bell said. “Coach said to hold it a little bit longer, you won’t even touch it, so it’ll be fine and that’s what I did.”
Park Hill senior Kendrick Bell ended his high school career strong, collecting a bronze medal in the high jump at Jefferson City High School.
The next height was 6-8.25-feet as Graham cleared it on his first try and Tonye-Nyemeck did on his second try. Bell has been fighting with a leg injury and was taking all the time he needed before his final attempt.
“You only had like a certain amount of time per jump. When it got down to the last three, you only have three minutes, so I was trying to get the last 30 seconds for me to get my jump in,” Bell said.
Bell was unable to clear the bar and walked away with a bronze medal one year after ending in sixth place in 6-4.75 feet. The Park Hill senior has made a name for himself in basketball and football as well and ended his high school career on a high note before he heads to the University of Michigan to continue his football and academic career.
“My plan was to come in and win, but it’s really just a sigh of relief. I’m done; I get to head to college here in a couple of days. I mean, high school really doesn’t matter now, it’s all cool and all, but when you get to the big stage, it doesn’t really matter so I have to go prove myself again,” Bell said.
Tonye-Nyemeck and Graham were the final high jumpers left and the Trojan was unable to clear 6-9. The junior fell short of being a state champion, but he came out with a silver medal in his first time at state.
Park Hill junior Freelon Legend tied for eighth place in the high jump on May 26.
“I know that I was locked in before this, but it feels great to show all the work that I did and that I’ve really pushed for a PR again, because I PR’d in district and sectionals and did it again so I feel amazing,” Tonye-Nyemeck said.
Freelon was also at state for the first time in his career and he tied for eighth place after jumping 6-3.5 feet. He did that on his first attempt but couldn’t clear 6-5.5 feet but he became one of three all-state Park Hill high jumpers.
“Park Hill is scary for the other schools because we’ve got good jumpers. To be here with my boys and to travel and stay in the hotel with them; I already knew that even if I was going to do good, I knew I was going to have a good time. I’ll remember this for the rest of my life,” Tonye-Nyemeck said.