PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (EYT/D9) — It’s been quite a week for Hayden Smith.
On April 20, the Union senior and member of the Union/A-C Valley track and field team, won the high jump at the Butler Invitational, clearing 6 feet, 11 inches.
He just missed at 7-1.
On Wednesday, he got over the bar at 7 feet for the first time in his career — a goal that he had been chasing for three years.
Smith made the trek across the state to compete at the Penn Relays on Friday morning and got over the bar at 6-10¼ to place second at one of the biggest meets in the nation that features some of the best athletes in the country.
He was second only to Khalil Antione of James Millhouse, a high school in Connecticut. Antoine’s effort was 7-¼.
Smith missed on three attempts at that height after Antione had cleared it on his first attempt.
Antione failed to clear 7-2¼ on his next three tries.
Smith was by far the best jumper in Pennsylvania at the Penn Relays. Tyshawn Ewings of Harrisburg was 10th at 6-4.
Smith is a three-time District 9 champion and two-time PIAA gold medalist in the high jump. He won the PTFCA indoor state title this winter at 6-11 and also claimed the Adidas Track Nationals title.
Last summer, Smith won the AAU Junior Olympic Games championship for the second straight year in the high jump.
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