Change is (2.42m) in the air
- Jul 29, 2014
- 3 min read
Recently I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Diamond League event at Icahn Stadium: The Adidas Grand Prix (UPDATE- they don't host this meet anymore!!). As perhaps one of the few high jumpers volunteering for the event, I landed myself the job of "Javelin and High Jump Event Spotter". I was handed a Brittany Spears-esque head microphone and a clipboard, told to sit right next to the event at the official’s table, record the results, and keep the Media Van updated on what was going on. Essentially, I was NBCs eyes and ears (and SOUL!)To my surprise, the girl in the media van was actually on lunch break so I was just speaking to myself during javelin. Broadcast didn’t start for national TV until later in the day…you know, when actual running events began. Poor field events getting no love!
I wasn’t expecting high jump to be much different than women’s javelin. I figured the media van girl would be out on a date or buying a Slurpee or something. But I felt like a little girl about to see Santa for the first time. When the group of tall, awkward, lanky guys walked out to the pit, my heart skipped a beat. Not because they are attractive (but Jesse Williams was there so...) but because I watch all these guys on Youtube constantly. They were celebrities to me.
"There's BONDARENKO! oh my glob oh my glob.. there's BARSHIM! Isn't this great?!" My life could have ended right then. But luckily, it didn’t. Before the competition started, Bohdan Bondarenko personally asked me if he could use the bathroom, which was adorable. He also stared over my shoulder at the lists, and told me when he was passing (much to the official’s frustration..”Tell me, not her!”) We are clearly best friends.
To my surprise and excitement, my news van chick was suddenly all over this. “Kelsey, let me know when they are going to start… Make sure you tell me exactly who is up and who is on deck… and let me know when it looks like they will be taking their jumps. Let me know if anyone is passing. Make sure you keep me in the loop. I want to know when to switch to the camera down there.” Commands like these kept flooding in. I felt important, a bit nervous, and really excited. This was my thing- I loved it. I knew all their names, so it was cake.
And the competition was HUGE. Meet Record? Broken. Area Record? Broken. It was the first time in history that two men cleared 2.40 at the same meet. The crowd was focused 100% on the high jump pit and the Media Van was checking in constantly to see what is going on. “Bondarenko is tying his shoes,” I explain.
The bar was raised to 2.42.
To my amazement, as well as the satisfaction of the entire packed stadium, Bondarenko and Barshim both clear on their first attempts- the highest jumps ever on U.S. soil (mondo). The height made them the top jumpers outdoors in history behind World Record-holder Javier Sotomayor.
The bar was raised to 2.46m, world record breaking height.
Just an idea of what world record breaking height looks like- I'm 5'9.
The crowd was hypnotized the entire time. They clapped when Barshim motioned, went silent when Bonarenko signaled, cheered at every clear, and agonized at every miss. The media van was all like, “What’s he doing now?” “Sitting down.” “Is the bar up?” “They are remeasuring it now.”
Unfortunately they didn't end up breaking a world record, but the meet is now considered the best High Jump competition in history, and little ol' me can be seen sitting at the official table in the videos. I like to think that the race for a new world record in men’s high jump is fueling a new interest in field events, but I could be wrong. Either way, I'm super into it, and this was a one hell of a good day.
-vivalakelc
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