En route to this afternoon’s State Meet semifinals, Culver City High School long jumper Kevin Beacham took two steps forward and one step back last Friday night at the CIF Masters Track and Field meet at Cerritos College.
Beacham’s forward steps included a state meet qualifying jump of 22 feet, 3 ¾ inches in the long jump. His step back: Beacham was more than one foot behind his school record and CIF final jump of 24 feet, ¾ inches last week.
Beacham will represent Culver High this afternoon and tomorrow in the State Meet at Buchanan High School in Clovis California.
To reach the state meet, Beacham competed against 585 schools in the CIF Southern Section the past three weeks.
This weekend, he will be up against all of the high schools in California.
“I could have jumped better,” a disappointed Beacham said last Friday. His jump was good enough for fifth place in the Masters.
“I wanted to place in the top three,” he said, “but that’s alright.
Weather He Goest
Beacham prefers to jump in cold weather. Last Friday’s late afternoon heat in Norwalk did not agree with him. “When my body gets too hot,” he said, “it slows my speed on the runway. Heat also affects how high I can leap,” said Beacham.
If heat is a factor at Clovis High this afternoon at 5 o’clock in the state semi-finals, the support from his coaches should give him the inspirational lift he needs to qualify for tomorrow’s finals.
All four of his track and field coaches were at Cerritos to give him support. Long jump coach Derrick Huezo, the head coach Jahmal Wright, the girls’ coach Rayfield Beaton and longtime high jump coach Tom Nakayama were all present. “My coaches give a lot of support, and I know they want me to win for Culver City,” said Beacham.
Huezo has been coaching the long jump for six years at Culver City. He knows Beacham is something special. “Kevin is a prime example of hard work and dedication,” Huezo said. “A good kid, he believes what the coaches are telling him. That separates him from a lot of others. He competes at a high level. He uses the information we give him.”
Beacham, a three-sport star, must have been listening and producing because last week he accepted a scholarship to play football at Indiana State.
“I am really excited to get the scholarship,’ said Beacham. “I just want to put on that football jersey on and play.
“If they ask me to long jump I will be glad to do that, too.”
Before football, Beacham hopes to be the state long jump champion.
Longtime high jump coach Nakayama thinks Beacham is headed in the right direction.
“Whatever we ask Kevin to do, he always does it,” Nakayama said. “He is a fantastic kid.
“He broke a school record that was set 30 years ago by Anthony Jones. He came through in three sports, football, basketball, track and field.”
Mr. Finley may be contacted at sfinley50@aol.com
